Heterogeneous Sensor Frequency Infusion for Non-Contact Gesture Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fast multi-touch sensors lack the capability to detect detailed non-contact touch events occurring more than a few millimeters from the sensor surface and fail to provide accurate information on the position and orientation of body parts during gestures or interactions.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of heterogeneous sensors that use orthogonal signals transmitted across rows and columns, allowing for the detection of touch and non-contact touch events by measuring signal strength and phase changes, and the use of frequency infusion to determine the proximity and orientation of body parts relative to the sensor surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If fast multi-touch sensors are used for rapid touch detection, then response speed is improved, but the ability to detect non-contact touch events beyond a few millimeters is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines fast multi-touch sensing technology with frequency infusion technology into a unified sensor system. The fast multi-touch sensor provides rapid response for contact detection, while the frequency infusion component enables detection of non-contact events at greater distances by measuring phase and amplitude changes of injected frequencies, thus merging the advantages of both technologies to resolve the contradiction between response speed and detection range.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor system is designed to perform multiple functions: it can detect both contact and non-contact touch events, identify different body parts (fingers, hand, arm), and determine orientation. This multi-functional capability allows the system to maintain fast response for contact events while also providing extended detection range for non-contact events, addressing the limitation of traditional fast multi-touch sensors.
2Ease of manufacture
If traditional capacitive sensing is used, then simple touch detection is achieved, but detailed information on body part position and orientation cannot be provided
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces frequency as an additional dimension for sensing. By injecting different frequencies into different body parts and measuring the phase and amplitude of returned signals, the system can distinguish between different body parts and determine their orientation. This frequency dimension adds rich information about body part position and orientation without complicating the physical sensor structure, thus resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and information completeness.
3Measurement precision
If frequency infusion is used to detect non-contact events, then detection range is improved, but signal separation and identification become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by injecting known frequencies into the body before measuring the response. Different body parts are pre-assigned specific frequencies, and the system measures the phase and amplitude changes of these pre-injected frequencies to identify body parts and their orientation. This preliminary frequency injection simplifies the signal separation process because the system is measuring known frequencies rather than trying to identify unknown signals, thus reducing processing complexity while maintaining detection capability.
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 accurate detection of touch events, including non-contact interactions, and provides detailed information on the position and orientation of body parts, enhancing the sensitivity and accuracy of multi-touch sensing systems.
Implementation Method 1
A capacitive touch sensor comprises rows and columns of conductive material in spatially separated layers... The amount of coupling between each row and column can be affected by an object proximate to the junction between the row and column... a change in capacitance between a row and column can indicate that an object, such as a finger, is touching the sensor
Implementation Method 2
the use of frequency infusion to determine the proximity and orientation of body parts relative to the sensor surface... measuring signal strength and phase changes
Data Source
AI summary
A handheld controller and a system for modeling movement of fingers about the handheld controller is disclosed. In an embodiment, the handheld controller generates signals for, and acquires touch and infusion data. In an embodiment, a processor creates a heatmap and an infusion map, and combines the information in the maps to determine boundaries between finger positions. In an embodiment, movement of a particular digit on a handheld controller is identified through such boundary constraints. In an embodiment, movement of fingers about a handheld controller is efficiently modeled based on the boundary constraints.