Hybrid Capacitive Baseline Management for Gloved Input
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current capacitive sensing technologies face challenges in accurately detecting and positioning gloved human digits and multiple touch interactions due to interference and noise, particularly in hybrid capacitive sensing systems.
Innovation Solution
The method involves acquiring and managing transcapacitive and absolute capacitive profiles using a plurality of sensor electrodes to determine hybrid capacitive images, which combine absolute capacitive and transcapacitive sensing data, and managing baselines to improve input object detection and position determination, including techniques for error correction and baseline relaxation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If capacitive sensing systems use absolute capacitive sensing alone, then implementation is simpler, but detection accuracy for gloved digits is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines absolute capacitive sensing and transcapacitive sensing into a hybrid sensing system. The processor receives both absolute capacitive signal changes and transcapacitive signal changes, processes them together, and generates touch input data based on the combined information. This merging of sensing approaches enables accurate detection of gloved digits while maintaining manageable system complexity through integrated processing.
2Measurement precision
If transcapacitive sensing is used to detect gloved digits, then detection capability improves, but noise and interference increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an intermediary processing approach where the processor analyzes both absolute and transcapacitive signal changes together. The transcapacitive signal changes serve as an intermediary indicator that, when combined with absolute capacitive signal changes, provides a more reliable detection mechanism that filters out noise and interference while maintaining the enhanced detection capability for gloved digits.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors both absolute and transcapacitive signal changes and uses this feedback to dynamically determine touch input data. The processor processes the combined signal changes in real-time, allowing the system to adapt to varying conditions and filter out noise through continuous feedback analysis of both sensing modalities.
3Reliability
If baseline management is not performed, then system operation is simpler, but detection reliability decreases over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous baseline management where the processor continuously monitors capacitive signal changes and updates baselines as needed. This continuous action ensures that the system maintains high detection reliability by adapting to changing conditions over time, while the automated nature of the process keeps the complexity manageable through systematic rather than ad-hoc management.
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 enhances the accuracy of input object detection and position determination, especially for gloved digits, by reducing noise and interference, and effectively manages sensing baselines to maintain system reliability.
Implementation Method 1
A proximity sensor device typically includes a sensing region, often demarked by a surface, in which the proximity sensor device determines the presence, location and/or motion of one or more input objects
Data Source
AI summary
In a method of managing baselines of a capacitive sensing input device, a transcapacitive baseline, a first absolute capacitive baseline, and a second absolute capacitive baseline are acquired with a plurality of sensor electrodes of the capacitive sensing input device. A transcapacitive image, a first absolute capacitive profile, and a second absolute capacitive profile are acquired with the plurality of sensor electrodes. The transcapacitive baseline, the first absolute capacitive baseline, and the second absolute capacitive baseline are managed based on a value of at least one of the first absolute capacitive profile and the second absolute capacitive profile.