Programmable Conductive Unit for Capacitive Touch Interaction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Capacitive touch control screens often fail to respond to normal conductors and can be damaged by good conductors, limiting effective interaction and user experience in electronic devices.

Innovation Solution

An electronic apparatus with programmable electric conductive units that switch between good and normal conductor modes based on control signals, allowing for the transmission of information and feedback without requiring additional data lines or wireless connections, using switches and control units to manage the conductive modes and receive feedback information.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a good conductor is made to contact with the capacitive touch control screen, then the screen can generate response, but the screen may be damaged

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetouch control screen responseVSAvoidscreen damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The conductive unit dynamically switches between good conductor mode (for triggering touch response) and normal conductor mode (for safe interaction), allowing the system to adapt its electrical properties based on the operational phase to both activate the screen and prevent damage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The electrical conductivity parameter of the conductive unit is changed between two states: high conductivity (good conductor) for screen activation and normal conductivity (normal conductor) for safe operation, resolving the contradiction between needing high conductivity for response and low conductivity for safety

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a normal conductor is made to contact with the capacitive touch control screen, then the screen may not respond, but the conductor is safe to use

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconductor safetyVSAvoidtouch control screen response

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The conductive unit transitions from normal conductor mode (safe but non-responsive) to good conductor mode (responsive) through controlled switching, enabling the system to first establish safe contact and then activate screen response when needed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system preliminarily establishes safe normal conductor contact with the screen, then subsequently switches to good conductor mode to trigger the touch response, ensuring safety before activation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If additional data lines or wireless connections are used for communication, then information transmission is reliable, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation transmissionVSAvoidhardware requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The conductive unit serves multiple functions: it acts as both the physical contact element for touch interaction and the communication channel for information transmission, eliminating the need for separate data lines or wireless modules

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the touch interaction function and the communication function into a single conductive unit, combining what would traditionally require separate hardware components into one integrated element

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

Enables effective interaction with capacitive touch control screens, enhancing user experience by allowing devices to communicate and provide feedback without additional hardware, ensuring reliable communication and multiple interactive modes.

Implementation Method 1

at least one programmable electric conductive unit configured to switch between a good conductor mode and a normal conductor mode according to a control signal

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical Conductivity: Conduction (electrical)

Implementation Method 2

capacitive touch control screen has the following characteristic: when a conductor with normal electric conductive performance is made to contact with the touch control screen, the capacitive touch control screen may not respond

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapacitance: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentUS9436283B2Electronic apparatus and electronic system

Publication Date: 2016.09.06 LENOVO SOFTWARE

AI summary

The present invention provides an electronic apparatus and an electronic system. The electronic apparatus includes: at least one programmable electric conductive unit configured to switch a good conductor mode and a normal conductor mode according to a control signal when it contacts with a second electronic apparatus so as to transmit predetermined information to the second electronic apparatus contacting with the electronic apparatus; a control unit configured generate the control signal having a predetermined frequency; and a feedback information receiving unit configured to receive feedback information transmitted by the second electronic apparatus, the feedback information being transmitted in response to the reception of the predetermined information.