Display operating panel with modulated light
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing touch-sensitive display control panels face challenges in maintaining transparency of conductive layers, leading to reduced visibility and increased circuit complexity due to sensitivity to ambient light and the need for complex modulation frequencies.
Innovation Solution
The use of individually modulated light sources with unique intensity, frequency, amplitude, or phase profiles allows for precise detection of touch locations, reducing the need for separate detectors and minimizing circuit complexity while maintaining low sensitivity to extraneous light, by encoding light emissions to distinguish between sources even when superimposed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If conductive layers are made translucent to maintain visibility of display elements, then visibility is improved, but sensitivity to extraneous light increases and measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic modulation of light sources at specific frequencies (e.g., 10 kHz) to encode touch information. By modulating the light sources periodically and detecting the modulated reflected light, the system can distinguish between intentional touch signals and ambient light interference, thereby maintaining measurement precision while using translucent conductive layers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the frequency parameter of light sources to be modulated at frequencies not directly perceptible to the human eye (e.g., 10 kHz). This parameter change allows the system to operate with translucent conductive layers while filtering out ambient light through frequency discrimination, resolving the contradiction between visibility and measurement precision.
2Measurement precision
If light sources are modulated at high frequencies to reduce sensitivity to ambient light, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes light sources serve dual functions: they act as both illumination sources for display elements and as modulated detectors for touch sensing. By switching light sources between transmission mode (illumination) and reception mode (detection), the system reduces the need for separate dedicated detectors, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement precision through frequency modulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses periodic modulation of light sources at manageable frequencies (e.g., 10 kHz) that can be implemented with standard electronics. This periodic action enables precise touch detection through frequency discrimination while avoiding the need for overly complex high-frequency circuits, balancing measurement precision with acceptable device complexity.
3Measurement precision
If separate detectors are added to each light source location to improve touch detection resolution, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables light sources to function as both illuminators and detectors by switching between transmission and reception modes. This multi-functionality allows a single light source to detect touches in its vicinity through reflected modulated light, eliminating the need for separate dedicated detectors at each location while maintaining sufficient touch detection resolution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the functions of light sources and detectors into a single component system. By combining illumination and detection functions in the same light sources through time-division multiplexing (switching between transmission and reception modes), the system reduces the total number of components while maintaining touch detection capability and resolution.
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 enhances the accuracy and resolution of touch detection, reduces circuit complexity, and maintains a cost-effective and intuitive user interface with improved visibility, making it suitable for household appliances.
Implementation Method 1
the light emitted by the light sources is reflected back into the control panel when the control surface is touched
Implementation Method 2
The scattering or reflection can be caused, for example, by touching it with a finger or an object
Implementation Method 3
at least some of the light sources have at least one lighting element that can be operated as a detector. These light-emitting elements can be connected as a detector as long as they do not emit light, for example by switching from a transmission mode in which they emit light to a reception mode in which they detect light
Data Source
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AI summary
Display operating panel (10) comprising an at least partly light-transmissive operating plate (12), a plurality of light sources (14, 16, 42) and at least one detector (16, 18), wherein the operating plate (12) has an operating surface (20), the at least one detector (14, 16, 18, 42) detects the light emitted by the light sources (14, 16, 42) upon the operating surface (20) being touched, and the light sources (14, 16, 42) emit light modulated in a manner not directly perceptible to the human eye, wherein the light from the light sources (14, 16, 42) is individualized by a coding such that upon superimposition of the light from adjacent light sources (14, 16, 42) the emitting light sources (14, 16, 42) can be determined.