Floating Electrode Apertures for Higher-Sensitivity Capacitive Input Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current input devices, such as proximity sensor devices, face challenges in sensitivity, which affects their ability to accurately detect objects in the sensing region, leading to reduced usability.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a transmitter sensor electrode and a receiver sensor electrode capacitively coupled to form transcapacitance, with a floating electrode that includes apertures overlapping the transmitter sensor electrode, enhancing sensitivity by reducing capacitive coupling and improving signal-to-noise performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a floating electrode overlaps the transmitter sensor electrode to reduce noise, then noise reduction is improved, but sensitivity deteriorates due to increased capacitive coupling
Solution Approach 1:
The floating electrode is segmented into multiple regions with different aperture configurations. The first region overlapping the transmitter electrode includes apertures to reduce capacitive coupling and improve sensitivity, while the second region overlapping the receiver electrode maintains continuous structure for noise reduction. This segmentation allows each region to optimize for its specific function.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the floating electrode are given different structural qualities: the first region has apertures localized where it overlaps the transmitter electrode to reduce coupling, while the second region remains continuous where it overlaps the receiver electrode for shielding. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by applying the right structure in the right location.
2Device complexity
If the transmitter and receiver sensor electrodes are formed in the same layer, then device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The transmitter sensor electrode, receiver sensor electrode, and floating electrode are merged into the same layer structure. This consolidation reduces the total number of layers and simplifies the overall device architecture, making it more suitable for cost-effective manufacturing processes while maintaining functional performance.
3Measurement precision
If apertures are added to the floating electrode to improve sensitivity, then sensitivity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The floating electrode is divided into regions, with apertures introduced only in the first region overlapping the transmitter electrode. This selective segmentation improves sensitivity where needed without unnecessarily complicating the entire electrode structure, balancing performance enhancement with manufacturing simplicity.
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 configuration improves the determination of positional information for input objects, resulting in higher sensitivity and reduced noise interference, thus enhancing the overall performance of input devices.
Implementation Method 1
a transmitter sensor electrode and a receiver sensor electrode that are capacitively coupled to form a transcapacitance for capacitively sensing input objects in a sensing region
Implementation Method 2
the at least one aperture serves to reduce capacitive coupling between the transmitter sensor electrode and the floating electrode and thereby increase signal-to-noise performance of the input device
Data Source
AI summary
Devices and methods are provided that facilitate improved input device performance. The devices and methods utilize a transmitter sensor electrode and a receiver sensor electrode that are capacitively coupled to form a transcapacitance for capacitively sensing input objects in a sensing region. A measure of the transcapacitance may be used to determine positional information for the input objects in the sensing region. In accordance with the various embodiments, the devices and methods include a floating electrode that is ohmically insulated from other electrical elements during operation. A first portion of the floating electrode overlaps a portion of the transmitter sensor electrode and a second portion of the floating electrode overlaps a portion of the receiver sensor electrode. The floating electrode additionally includes at least one aperture within the first portion of the floating electrode, where the at least one aperture at least in part overlaps the transmitter sensor electrode.