Force Sensor Touch Screen Flex Layer Motion Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic devices require discrete accelerometer and gyroscope circuitry to determine motion and orientation, which increases cost and space requirements, whereas touch screens with force sensing capabilities can potentially eliminate the need for these components by using a flex layer to sense deflections and detect force inputs.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a flex layer in touch screens that can deflect freely and sense changes in capacitance between electrodes to determine motion and orientation of the device, allowing for the detection of force inputs without the need for additional motion-sensing hardware.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If discrete accelerometer and gyroscope circuitry are included to determine motion and orientation, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the force sensing function with the flex layer already present in the touch screen assembly. The flex layer serves dual purposes: maintaining the touch screen structure and sensing force inputs that correlate with device motion and orientation. This eliminates the need for separate accelerometer and gyroscope circuitry by merging motion sensing capabilities into the existing touch screen infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The flex layer is designed to perform multiple functions: it provides structural support for the touch screen, enables touch sensing, and simultaneously detects force inputs that indicate device motion and orientation. By making the flex layer multi-functional, the patent eliminates the need for dedicated motion sensing components, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement precision.
2Measurement precision
If discrete accelerometer and gyroscope circuitry are included to determine motion and orientation, then measurement precision is improved, but device space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges motion sensing capabilities into the existing touch screen flex layer, eliminating the need for separate physical components for accelerometers and gyroscopes. The force sensing traces are integrated within the same flex layer structure, thereby saving device space while maintaining the ability to determine motion and orientation accurately.
Solution Approach 2:
The flex layer is designed to serve multiple functions within the same physical space: it supports the touch screen structure, enables touch input detection, and simultaneously provides motion and orientation sensing through force input detection. This multi-functionality reduces the overall device space required compared to having separate dedicated components for each function.
3Device complexity
If force sensing capabilities are added to touch screens to eliminate discrete motion-sensing hardware, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical motion sensing systems (accelerometers and gyroscopes) with an electrical sensing mechanism. The flex layer contains force sensing traces that detect changes in electrical properties (such as capacitance or resistance) in response to mechanical deformation caused by force inputs. This substitution maintains measurement precision while reducing device complexity by eliminating separate motion-sensing hardware.
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 enables the determination of motion and orientation characteristics without the need for discrete accelerometer and gyroscope circuitry, potentially reducing costs and space requirements while maintaining accurate force sensing and motion detection.
Implementation Method 1
sense changes in capacitance between electrodes to determine motion and orientation of the device
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device is disclosed. The electronic device comprises a touch sensor panel configured to detect an object touching the touch sensor panel and a plurality of force sensors coupled to the touch sensor panel and configured to detect an amount of force with which the object touches the touch sensor panel. A processor is coupled to the plurality of force sensors, the processor configured to: measure a first value from a first force sensor of the plurality of force sensors; measure a second value from a second force sensor of the plurality of force sensors, different from the first force sensor; and determine a motion characteristic of the electronic device based on the first value and the second value.