Optical Touch Panel Signal Pairing via Temporal Feedback

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Solution Overview

Problem

Optical touch panels face challenges in accurately detecting touch controls due to asynchronous detection of reflection signals from multiple objects approaching the panel, leading to inconsistent signal pairing and reduced accuracy.

Innovation Solution

The optical touch panel system employs two optical sensors and a processor to sense reflection signals on a main panel, determining inconsistencies and removing unpaired signals based on previous pairing relationships to ensure consistent signal pairing and accurate touch control detection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple optical sensors detect reflection signals from multiple objects simultaneously, then the coverage and detection capability are improved, but signal pairing inconsistency and detection accuracy deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection capabilityVSAvoidtouch control detection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses feedback from previous time point pairing relationships to identify and remove unpaired signals at the current time point. The processor compares current signal quantities with historical pairing data, creating a feedback loop that continuously corrects signal pairing inconsistencies and maintains accurate touch detection despite multiple objects in the detection field.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system discards unpaired reflection signals that cause detection inconsistencies by identifying them through comparison with previous pairing relationships. This selective discarding of problematic signals while preserving valid paired signals resolves the pairing inconsistency issue and maintains detection accuracy in multi-object scenarios.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

2Device complexity

If reflection signals are paired based on current time point data only, then the detection process is simplified, but pairing accuracy deteriorates due to asynchronous detection

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal processing complexityVSAvoidsignal pairing accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary pairing actions at previous time points and stores these pairing relationships for reference. By establishing pairing relationships in advance and using them as a basis for current detection, the system maintains pairing accuracy without significantly increasing current processing complexity, as the heavy pairing work is distributed over time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates feedback from historical pairing data to guide current signal pairing decisions. The processor uses pairing relationships from previous time points as reference information to identify and correct pairing inconsistencies in real-time, maintaining high pairing accuracy while keeping the overall system manageable through iterative refinement rather than complex simultaneous processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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 effectively prevents asynchronous touch control detection, enhancing the accuracy of touch control detection regardless of object position, thereby improving the overall performance of optical touch panels.

Implementation Method 1

Optical touch panels identify a position that a user selects on the panel through detecting changes in optical characteristics on the panel

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentUS10042475B2Optical touch panel and detection method thereof
Publication Date: 2018.08.07 WISTRON CORP

AI summary

An optical touch panel and a detection method thereof are provided. The detection method includes following steps. A main panel is sensed by a first optical sensor and a second optical sensor. If the first optical sensor and the second optical sensor both sense two objects approaching the main panel, and a quantity of at least one first reflection signal sensed by the first optical sensor and a quantity of at least one second reflection signal sensed by the second sensor are inconsistent, the at least one first reflection signal or the at least one second reflection signal that is not paired at a current time point is removed according to a pairing relationship between the at least one first reflection signal and the at least one second reflection signal at a previous time point.