Rotary Display Control With Sinusoidal Electrode Position Sensing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rotary controls with capacitive touch sensors are sensitive to mechanical tolerances and contamination, leading to inaccuracies in rotational position determination and requiring complex, costly structures with many components.
Innovation Solution
A rotary control design featuring a hollow cylindrical counter electrode with a sinusoidal lower contour, which is robust and less sensitive to mechanical tolerances, allowing for a simple and cost-effective structure with fewer components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If resilient counter electrodes are used to press uniformly on the user interface, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases and manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the resilient counter electrode component entirely from the system. Instead of using a complex resilient structure with multiple components, the invention uses a simple rigid counter electrode that is held in position by a single spring element, thereby extracting the problematic complex component while maintaining the necessary function through a simplified approach.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the mechanical parameter of the counter electrode from resilient (flexible) to rigid, fundamentally altering how the electrode maintains contact with the user interface. This parameter change eliminates the need for complex resilient structures while achieving uniform contact through the rigid electrode's stable positioning.
2Measurement precision
If resilient counter electrodes are used to press uniformly on the user interface, then measurement precision is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the resilient counter electrode component entirely from the system. Instead of using a complex resilient structure with multiple components, the invention uses a simple rigid counter electrode that is held in position by a single spring element, thereby extracting the problematic complex component while maintaining the necessary function through a simplified approach.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces expensive resilient counter electrodes with a simpler, more cost-effective rigid counter electrode structure. The single spring element provides sufficient function at lower cost, making the overall system more economical while achieving the same measurement precision.
3Measurement precision
If resilient counter electrodes are used, then measurement precision is improved, but the structure generates noise and wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the resilient counter electrode component entirely from the system. Instead of using a complex resilient structure with multiple components, the invention uses a simple rigid counter electrode that is held in position by a single spring element, thereby extracting the problematic complex component while maintaining the necessary function through a simplified approach.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical resilient counter electrode system with a rigid counter electrode positioned by a spring element. This substitution eliminates the grinding contact between resilient material and user interface, thereby eliminating noise and wear generation while maintaining measurement function.
4Ease of operation
If a loose fit between handle and cylinder is chosen, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a cylindrical geometry for the handle fit within the rotary control. The cylindrical shape with specific dimensional relationships (internal diameter of handle versus external diameter of cylinder) provides smooth rotational movement while maintaining sufficient engagement for reliable position determination, balancing ease of operation with reliability.
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
The design achieves accurate rotational position determination while minimizing the influence of mechanical tolerances, resulting in a reliable and efficient rotary control system.
Implementation Method 1
the display has capacitive touch sensors are known from the prior art. So-called touchscreens are thus produced
Data Source
AI summary
A display comprising a rotary control mounted on the display, wherein the display has touch sensors, wherein a handle of the rotary control is rotatably mounted about an axis of rotation and has at least one counter electrode and the rotational position of the handle of the rotary control is determined by evaluation of the touch sensors, wherein the counter electrode is configured as a hollow cylinder, wherein the handle has an upper and a lower contour, wherein the lower contour is arranged closer to the display than the upper contour, wherein the lower contour is configured as the hollow cylinder and wherein the development of the lower contour is sinusoidal is disclosed. A method for evaluating the position of the above-described rotary control is also disclosed.