Reflected-Capacitive Touch Panel Channel Routing for Wearables

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wearable electronic devices, such as smartwatches, face a challenge in incorporating more features and functions due to limited surface area, as physical buttons detract from a fashionable design and adding features on the touch screen increases the bonding area, which is undesirable.

Innovation Solution

A reflected-capacitive touch panel with a center mutual-capacitance sensing portion and a border hybrid self-capacitance and mutual-capacitance sensing portion, where channels are routed into a predetermined bonding area, reducing the overall number of touch sensing channels and maintaining functionality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If physical buttons are added to provide more features, then functionality is improved, but the fashionable design is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoidfashionable design

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces physical mechanical buttons with a virtual touch interface on the display screen. The border region of the display serves as a touch-sensitive area that provides button-like functionality without requiring physical protruding elements, thus maintaining the sleek fashionable design while adding operational features.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If features are added on the touch screen border, then functionality is improved, but bonding area increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoidbonding area

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the border touch sensing functionality with the existing mutual-capacitance sensing matrix by sharing TX and RX channels. The border sensors utilize the same channel infrastructure as the center sensing portion, allowing border features to be added without proportionally increasing the bonding area for separate channel routing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The TX and RX channels serve dual purposes: they function for both the center mutual-capacitance sensing portion and the border hybrid self-capacitance/mutual-capacitance sensing portion. This multi-functionality allows a single channel set to support both center and border features, preventing bonding area expansion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If border touch sensing is added, then functionality is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoidtouch sensing channels

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the border sensing functionality with the existing center sensing matrix by sharing TX and RX channel infrastructure. The border hybrid sensors utilize the same channel pool as the center mutual-capacitance sensors, merging rather than duplicating the sensing architecture to avoid complexity multiplication.

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

This configuration allows for additional features on the border of the touch screen without increasing the bonding area, enhancing the device's functionality while maintaining a sleek design.

Implementation Method 1

The center touch sensing portion is composed of a plurality of mutual-capacitance sensors. The border touch sensing portion surrounds the center touch sensing portion, and is composed of a plurality of hybrid self-capacitance and mutual-capacitance sensors.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapacitance: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentUS10521060B2Wearable electronic device and a reflected-capacitive touch panel thereof

Publication Date: 2019.12.31 HIMAX TECH LTD

AI summary

A reflected-capacitive touch panel of a wearable electronic device includes a center touch sensing portion composed of a plurality of mutual-capacitance sensors; a border touch sensing portion composed of a plurality of hybrid self-capacitance and mutual-capacitance sensors; and a predetermined bonding area into which channels of the center touch sensing portion and the border touch sensing portion are routed.