Integrated Multi-Sensing Sheet for Portable Devices
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional force-sensing systems in portable electronic devices increase device thickness and manufacturing costs due to the need for separate force-sensing sheets, which occupy limited space and are costly to produce.
Innovation Solution
Integration of touch-sensing and force-sensing circuits on a single substrate within a multi-sensing system, where the orthogonal projections of these circuits are misaligned, allowing for a combined sensing sheet that reduces device size and manufacturing costs by eliminating the need for additional force-sensing sheets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a separate force-sensing sheet is added to the device, then force-sensing capability is improved, but device thickness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the touch-sensing circuit and force-sensing circuit into a single integrated sensing sheet. The substrate contains both types of circuits that can simultaneously perform touch detection and force sensing functions, eliminating the need for separate force-sensing sheets and reducing overall device thickness.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensing sheet is designed with multi-functionality, where a single substrate hosts both touch-sensing circuits for touch detection and force-sensing circuits for force measurement. This universal design allows one component to fulfill multiple sensing roles, reducing the number of layers needed in the device structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a separate force-sensing sheet is added to the device, then force-sensing capability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the touch-sensing circuit and force-sensing circuit into a single integrated sensing sheet. This consolidation reduces the total number of components that need to be manufactured and assembled, thereby lowering manufacturing costs while maintaining both touch-sensing and force-sensing capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
By designing a universal sensing sheet that performs both touch detection and force sensing functions, the patent eliminates the need to manufacture and assemble separate force-sensing sheets. This multi-functional approach simplifies the manufacturing process and reduces overall production costs.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate sensing sheets are used, then sensing functionality is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensing functions into a single integrated sensing sheet structure. The substrate contains both touch-sensing circuits and force-sensing circuits, reducing the number of separate sensing layers from two or more to one, thereby simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining comprehensive sensing functionality.
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 integrated multi-sensing system reduces the overall thickness and manufacturing costs of portable electronic devices while maintaining effective touch and force sensing capabilities, enhancing durability through the use of buffers and a metal carrier for improved capacitance variation sensing.
Implementation Method 1
a force-sensing system adopts a capacitance structure as the basic framework of the sensing system... a medium (e.g., a sponge or air) is filled in between the two opposite electrodes (i.e., upper and lower electrodes) to form a capacitance structure... a gap between the upper and lower substrates is reduced accordingly. A distance between the two opposite electrodes is also reduced, thereby changing a capacitance value between the two electrodes
Implementation Method 2
a touch-sensing circuit and a force-sensing circuit disposed on the substrate... the touch-sensing circuit located above the display element... determining a touch position touched by a user on the display element according to a sensing result of the touch-sensing circuit
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-sensing system, a portable electronic device, and a touch-sensing method are provided. The multi-sensing system includes a sensing sheet and a carrier. The sensing sheet includes a substrate, and a touch-sensing circuit and a force-sensing circuit disposed on the substrate, wherein an orthogonal projection of the force-sensing circuit on the substrate and an orthogonal projection of the touch-sensing circuit on the substrate are misaligned from each other. The carrier has a carrying space and a carrying shoulder adjacent to the carrying space, wherein the carrier carries the sensing sheet with the carrying shoulder. The carrying space is used to accommodate a display element. The touch-sensing circuit is located above the display element.