External Touch Detection via Screen Capacitance Nodes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing terminals with independent touch keys outside the touchscreen occupy space, limiting the number of touch keys and resulting in poor user experience due to limited functions.
Innovation Solution
A detection electrode is placed outside the touchscreen's touch control area, connected to an induction electrode within the touch area via a conducting wire, allowing capacitance changes to be detected and interpreted as touch control events, enabling extended control options without occupying additional space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If independent touch keys are disposed outside the touchscreen, then the touch keys can be detected without obstructing the screen, but the number of touch keys is limited due to space occupation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the detection electrode with the existing touchscreen structure by connecting it to the capacitance node through a conducting wire. This integration allows the external detection electrode to share the touchscreen's detection resources, enabling multiple touch control functions without requiring separate independent detection components for each key.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the existing capacitance node serve multiple functions: it detects both the touchscreen touch operations and the external detection electrode operations. By connecting the detection electrode to the capacitance node, a single detection resource can handle multiple control functions, thereby expanding the number of available touch keys without proportionally increasing the required detection component space.
2Adaptability or versatility
If independent touch keys are disposed outside the touchscreen, then the touch control functions are available, but the device complexity increases due to additional detection components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the detection electrode with the existing touchscreen detection system by connecting them through a conducting wire to the same capacitance node. This merging approach allows the system to detect external touch operations using the existing detection infrastructure, thereby adding functionality without requiring a completely separate detection system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a conducting wire as an intermediary element that connects the detection electrode to the capacitance node. This intermediary allows the detection electrode to interface with the existing detection system, enabling signal transmission from the external electrode to the capacitance node without requiring direct integration or complex additional detection components.
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 solution enhances user experience by allowing more control functions with minimal space and cost, as the detection electrode's touch operations are identified and processed using the existing capacitance nodes within the touchscreen.
Implementation Method 1
When a user performs an operation on the detection electrode, a capacitance change value of a capacitance node coupled to the induction electrode changes
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention discloses a terminal, and a terminal control apparatus and method, which pertains to the terminal control field. The terminal includes: a touchscreen, at least one touch control unit, a first controller, and a second controller, where the touch control unit includes: a detection electrode, an induction electrode, and a conducting wire that connects the detection electrode and the induction electrode, where the detection electrode is located outside a touch control area of the touchscreen, the induction electrode is located in the touch control area of the touchscreen, and the induction electrode is coupled to at least one capacitance node in the touchscreen; and the first controller is separately connected to the touchscreen and the second controller. A touch control operation performed by a user on the detection electrode disposed outside the touchscreen is identified by using an existing capacitance node in the touchscreen, and the terminal is controlled according to the touch control operation. Therefore, by merely occupying a very small space and spending very low costs, a manner in which a user controls a terminal may be further extended, and user experience may be improved.