Inductive Position Sensing for Flexible Displays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inductive position sensing systems in flexible display screens of handheld devices face challenges in accurately determining position with high resolution while minimizing power consumption, due to susceptibility to noise and the need for high-resolution data processing.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a method involving multiple coil configurations, including driver and sensor coils, to generate and measure magnetic flux fields, with a processor that calibrates and filters data points to estimate position through curve fitting and weighted voting algorithms, and uses an IIR filter for accurate position determination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If high resolution inductive position sensing data is used, then accuracy of position sensing is improved, but noise among the data increases and power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the position sensing data processing into multiple stages: initial coarse position determination using lower resolution data, followed by refined position estimation using higher resolution data only in the identified region of interest. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high accuracy where needed while minimizing overall power consumption by processing high-resolution data for only a subset of the total sensor coils at any given time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies partial action by using high-resolution sensing data for only the necessary portion of the display screen at any given time, rather than processing all sensor data at maximum resolution continuously. The processor identifies active regions where position sensing is currently needed and processes high-resolution data only for those regions, reducing overall computational load and power consumption while maintaining accuracy where required.
2Measurement precision
If high resolution inductive position sensing data is processed, then accuracy of position sensing is improved, but noise among the data increases requiring more power to process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes noise from the inductive position sensing data through filtering operations before processing. The system applies noise filtering algorithms to the raw sensor data, separating the useful position information from the noisy components. This extraction of useful signal from noise allows the system to maintain high measurement precision while reducing the computational complexity of dealing with noisy data, thereby lowering power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary noise filtering and data preprocessing before the main position calculation operations. By preparing cleaner, pre-processed data in advance, the subsequent position estimation algorithms work with higher quality input data, reducing the need for repeated processing and corrections that would consume additional power.
3Measurement precision
If multiple coil configurations are used for position sensing, then measurement capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements multi-functionality by using the same array of sensor coils to detect the position of multiple different objects simultaneously - such as the display screen, keyboard, and other components. Rather than requiring separate sensing systems for each component, the universal coil array can sense positions of different objects by processing their respective magnetic field signatures, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining comprehensive measurement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges the position sensing functionality for multiple display screen components (such as the frame and the flexible display layer) into a single integrated sensing process. By combining the detection of multiple components within one unified sensor array and processing pipeline, the system achieves comprehensive position monitoring without the complexity of separate sensing systems for each component.
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 position sensing while reducing power consumption by refining the range of possible positions and correcting estimates, effectively managing noise and power usage in compact devices.
Implementation Method 1
The plurality of voltages may be generated by a plurality of sensor coils based on a magnetic flux field. The magnetic flux field may be generated by a plurality of driver coils.
Implementation Method 2
The plurality of voltages may be generated by a plurality of sensor coils based on a magnetic flux field. The plurality of voltages may vary with changes in the magnetic flux field.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for determining a position of a structure using inductive position sensing are described. In an example, a processor may receive a plurality of data points representing a plurality of voltages. The plurality of voltages may be generated by a plurality of sensor coils based on a magnetic flux field. The magnetic flux field may be generated by a plurality of driver coils, and the plurality of voltages may vary with changes in the magnetic flux field. The processor may calibrate the plurality of data points to generate a plurality of calibrated data points. The processor may filter the plurality of calibrated data points. The processor may estimate a position of the structure based on the filtered calibrated data points, where the position of the structure may indicate a size of a size changing device.