Capacitive Touch Sensing Without Settling-Time Tail Effects
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Solution Overview
Problem
Capacitive touch-sensor devices face limitations due to the 'tail effect,' where parasitic signals extend beyond the localized sensor elements affected by a conductive object, leading to inaccurate measurements and a sub-optimal user experience due to the need for sensor arrays to settle between measurements.
Innovation Solution
A processing logic system that measures and adjusts sensor array data to account for the 'tail effect' by determining adjustment values based on the measurements affected by a conductive object, allowing for accurate determination of object location and movement without requiring full settling of the sensor array.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the sensor array is allowed to settle between measurements to achieve sufficient accuracy, then measurement precision is improved, but response speed deteriorates due to the time required for settling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful tail effect (parasitic signals) into a beneficial solution by developing algorithms that identify and subtract these tail effects from the measurements. This allows the system to use unsettled sensor readings (which would normally be inaccurate) and transform them into accurate measurements by removing the parasitic signal components, thus achieving both speed and accuracy simultaneously
2Productivity
If the sensor array operates without full settling to improve response speed, then productivity is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to parasitic tail effects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the parasitic tail effect signals from the sensor measurements through specialized processing algorithms. By separating the unwanted tail effect components from the valid touch signals, the system can operate continuously without full settling while maintaining measurement accuracy, thus improving productivity without sacrificing precision
3Measurement precision
If the sensor array requires settling time between measurements to eliminate tail effects, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary processing actions to the sensor measurements to pre-correct for tail effects. By using algorithms that predict and subtract tail effect signals before final measurement processing, the system eliminates the need for time-consuming settling periods, achieving both precision and time efficiency
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 approach enables more accurate and responsive touch-sensor functionality by eliminating the parasitic signal effects, improving measurement accuracy and user interaction without compromising response speed.
Implementation Method 1
capacitive sensing typically involves scan operations that periodically measure changes in capacitance associated with the capacitive sensor elements to determine a presence, position, and/or movement of a conductive object
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for eliminating tail effect are described herein. In an example embodiment, a device comprises a sensor coupled with a processing logic. The sensor is configured to measure a plurality of measurements from a sensor array when the sensor array is in an unsettled state, where the measurements represent a conductive object that is proximate to a touch-sensing surface of the sensor array. The processing logic is configured to determine a set of adjustment values that correspond to a tail effect associated with the plurality of measurements, and to generate adjusted measurements corresponding to the plurality of measurements based on the set of adjustment values.