Capacitive Touch Key Structure for Directional Gesture Input
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic devices have a large number of touch buttons, leading to complex operations and a high likelihood of accidental touches.
Innovation Solution
A touch button design featuring a first conductive part surrounded by a second conductive part with a gap, allowing the first part to move relative to the second upon touch input, detecting capacitance changes to determine control instructions based on gestures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple physical buttons are disposed on electronic devices to provide different functions, then the device functionality is improved, but the device complexity and operation complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a single touch button that can perform multiple functions by detecting different touch gestures (pressing, sliding in different directions, long pressing). The control unit identifies the type of touch operation and executes corresponding functions, allowing one button to replace multiple physical buttons while maintaining diverse device functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple button functions into a single touch button structure. The touch-sensitive surface integrates various gesture recognition capabilities, and the control unit combines multiple operation types (press, slide, long press) into one unified input mechanism, thereby reducing the total number of buttons while preserving functional versatility.
2Area of stationary object
If multiple touch buttons are disposed closely to save space, then the device compactness is improved, but the reliability decreases due to accidental touches
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic gesture recognition where the same physical button area responds differently based on the type of touch applied (press duration, sliding direction, pressing force). This dynamic response allows the system to distinguish between intentional user actions and accidental touches, improving reliability without requiring larger spacing between buttons.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit provides feedback by analyzing touch characteristics (duration, direction, intensity) to determine whether a touch is intentional or accidental. The system can differentiate between deliberate gestures and unintentional contacts, allowing closely disposed buttons to maintain high reliability through intelligent touch discrimination.
3Device complexity
If a single touch button is used with gesture recognition, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision requirement increases to accurately detect gesture directions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the touch detection into multiple directional sensing zones or uses sequential sampling in different directions. The control unit divides the gesture recognition task into discrete detection steps (detect press, determine direction, measure duration), making the precision requirements more manageable through structured measurement approaches.
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
Reduces the number of touch buttons needed by integrating multiple functions into one button and minimizes accidental touches through gesture recognition.
Implementation Method 1
detecting whether the second conductive part of the touch button has any capacitance change in a plurality of preset directions
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A touch key (20), a control method and an electronic device (600). The touch key (20) comprises a first conductive part (21), a second conductive part (22), and a touch part (23). The second conductive part (22) surrounds the first conductive part (21) to form a capacitor structure. The method comprises: receiving touch input acting on the touch part (23) (301); detecting whether the second conductive part (22) has a capacitance change in a plurality of preset directions or not (302); and if the capacitance change exists in the target direction in the plurality of preset directions, determining a control instruction corresponding to the target direction (303). According to the method, when the touch key (20) receives the touch input, the touch part (23) transmits the pressure to the first conductive part (21), so that the first conductive part (21) moves with respect to the second conductive part (22), and the capacitance is changed.