Capacitive Touch Panel Proximity Detection for Non-Contact Screen Activation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image forming apparatuses with non-touch input capabilities face challenges in efficiently and cost-effectively turning on the screen from an off state without requiring a touch operation, as configurations with human detection sensors can be more expensive.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a detection unit that can detect a user's finger at a position separate from the display surface by a second distance, allowing the screen to turn on when the finger is detected at this position, even when the display is in an off state, thereby enabling non-touch operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a human detection sensor is used to turn on the screen without touch operation, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The touch panel is made to serve dual functions: it acts as both the display interface and the detection sensor. By utilizing the touch panel's existing capacitance detection capability to sense fingers at different distances, the patent eliminates the need for a separate human detection sensor, thereby reducing device complexity and cost while maintaining the ability to turn on the screen through non-touch gestures
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the display function and detection function into a single integrated component (the touch panel). Instead of having separate components for display and human detection, the touch panel's capacitance characteristics are utilized to detect finger proximity at different distances, merging multiple functions into one element to reduce overall system complexity
2Ease of operation
If a human detection sensor is used to detect user approach, then the ease of operation is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The touch panel performs multiple functions including display, touch input, and proximity detection. By leveraging the touch panel's inherent capacitance sensing capability to detect fingers at different distances (first distance for close proximity, second distance for farther proximity), the patent eliminates the need for additional detection sensors, thereby reducing manufacturing costs while enabling convenient non-touch screen activation
Solution Approach 2:
The touch panel serves itself by utilizing its own capacitance detection capability to perform proximity sensing functions. Instead of requiring external detection sensors, the touch panel's electrical characteristics are used to detect the presence and distance of a user's finger, allowing the system to turn on the screen through non-touch gestures without additional components
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
This configuration allows for an inexpensive and user-friendly method to turn on the screen of an image forming apparatus in an off state using a non-touch operation, enhancing user experience and reducing costs compared to systems with human detection sensors.
Implementation Method 1
a detection unit configured to detect a user's finger at a position separate from a surface of a display unit by a first distance in a vertical direction perpendicular to the surface of the display unit, and detect the user's finger at a position separate from the surface by a second distance longer than the first distance
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus configured to form an image on a recording medium includes a display unit configured to perform display relating to a setting of image processing performed by the image forming apparatus, and a detection unit configured to detect a user's finger at a position separate from a surface of the display unit by a first distance in a vertical direction perpendicular to the surface of the display unit, and detect the user's finger at a position separate from the surface by a second distance longer than the first distance, wherein in a case where the display unit is in an off state, the display unit turns on when the detection unit detects the user's finger at the position separate from the surface by the second distance.