Randomized Mesh Touch Sensor Design for Moiré Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current touch sensors face challenges in accurately detecting the presence and location of touches or proximity inputs due to limitations in electrode configurations and materials, which can lead to inefficiencies in capacitive sensing and potential optical interference issues.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a touch sensor system with an array of drive and sense electrodes on substrates, utilizing conductive materials like ITO or fine lines of metal, and a mechanical stack with optically clear adhesives and dielectric layers, along with randomized vertex distributions in mesh patterns to reduce moiré patterns and enhance capacitive coupling, allowing for precise detection of touch or proximity inputs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If regular mesh patterns are used in touch sensors, then manufacturing is simpler, but moiré patterns occur causing optical interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by randomizing the positions of vertices in the mesh pattern, breaking the regular periodic structure that causes moiré interference. Instead of uniform spacing, vertices are positioned with random offsets within defined boundaries, creating an asymmetric, non-repeating pattern that eliminates optical moiré effects while maintaining manufacturability through computational design
2Measurement precision
If electrode density is increased to improve touch detection accuracy, then sensing precision improves, but optical interference increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by varying the density and distribution of mesh vertices in different regions. The randomized vertex placement allows for local optimization where vertices can be more densely concentrated in areas requiring higher sensitivity while maintaining lower density in other regions, thereby achieving high touch detection accuracy without uniform optical interference across the entire surface
3Object-affected harmful factors
If mesh pattern is optimized to reduce moiré patterns, then optical interference is reduced, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-computing and storing optimized vertex position data in lookup tables or configuration files. The complex randomized mesh patterns are generated and validated before manufacturing, with vertex coordinates predetermined through computational algorithms. This preliminary design phase separates the complexity of optimization from the manufacturing process, allowing standard fabrication techniques to produce the complex patterns without increased manufacturing difficulty
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 configuration enables accurate and reliable detection of touch or proximity inputs by minimizing optical interference and improving capacitive sensing, thereby enhancing the precision and effectiveness of touch-sensitive applications.
Implementation Method 1
An array of conductive drive and sense electrodes may form a mutual-capacitance touch sensor having one or more capacitive nodes. Each of the conductive electrodes in the array may form a capacitive node, and, when an object touches or comes within proximity of the electrode, a change in self-capacitance may occur at that capacitive node
Implementation Method 2
randomized vertex distributions in mesh patterns to reduce moiré patterns and enhance capacitive coupling
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, an apparatus may include a touch sensor that includes a mesh of conductive material. The mesh includes a number of mesh cells that each have a number of vertices. Each of the vertices has a substantially randomized location within an annulus centered at a seed location of the vertex. The apparatus may also include one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media coupled to the touch sensor and embodying logic that is configured when executed to control the touch sensor.