Self-Capacitance Touch Object Recognition Without Human Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing capacitive touchscreens require direct human contact to detect objects, limiting their ability to recognize non-human items and necessitating constant user interaction.
Innovation Solution
Self-capacitance devices with a capacitance structure and multiple contacts that simulate human finger capacitance, allowing detection without direct contact, using software to identify unique contact patterns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conductive object is used to transfer capacitance from the user's hand to the touchscreen, then the touchscreen can detect the object, but the user must maintain constant contact with the object which reduces ease of operation
Solution Approach 1:
The device contains an internal capacitance structure (capacitance coil) that generates its own capacitive signal without requiring external human contact. The device serves itself by having the capacitance structure electrically coupled to multiple contacts, creating a self-sustaining detection mechanism that eliminates the need for the user to continuously touch the object.
Solution Approach 2:
The capacitance structure acts as an intermediary between the device body and the touchscreen. Instead of requiring direct human contact, the capacitance structure mediates the interaction by generating detectable capacitive patterns that the touchscreen can recognize, while the software application interprets these patterns to identify the device.
2Adaptability or versatility
If known touchscreen technology is used, then human contact can be detected, but non-human objects cannot be recognized
Solution Approach 1:
The device employs multiple contacts (at least three) with a specific geometric arrangement that creates a unique local capacitive pattern. This local quality of the contact configuration allows the software to distinguish the device from other objects and differentiate between multiple identical devices based on their specific contact patterns.
Solution Approach 2:
The capacitance structure simulates or copies the capacitive properties of human contact by creating artificial capacitive patterns through its internal coil and multiple contacts. This copying of human-like capacitive characteristics allows the touchscreen to recognize the device as if it were a human finger, while the unique contact patterns enable additional object identification capabilities.
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
Enables touchscreen recognition of non-human objects by simulating finger presence, facilitating interaction without constant user contact.
Implementation Method 1
a capacitance coil disposed within the body, and at least three contacts disposed on a distal side of the body, wherein the at least three are in electrical contact with the capacitance coil
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are various embodiments of a self-capacitance device that is configured to be detectable by a known touchscreen without the need for human contact. Such a device has a device body, a capacitance structure disposed within the body, and at least three contacts disposed on one side of the body and electrically coupled to the capacitance structure. Further disclosed herein are systems having at least two such self-capacitance devices and a software application configured to recognize each of the at least two self-capacitance devices.