Rotatable Display Interface With Capacitive Grasp Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Rotatable knobs or interfaces in input devices occupy significant space and have complex designs, particularly when integrated with display panels, and existing proximity sensor devices struggle to accurately detect grasp and rotation with sensitivity, especially when used with gloved hands or in noisy environments.
Innovation Solution
The input device incorporates a rotatable interface with sensing electrodes that operate during distinct sensing periods to detect grasp and rotation, utilizing a processing system to drive and analyze signals from these electrodes, enabling accurate grasp detection even through thick materials and minimizing noise interference while reducing the interface's spatial footprint.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a rotatable interface is integrated with a display panel, then the interface provides rotational control functionality, but the interface occupies significant space and has complex design requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the rotatable interface with the display panel by using the same sensing electrodes for both display and rotational sensing functions. The display electrodes serve dual purposes: rendering visual output and detecting rotational movements through capacitive changes, thereby eliminating the need for separate interface components and reducing overall space occupation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements multi-functionality by enabling the display electrodes to perform both their primary display function and a secondary rotational sensing function. The same electrode structure detects both visual input and rotational movement through capacitive coupling changes, allowing a single component to serve multiple purposes and reducing the need for additional dedicated interface hardware.
2Ease of operation
If proximity sensor devices are used to detect grasp and rotation, then the devices provide input functionality, but they struggle to accurately detect grasp with gloved hands or in noisy environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces capacitive coupling as an intermediary mechanism between the user's hand (possibly gloved) and the sensing electrodes. By detecting changes in capacitive coupling rather than direct contact, the system can sense grasp presence and strength through the glove material, filtering out noise from the glove texture and environment while maintaining detection accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes changes in capacitive coupling parameters to detect grasp and rotation. By monitoring variations in capacitance values caused by hand proximity and contact, the system can distinguish between different grasp states and rotational movements, providing reliable detection even when hands are gloved or environmental noise is present.
3Adaptability or versatility
If existing proximity sensor devices detect rotation, then the devices provide rotational input, but they have complex designs that increase device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the rotational sensing function with the existing display electrode structure, eliminating the need for separate rotational sensing components. The same electrodes that render display content also detect rotational movements through capacitive changes, thereby simplifying the overall device architecture while maintaining rotational input capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent achieves universality by designing the display electrodes to perform multiple functions: visual output generation and rotational movement detection. This multi-functional approach reduces device complexity by consolidating multiple functions into a single component structure, avoiding the need for additional dedicated rotational sensing hardware.
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 solution provides high-sensitivity grasp detection and robust noise resistance, allowing efficient operation even with gloved hands, while minimizing the interface's space requirements, enhancing user interaction with rotatable knobs.
Implementation Method 1
determine grasp and rotation of the rotatable interface based on changes in capacitive coupling between the hand and the rotatable interface
Data Source
AI summary
An input device and method with grasp detection are provided. The input device includes a display having a sensing region with a plurality of sensing electrodes. The input device also includes a rotatable interface. The rotatable interface includes interface electrodes configured to signal rotation of the rotatable interface. The input device also includes a processing system, which is configured to drive a first plurality of sensing electrodes with sensing signals during a first sensing period; determine, from first resulting signals, grasp of the rotatable interface; drive a second plurality of sensing electrodes with sensing signals during a second sensing period; and determine, from second resulting signals, rotation of the rotatable interface.