Capacitive Touch Tag for Secure Information Recognition

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing barcode systems require inconvenient operations for image acquisition and recognition, expose information, and are susceptible to damage from external impacts, limiting their use with personal information processing devices like smartphones.

Innovation Solution

A capacitive touch tag with a conductivity pattern on a substrate, connected by conductive wires and an electric charge transfer unit, allowing recognition through a capacitive touch panel without exposing the pattern, using a small size and protecting against external damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a barcode symbol is used for information recognition, then information can be recognized automatically in real time, but the barcode symbol is exposed to the outside and can be damaged by external impact

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation securityVSAvoidexternal impact damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a capacitive touch pattern as a copy or representation of traditional barcode information. Instead of directly exposing the barcode symbol, the information is encoded in the spatial arrangement of capacitive touch points on a touch panel, which can be recognized by a smartphone camera without exposing a physical barcode symbol that could be damaged.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical/optical barcode scanning system with a capacitive touch-based system. The information recognition is achieved through capacitive coupling between the touch points and the smartphone's touch panel, eliminating the need for physical barcode symbols that are susceptible to damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If a barcode image is photographed for recognition, then information can be read, but inconvenient operations are needed to match the smartphone screen with the barcode screen accurately

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation reading efficiencyVSAvoidalignment operation convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-alignment through the capacitive coupling mechanism. When the smartphone touches the capacitive touch pattern, the touch points automatically establish electrical connection with the corresponding touch panel areas, eliminating the need for manual alignment operations. The recognition process is self-service in nature, requiring no precise user positioning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The capacitive touch pattern serves as an intermediary between the physical object and the digital recognition system. The pattern of capacitive points on the touch panel mediates the interaction, allowing the smartphone to automatically detect and recognize the encoded information through electrical coupling without requiring visual alignment or manual positioning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Volume of moving object

If a small size information media is used, then it can be compact and portable, but the information capacity may be limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetag sizeVSAvoidinformation capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent encodes information in the two-dimensional spatial arrangement of capacitive touch points on the touch panel. By utilizing the positional coordinates and patterns of multiple touch points across the surface area, the system can encode substantial information capacity within a compact form factor, effectively using spatial dimensionality to increase information density.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 easy and secure information recognition and storage, preventing information leakage and damage, with convenient updating capabilities while maintaining security.

Implementation Method 1

capacitive touch points which are formed on the substrate and are arranged at arbitrary positions on a virtual lattice corresponding to a touch input sector of a capacitive touch panel

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapacitance: Capacitance

Implementation Method 2

a conductive wire for connecting the capacitive touch points

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Data Source

PatentUS10001890B2Touch tag recognizable through capacitive touch panel, information recognition method thereof and information providing method using same

Publication Date: 2018.06.19 KOREA INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY

AI summary

The present invention provides a touch tag having a conductivity pattern corresponding to a touch point of a capacitive touch panel. A capacitive touch tag according to the present invention includes: a substrate; a plurality of capacitive touch points which are formed on the substrate and are arranged at arbitrary positions on a virtual lattice corresponding to a touch input sector of a capacitive touch panel of a personal information device; a conductive wire for connecting the capacitive touch points; and an electric charge transfer unit for transferring electric charges to the capacitive touch points through the conductive wire. When the capacitive touch tag comes into contact with a smartphone, the capacitive touch points are recognized according to a predetermined rule, a result of the recognition is transmitted to a server, and information corresponding thereto is received and displayed.