Magnetic Keypad Press Detection for Phantom-Free Endoscopic Buttons
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing button press detection systems in endoscopic systems are prone to inaccuracies, including phantom button presses and failures to register button presses or releases, which can compromise surgical procedures by disrupting the functionality of the endoscopic system.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for accurately detecting button presses and releases using a magnetic field sensor that identifies a spike in sensor voltage change based on a slope threshold, determining the type of button press based on the duration between spikes, and providing tactile feedback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a magnetic field sensor is used to detect button presses, then button press detection capability is improved, but phantom button press errors occur due to noise or interference
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the slope threshold based on the detected signal characteristics. When a spike is detected, the threshold is temporarily increased to prevent subsequent noise from triggering false positives, while maintaining sensitivity for actual button presses. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by making the detection system both sensitive to real presses and resistant to phantom presses.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from the detected voltage changes to adjust its detection parameters. After detecting a spike indicating a button press, the system modifies its threshold settings and detection window, creating a feedback loop that prevents false detections while maintaining accurate detection of actual button presses.
2Measurement precision
If the slope threshold is set low to detect all button presses, then detection sensitivity is improved, but phantom button presses are registered
Solution Approach 1:
The slope threshold is not fixed but dynamically adjusted based on the detected signal pattern. Initially set at a low value to ensure detection of actual button presses, the threshold is temporarily raised after a spike is detected to prevent phantom presses from being registered, thus maintaining both sensitivity and reliability.
3Reliability
If the slope threshold is set high to avoid phantom button presses, then false positive rate is reduced, but actual button presses may be missed
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses dynamic threshold adjustment to resolve this contradiction. The threshold starts at a higher value to avoid phantom presses, but when a potential button press is detected, it is temporarily lowered to ensure actual presses are not missed, creating an adaptive detection system that maintains both reliability and sensitivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection of voltage spikes before final confirmation of button presses. This preliminary action allows the system to prepare appropriate threshold settings in advance, ensuring that when an actual button press occurs, the threshold is appropriately set to detect it while still maintaining protection against phantom presses.
4Ease of operation
If multiple buttons are placed closely together on the keypad, then ease of operation is improved, but cross-talk between buttons increases causing detection errors
Solution Approach 1:
The detection system segments the detection process into distinct phases: initial spike detection, button identification based on spike characteristics, and confirmation. This segmentation allows the system to accurately identify which closely-spaced button was pressed by analyzing the specific characteristics of each spike, preventing cross-talk errors while maintaining compact keypad layout.
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
Enhances the reliability of button press detection by minimizing phantom presses and ensuring accurate registration of button actions, thereby improving the safety and efficiency of endoscopic surgery.
Implementation Method 1
A button press and/or a button release may be detected by determining a change in the sensor voltage output from a magnetic field sensor
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are systems and methods for accurately detecting button presses and/or button releases on a keypad of a camera such as an endoscopic camera head. A button press and/or a button release may be detected by determining a change in the sensor voltage output from a magnetic field sensor and identifying a spike in the sensor voltage change. A spike occurs when the slope of the sensor voltage has a magnitude that is greater than a slope threshold, and indicates a button press and/or a button release. Aspects of the disclosure comprise a controller that identifies a spike. The controller may identify a second spike and determine the type of button press based on the duration between the first spike and the second spike. The disclosed systems and methods may further include and apply to a keypad comprising a plurality of buttons, such as closely-spaced buttons and concentric buttons.