Hybrid Sensor Voting Logic for Intent Validation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Capacitive touch sensing technologies struggle to accurately sense the level of force applied by a user and determine the location of touch, often resulting in false positives when significant force is applied, as they either fail to interpret force correctly or misregister the touch location.
Innovation Solution
A hybrid sensor integrating a first sensing element for force detection, such as a piezoelectric, piezoresistive, or capacitive sensor, with a second sensing element for measuring physical parameters like light intensity, acoustic impedance, or electrical conductivity, along with signal processing and decision logic circuitry to validate user input, all on a single substrate, enabling accurate force and location sensing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If capacitive touch sensing is used to replace mechanical buttons, then device design becomes more seamless and integrated, but the ability to accurately sense force level and determine touch location is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensing technologies (capacitive touch sensing and force sensing) into a single hybrid sensor device. The first sensing element detects force applied to the touch surface while the second sensing element detects touch location, merging the advantages of both technologies to achieve both seamless design and accurate force measurement.
Solution Approach 2:
The hybrid sensor device performs multiple functions simultaneously: it detects touch location, measures force level, validates user intent, and prevents false positives. This multi-functional approach replaces what would traditionally require separate mechanical components, achieving versatility in a single integrated device.
2Measurement precision
If force sensors are used to sense applied force, then force level can be detected, but accurate determination of touch location is compromised and false positives occur
Solution Approach 1:
The decision logic circuitry uses feedback from both the first sensing element (force detection) and the second sensing element (touch location) to validate whether a detected force corresponds to a legitimate user input. This cross-validation feedback mechanism filters out false positives caused by accidental force application or environmental interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The second sensing element acts as an intermediary validator between the force detection and the final touch registration. It provides an additional layer of verification by confirming that the touch location corresponds with the applied force, thereby mediating between raw sensor data and validated user input.
3Device complexity
If traditional mechanical buttons are replaced with virtual buttons, then device design becomes more integrated, but the ability to interpret user intent through force level is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent monitors changes in physical parameters (force magnitude, touch location, temporal characteristics) to interpret user intent. By analyzing these parameter changes, the system can distinguish between deliberate user actions and accidental contacts, preserving intent recognition in the seamless design.
Solution Approach 2:
The hybrid sensor performs preliminary validation of user input by analyzing force level and touch location before registering a touch event. This preliminary action ensures that only validated inputs are processed, preventing false positives while maintaining accurate intent recognition.
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 hybrid sensor effectively mitigates false positives by validating sensed force using secondary parameters, providing improved sensing capabilities in a compact, energy-efficient package, suitable for replacing mechanical buttons in various devices.
Implementation Method 1
the first sensing element is at least one of a piezoelectric sensor, a piezoresistive sensor, or a capacitive sensor
Implementation Method 2
the first sensing element is at least one of a piezoelectric sensor, a piezoresistive sensor, or a capacitive sensor
Implementation Method 3
the first sensing element is at least one of a piezoelectric sensor, a piezoresistive sensor, or a capacitive sensor
Implementation Method 4
the second sensing element is configured to measure the intensity of near-infrared light
Implementation Method 5
the second sensing element is configured to measure the ultrasonic acoustic impedance
Implementation Method 6
the second sensing element is configured to measure at least one of electrical conductivity or electrical permittivity using capacitance
Data Source
AI summary
A hybrid sensor device includes a substrate; a first sensing element configured to sense force; a second sensing element configured to sense at least one of light intensity, acoustic impedance, electrical conductivity, electrical permittivity, or temperature; signal processing circuitry configured to receive and process respective output signals of the first and second sensing elements; and decision logic circuitry configured to validate an intent of a user input based on the respective output signals of the first and second force sensors, wherein the first and second sensors, the signal processing circuitry, and the decision logic circuitry are integrated on the substrate.