Resonant Phase Sensor Compensation for Air Gap and Temperature Drift
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional mobile devices with mechanical buttons face issues such as aging, wear, and difficulty in manufacturing waterproof designs, prompting a need for sensitive, power-efficient sensors to detect user interactions for virtual button interfaces.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a sensor that outputs a signal indicative of distance to a mechanical member, a measurement circuit to determine physical force, and a compensator to adjust for changes in sensor properties due to distance and temperature, enhancing the sensitivity and reliability of resonant phase sensing in mobile devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If mechanical buttons are used in mobile devices, then user interaction capability is provided, but aging and wear reduce device lifespan
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical buttons with a virtual button interface detected by a resonant phase sensor. The sensor detects user interactions through changes in resonant phase caused by mechanical forces applied to the display assembly, eliminating physical mechanical buttons that suffer from wear and aging.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the mechanical button interface through software rendering on the display screen. The virtual button provides the same user interaction functionality without the physical wear issues, while haptic feedback mechanisms recreate the tactile sensation of a mechanical button press.
2Ease of manufacture
If mechanical buttons are used in mobile devices, then user interaction capability is provided, but waterproof manufacturing becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical buttons with a virtual interface detected by the resonant phase sensor integrated into the display assembly. This eliminates the need for physical button openings in the device housing, allowing for seamless waterproof sealing while maintaining full user interaction capability through touch detection.
3Measurement precision
If sensor sensitivity is increased to detect user interactions, then detection capability improves, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic excitation signals at the resonant frequency of the display assembly to detect user interactions. By utilizing resonance, the system achieves high sensitivity with minimal energy input, as the resonant oscillation amplifies the response to small mechanical forces without requiring continuous high-power signal generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operating parameter to utilize resonant frequency detection instead of continuous monitoring. The sensor detects phase changes in the resonant oscillation caused by user interactions, providing high sensitivity while consuming minimal power since the system only needs to detect phase variations rather than maintain continuous high-energy signals.
4Measurement precision
If compensation for temperature and distance changes is applied, then measurement accuracy improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-compensation mechanisms where the system automatically detects and corrects for temperature and distance variations. The resonant phase sensor inherently provides reference signals that allow the system to identify and compensate for environmental changes without requiring external calibration or complex additional components.
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 solution improves the detection of user interactions with virtual buttons, providing consistent and sensitive feedback while reducing the impact of environmental changes, thus extending the lifespan of mobile devices and enabling more reliable haptic experiences.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor configured to output a sensor signal based on a resonant phase of the display assembly responsive to a mechanical force applied to the display assembly
Implementation Method 2
measurement circuit communicatively coupled to the sensor and configured to determine a phase of the sensor signal
Data Source
AI summary
A system may include a sensor configured to output a sensor signal indicative of a distance between the sensor and a mechanical member associated with the sensor, a measurement circuit communicatively coupled to the sensor and configured to determine a physical force interaction with the mechanical member based on the sensor signal, and a compensator configured to monitor the sensor signal and to apply a compensation factor to the sensor signal to compensate for changes to properties of the sensor based on at least one of changes in a distance between the sensor and the mechanical member and changes in a temperature associated with the sensor.