Capacitive Touch Input Structure With Tactile Feedback Sensitivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Capacitive touch-input devices lack tactile feedback, making it difficult for users to confirm input operations on hard-housed electronic apparatuses.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a soft member with a conductive portion between the operation area and the sensor electrode in a capacitive input device, which provides tactile sensation and increases detection sensitivity and accuracy by altering the dielectric constant and allowing for electrical conductivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a soft member is added between the operation area and sensor electrode to provide tactile feedback, then tactile sensation is improved, but the distance between operation area and sensor electrode increases reducing detection sensitivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the dielectric constant parameter of the soft member by incorporating conductive portions with high dielectric constant materials. This allows the soft member to provide tactile feedback while maintaining or enhancing capacitance detection sensitivity, resolving the contradiction between tactile sensation and detection sensitivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The soft member is constructed as a composite material combining soft, flexible material with conductive portions containing high dielectric constant substances. This composite structure provides both the tactile properties of soft material and the electrical properties needed for sensitive capacitance detection.
2Measurement precision
If the dielectric constant of the soft member is increased to enhance capacitance value, then detection sensitivity is improved, but the complexity of material selection and manufacturing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The conductive portions serve as intermediary elements within the soft member, localized regions that provide high dielectric constant without requiring the entire soft member to be made of complex materials. This simplifies manufacturing by only needing to incorporate conductive elements into otherwise standard soft material.
3Area of stationary object
If multiple operation areas are placed close together to save space, then device compactness is improved, but misdetection between adjacent areas increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing conductive portions specifically at boundaries between operation areas. This localized approach enhances detection accuracy at critical interfaces without affecting other regions, allowing compact arrangement while preventing misdetection.
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
The capacitive input device offers both tactile feedback to the user and enhanced sensitivity and accuracy, preventing misdetection among closely spaced operation areas.
Implementation Method 1
the sensor electrode detects the capacitance
Implementation Method 2
increasing the dielectric constant of the soft member increases the value of the capacitance to be generated between the finger touching the operation area and the sensor electrode
Data Source
AI summary
To provide a capacitive input device that enables the user to feel that the input operation has been done. A capacitive input device includes a surface sheet, a soft member, and a sensor sheet configured to detect a change in capacitance. The surface sheet includes an operation area on which a touching operation is to be performed. The soft member is provided between the operation area and the sensor sheet. The sensor sheet includes a sensor electrode located at a position corresponding to the operation area. When the operation area is pressed in a touching operation, the surface sheet and the soft member are displaced toward the sensor sheet and the sensor electrode detects the capacitance.