Proximity Touchpad Integrated in Display Housing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing touchpad technologies require physical contact to perform functions and are limited to scrolling, failing to enable proximity sensing and gesturing in three-dimensional space for input control on combined display systems.
Innovation Solution
A touchpad with both proximity and touch sensing capabilities, integrated into a display housing, allowing functions and interfaces to be activated by an actuating device's presence or movement within a detectable distance, enabling gestural inputs without contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a touchpad is combined with a display to provide added functionality, then the device can offer different means of providing input, but the touchpad requires physical contact to perform functions and is limited to scrolling only
Solution Approach 1:
The touchpad is designed to perform multiple functions beyond scrolling, including proximity sensing, touch sensing, and various gestural inputs. The system can detect different states (proximity, touch, gesture types) and execute corresponding functions, making the device universal and adaptable to diverse input needs
2Ease of manufacture
If the touchpad requires physical contact to perform functions, then the input method is simple to implement, but the scope of functions is limited and user interaction is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The touchpad transitions from a static contact-based input device to a dynamic system that can detect multiple states including proximity, touch, and various gesture types. The system adapts its functionality based on the detected state, enabling diverse input methods while maintaining implementation feasibility through state-based function activation
3Reliability
If the touchpad is concealed within the display housing, then durability is improved and installation costs are reduced, but the sensing capabilities must be integrated more complexly
Solution Approach 1:
The touchpad is merged with the display housing, integrating the sensing device within the display structure. This combination improves durability by protecting the touchpad and reduces installation costs by utilizing the existing housing structure, while the integrated design manages the complexity through unified construction
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 the display to perform functions and show interfaces based on proximity and touch inputs, allowing for enhanced user interaction through non-contact gestures and multiple-layer menu navigation, improving durability and reducing installation costs by concealing the touchpad within the display housing.
Implementation Method 1
The touchpad 10 measures an imbalance in electrical charge to the sense line 16. When no pointing object is on the touchpad 10, the touchpad sensor control circuitry 20 is in a balanced state, and there is no signal on the sense line 16. When a pointing device creates imbalance because of capacitive coupling, a change in capacitance occurs on the plurality of electrodes 12, 14 that comprise the touchpad electrode grid.
Implementation Method 2
The touchpad 10 measures an imbalance in electrical charge to the sense line 16. What is measured is the change in capacitance, and not the absolute capacitance value on the electrodes 12, 14. The touchpad 10 determines the change in capacitance by measuring the amount of charge that must be injected onto the sense line 16 to reestablish or regain balance on the sense line.
Data Source
AI summary
A touch-sensitive and far-field or proximity sensitive touchpad combined with a display, wherein the touchpad is formed as a touchstrip that is concealed inside the display, wherein a first function or interface such as a menu is enabled when an actuating device reaches a threshold distance from the touchpad, wherein a second function or interface is enabled when the actuating device makes contact with the touchpad, and wherein the first function may or may not continue after contact is made with the touchpad.