Force-Sensing Touchpad Signal Accumulation for Accurate Touch Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing touchpads inaccurately determine force application due to negative slopes caused by ripple signals during force sensing, leading to incorrect determination of force application.
Innovation Solution
A touchpad with a force-sensing method that accumulates force sensing values and generates a force result, which is then read to determine the establishment of a touch procedure, eliminating the need for immediate external processing and reducing hardware costs while improving accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If force sensing data is sampled and stored in a single register, then the force sensing function can be implemented, but the previously-stored data is overwritten before it can be read by the touch processing unit
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single register into multiple registers (first register, second register, third register, etc.) to store multiple force sensing data points simultaneously. This segmentation allows the touch processing unit to read previously-stored data without overwriting it, resolving the information loss problem while maintaining the force sensing function.
2Loss of information
If multiple force sensing data are stored in separate registers, then data loss is prevented, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the force processing unit's data storage function from the touch processing unit by providing dedicated registers within the force processing unit. This allows the touch processing unit to focus on touch sensing while the force processing unit handles force data storage and management, reducing overall system complexity despite multiple registers.
3Loss of information
If an external processor is used to store and manage force sensing data, then data overwriting is avoided, but the hardware cost and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the force sensing data storage registers into the force processing unit itself, eliminating the need for a separate external processor to manage force data. This integration maintains the ability to store multiple data points while reducing hardware complexity and cost compared to using an external processor.
4Speed
If the touch processing unit reads force sensing data during object sensing, then real-time force determination is achieved, but the data may be overwritten before reading
Solution Approach 1:
The patent prepares multiple force sensing data points in advance by storing them in separate registers within the force processing unit before the touch processing unit needs to read them. This preliminary storage ensures that the data is ready and cannot be overwritten, allowing the touch processing unit to read the data during object sensing without risking data loss or requiring the external processor to work at the sampling frequency.
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
Accurate determination of force application is achieved by accumulating force sensing values and reading the generated result, enhancing touchpad functionality and reducing hardware complexity.
Implementation Method 1
at least one force sensor mounted on the touchpad body to sense a force applied on the touchpad body and to output a force sensing signal corresponding to the force
Data Source
AI summary
A touchpad with a force sensing function and force sensing method thereof are disclosed. In the force sensing method, a touch processing unit having a touch sensing procedure and a force reading procedure is provided. When the touch processing unit executes the touch sensing procedure, a force sensor is provided to sense a force applied on a touchpad body and a plurality of force sensing values are obtained. After that, a calculating unit is provided to accumulate the force sensing values to generate a force result. When the touch processing unit executes the force reading procedure, the touch processing unit reads the force result to determine whether a touch procedure is established or not.