Force Input Detection Stages for Low-Power Mobile Sensing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing force sensing systems in mobile devices face challenges in balancing low power consumption with responsive performance, while also achieving acceptable levels of sensor sensitivity and size.
Innovation Solution
A force sensing system comprising an input channel, an activity detection stage, and an event detection stage, which minimizes power consumption by using an activity detection stage to gate the event detection stage and optimize power usage in always-on operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the event detection stage operates continuously to maintain responsive performance, then the detection speed is improved, but the power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The activity detection stage performs preliminary detection of sensor signals to identify potential user inputs before triggering the full event detection stage. This preliminary action filters out insignificant variations and only activates the power-intensive event detection stage when necessary, thus maintaining fast response for actual inputs while minimizing unnecessary power consumption during idle periods
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically transitions between different operational states: the activity detection stage operates continuously at low power, while the event detection stage is activated only when activity thresholds are met. This dynamic state transition allows the system to adapt its detection capability and power consumption based on real-time input conditions
2Measurement precision
If the activity detection stage is always active to detect user inputs, then the sensitivity is improved, but the power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The detection system is segmented into two distinct stages: an always-active activity detection stage that monitors for potential inputs with high sensitivity, and an event detection stage that performs detailed analysis only when triggered. This segmentation allows the system to maintain high sensitivity for detecting user inputs while consuming minimal power by keeping the more power-intensive event detection stage dormant during idle periods
Data Source
AI summary
A force sensing system for determining if a user input has occurred, the system comprising: an input channel, to receive an input from at least one force sensor; an activity detection stage, to monitor an activity level of the input from the at least one force sensor and, responsive to an activity level which may be indicative of a user input being reached, to generate an indication that an activity has occurred at the force sensor; and an event detection stage to receive said indication, and to determine if a user input has occurred based on the received input from the at least one force sensor.