Earbud Touch Sensor Layout for Accidental Touch Rejection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wearable electronic devices face issues with unintended operations due to varied wearing methods, leading to inaccurate determination of valid touch signals, which can result in malfunction or non-operation of intended functions.
Innovation Solution
The device incorporates a main touch sensor and auxiliary touch sensors, along with a processor that analyzes touch sensitivity thresholds and debounce periods to differentiate between valid and invalid touch signals, ensuring accurate operation control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the wearable electronic device uses a touch pad for user input, then the device can respond to user operations, but unintended operations may occur due to varied wearing methods and accidental touches
Solution Approach 1:
The touch sensing area is divided into multiple independent touch zones (first touch area and second touch area) with different functions. The first touch area responds to touches for media control, while the second touch area detects wearing state through accidental touches. This segmentation allows the system to distinguish between intentional user operations and accidental touches during wearing, resolving the contradiction between responsiveness and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
A processor acts as an intermediary that receives touch signals from both touch areas, analyzes their characteristics (position, pressure, duration), and determines whether to execute the intended operation. The processor mediates between the raw touch signals and the final device response, using the touch sensitivity threshold and debounce period analysis to filter out false triggers while maintaining legitimate user control.
2Device complexity
If the device processes touch signals without differentiation, then simple control logic is maintained, but the device cannot distinguish between valid and invalid touch signals
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary analysis of touch signals by comparing touch sensitivity values against predefined thresholds before executing operations. The processor calculates touch sensitivity based on capacitance changes and compares it with a threshold value to determine if the touch is intentional or accidental. This preliminary action enables accurate differentiation between valid and invalid touch signals while maintaining relatively simple control logic.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts touch sensitivity thresholds and debounce periods based on the detected wearing state. When the device detects it is being worn (through touches on the second touch area), it adjusts the sensitivity threshold to prevent accidental media control operations. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain simple control logic while achieving high measurement precision in distinguishing touch signal validity.
3Speed
If the device reduces debounce period for responsive touch control, then user operations are executed quickly, but false touches during wearing are more likely to trigger operations
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the debounce period based on the detected wearing state and touch characteristics. When wearing state is detected through the second touch area, the system extends the debounce period to filter out accidental touches. For confirmed intentional touches (those meeting sensitivity thresholds and occurring in the first touch area), the system maintains short debounce periods for quick response. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between fast response and accurate operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from the second touch area to adjust the debounce period and sensitivity threshold for the first touch area. When accidental touches are detected during wearing, the system increases the debounce period and adjusts sensitivity thresholds to prevent false operations. This feedback mechanism allows the system to maintain fast response for valid touches while preventing false triggers, resolving the speed-reliability contradiction.
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 reliability of touch signal processing, preventing unintended operations and maintaining intended functions in wearable devices.
Implementation Method 1
a touch sensor configured to detect a touch input
Data Source
AI summary
A wearable electronic device is provided. The wearable electronic device includes a housing, which includes a first part at least partially exposed to an outside to receive a touch by being seated on at least a portion of a body of a user, and a second part extending from the first part, and configured to be concealed by the first part by being inserted into an ear canal of the user, the first part including a first touch area facing a first direction and a second touch area disposed on at least a portion of a lateral edge of the first part, adjacent to the first touch area and facing a second direction, a main touch sensor disposed below the first touch area, an auxiliary touch sensor disposed below the second touch area, and a circuit board disposed inside the housing, and including a processor electrically connected to the main touch sensor and the auxiliary touch sensor and configured to control an operation state of the wearable electronic device based on touch information obtained from the main touch sensor and the auxiliary touch sensor, wherein the auxiliary touch sensor includes a first auxiliary touch sensor and a second auxiliary touch sensor, disposed below the second touch area, wherein the processor is further configured to maintain the operation state of the wearable electronic device, when a touch sensitivity measured at least a portion of the first auxiliary touch sensor and the second auxiliary touch sensor is equal to or greater than a first threshold, and wherein the processor is further configured to change the operation state of the wearable electronic device, when touch sensitivities measured at the first auxiliary touch sensor and the second auxiliary touch sensor are less than the first threshold and a touch sensitivity measured at the main touch sensor is equal to or greater than a second threshold.