Force Touch Sensing Structure Using Optical Protrusion Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional capacitive force touch panels are unstable due to changes in capacitance caused by external factors such as ambient temperature, necessitating an improvement in force touch sensing technology.
Innovation Solution
A force touch sensing structure featuring protrusions on an elastic layer with integrated image recognition cameras and electrodes that detect position and height changes of the protrusions to determine touch force and position, providing stable sensing independent of external factors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a capacitive force touch film is used, then force touch sensing can be achieved, but stability deteriorates due to capacitance changes with external factors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the capacitive sensing mechanism with an optical detection system. Image recognition cameras capture images of the force touch film surface, and processing circuits analyze these images to detect touch position and force. This substitution eliminates dependence on capacitance stability while maintaining force touch sensing capability, thereby resolving the contradiction between reliability and measurement precision.
2Measurement precision
If image recognition cameras are added to detect protrusion changes, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The image recognition cameras serve multiple functions: they detect touch position, measure touch force through protrusion height analysis, and can potentially identify touch patterns. By using a single component type for multiple sensing purposes, the patent achieves high measurement precision without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of directly measuring physical quantities with specialized sensors, the patent uses image recognition cameras to capture visual copies (images) of the force touch film surface. These optical copies are then processed to extract touch information, simplifying the sensing mechanism while maintaining high precision.
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 a stable and sensitive force touch sensing mechanism that is not affected by external factors, allowing for accurate detection of touch positions and forces.
Implementation Method 1
at least one image recognition camera is configured to detect a position of the protrusions and variations of relative heights of the protrusions
Implementation Method 2
When a region of the force touch sensing area is force touched, a height of one or more protrusions in the region changes
Data Source
AI summary
A force touch sensing structure which is immune to changes in sensitivity caused by external factors defines a force touch sensing area. The force touch sensing structure includes protrusions in the force touch sensing area, at least one image recognition camera, and a processor. A height of at least one protrusion varies when the force touch sensing area is force touched. The image recognition camera detects positions of the height-varied protrusions and the extent of the variations. The processor receives and processes signals from the at least one image recognition camera to obtain force touch position and touch force.