Capacitive Touch Actuator with Conductive Surface
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Solution Overview
Problem
Capacitive touch screens lack precision and tactile feedback, especially in complex operations, and fail to register touches through protective gloves, limiting their use in medical and industrial applications.
Innovation Solution
A control input device for capacitive touch screens that uses an actuator with an electrically conducting surface providing capacitive coupling to infinity, allowing tactile feedback and precise control without human grounding, using electrical circuits and optoelectronic components to detect actuator changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual touch screen operation is used, then simplicity and compactness are achieved, but precision control is lost compared to traditional controls
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the simplicity of touch screen operation with the precision of traditional controls by integrating physical actuators (buttons, sliders, rotary controls) that interface with the capacitive touch screen. These actuators provide mechanical precision while maintaining touch-based operation simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediate control elements such as actuators with conductive surfaces that mediate between the user's manual operation and the touch screen's precision detection. These intermediaries translate physical movements into precise capacitive signals.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional touch screens are used, then versatility and compactness are achieved, but tactile feedback is lost preventing motor memory development
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates vibratory actuators that provide tactile feedback through mechanical vibration, enabling users to feel confirmation of their inputs and develop motor memory while maintaining the versatility of touch screen operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms through physical actuators that provide tactile response to user inputs, creating a closed-loop interaction that enables motor memory development while preserving touch screen versatility.
3Ease of operation
If conventional touch screens are used, then simplicity is achieved, but they fail to register touches through protective gloves in medical and industrial applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces intermediary actuators with conductive surfaces that serve as mediators between the user (wearing gloves) and the touch screen. These actuators generate sufficient capacitive coupling to register touches even when the user's skin is insulated by protective gloves.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the electrical parameters of the touch interface by using actuators with optimized conductive surfaces that change the capacitive coupling parameters, enabling reliable touch detection through gloves and non-conductive materials.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables precise control and tactile feedback, enabling use with gloves and non-conductive objects, enhancing usability in complex tasks and environments where traditional touch screens fail.
Implementation Method 1
an electrically conducting surface having a surface area that is selected such that the electrically conducting surface provides capacitive coupling to, or approaching, infinity whereby capacitive coupling between the electrode and the capacitive touch screen is detectable by the capacitive touch screen's controller
Data Source
AI summary
A control input device and system are disclosed. The control input device has a mounting base to a capacitive touch screen; an actuator supported by and electrically insulated from the base with an electrically conducting surface and further including: an electrode that is touching, or adjacent to, the capacitive touch screen when the base is mounted, an electrical circuit between the electrode and the electrically conducting surface, the electrically conducting surface having a surface area that is selected such that the electrically conducting surface provides capacitive coupling to, or approaching, infinity whereby capacitive coupling between the electrode and the capacitive touch screen is detectable by the capacitive touch screen's controller, wherein, in use, the electrode is configured to undergo a change corresponding to a state of the actuator and the controller of the touch screen can determine the state of the actuator from the change to the electrode.