Force-Sensitive Touch Panel With Mechanical Isolation Membrane
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional touch panels, such as resistive and capacitive types, lack force or pressure sensitivity and are prone to mechanical wear, and cannot accurately detect non-conductive objects or varying touch forces.
Innovation Solution
A force-sensitive touch panel device that includes a sensor between a device body and touch surface, with a preload element to maintain contact and a membrane for mechanical isolation, allowing for precise detection of force vectors and magnitudes, and optionally includes a processor to determine actions based on touch input.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If resistive touch panels use two opposing electrically conducting films to sense touch location, then touch location accuracy is improved, but mechanical wear of films occurs and display clarity is impacted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical contact system of resistive touch panels with a capacitive sensing system that detects changes in capacitance caused by touch events. This eliminates the need for two opposing conducting films that mechanically wear against each other, while maintaining touch location accuracy through electrical field sensing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a protective overlay layer as an intermediary between the user's finger and the sensing elements. This overlay protects the conducting films from direct mechanical contact and wear, while still allowing capacitive coupling to occur for accurate touch detection.
2Measurement precision
If capacitive touch panels use electrically conducting films to sense touch, then touch location accuracy is improved, but ability to sense non-conductive objects deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs multiple sensing layers with different electrode configurations and sensing parameters. By varying the capacitance measurement parameters and using both self-capacitance and mutual-capacitance sensing modes, the system can detect both conductive objects (fingers) and non-conductive objects (styluses, gloves) with high accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the capacitive touch panel with multiple independent sensing layers that can operate in different modes. This multi-functional design enables the same touch panel to detect various types of touch inputs including fingers, styluses, and other objects, regardless of their electrical conductivity properties.
3Device complexity
If conventional touch panels lack force sensitivity, then device complexity is reduced, but ability to detect force or pressure deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the force sensing function with the existing capacitive touch sensing layers by utilizing the same electrode structures. The force information is extracted from changes in capacitance characteristics when pressure is applied, eliminating the need for separate force sensing hardware while adding force detection capability to the touch panel.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent detects force by measuring changes in capacitance parameters caused by pressure-induced deformation of the flexible substrate. By monitoring parameter changes in the existing capacitive sensing system rather than adding separate sensors, force detection is achieved without significantly increasing device complexity.
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
The solution provides high-resolution and repeatable force sensing capabilities, minimizing erroneous measurements and enabling detection of diverse touch inputs, including non-conductive objects, while maintaining display clarity and reducing mechanical wear.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor for sensing touch force that is arranged between the device body and the touch surface
Implementation Method 2
the preload element can be a tensile or compressive spring
Data Source
AI summary
An example force sensitive touch panel device can include a device body; a touch surface for receiving a touch force; a sensor for sensing touch force that is arranged between the device body and the touch surface; and a membrane configured to mechanically isolate the device body and the touch surface. Additionally, the membrane can apply a preload force to the sensor.