Active Stylus Touch Sensor Interleaved Electrode Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing active styluses face challenges in accurately detecting finger contact positions on touch sensors due to limited spatial resolution and increased cost from dense electrode configurations.
Innovation Solution
The active stylus incorporates an interleaved pattern of sensing electrodes with a larger first gap and smaller second gap between adjacent electrodes, enhancing contact position detection accuracy while reducing the number of column electrodes and associated costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If dense electrode configurations are used to improve contact position detection accuracy, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The touch sensor is divided into multiple sensing regions along the longitudinal direction, with each region containing column electrodes. This segmentation allows the system to detect finger contact positions along the longitudinal direction by determining which sensing region is activated, providing spatial resolution without requiring a uniformly dense electrode grid across the entire sensor surface.
Solution Approach 2:
Different sensing regions have different electrode configurations optimized for their specific detection needs. The first sensing region uses a different electrode arrangement than the second sensing region, allowing each region to be optimized for its local function while maintaining overall system performance.
2Measurement precision
If dense electrode configurations are used to improve contact position detection accuracy, then measurement precision is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the touch sensor into distinct sensing regions with column electrodes arranged in specific patterns, the manufacturing process can use standardized electrode structures repeated across regions, reducing overall manufacturing complexity and cost compared to a uniformly dense electrode grid.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses partial electrode coverage rather than complete uniform coverage. The column electrodes are positioned at specific locations within sensing regions, providing sufficient detection accuracy for finger contact positions without the excessive cost of completely filling the entire sensor area with electrodes.
3Ease of manufacture
If fewer column electrodes are used to reduce cost, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces the longitudinal direction as an additional dimension for detection. By arranging sensing regions and column electrodes along the longitudinal direction, the system can detect finger contact positions in this dimension by determining which sensing region is activated, effectively increasing spatial resolution without proportionally increasing the number of electrodes in the transverse direction.
Solution Approach 2:
Each sensing region is designed with specific electrode configurations optimized for detecting contacts in that local area. This allows fewer electrodes overall while maintaining detection accuracy, as each electrode is positioned to maximize its contribution to detecting contacts in its specific sensing region.
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 configuration improves finger contact position detection accuracy and reduces the number of electrodes, thereby lowering production costs without affecting user operation.
Implementation Method 1
The pen tip 111 has a first electrode 1111 for sending a signal
Implementation Method 2
The touch sensor 12 includes a plurality of column electrodes CE1, CE2, CE3, CE4, and CE5 that extend along the first direction X
Data Source
AI summary
An active stylus includes a stylus body and a touch sensor. The stylus body includes a first electrode and a pen body. The first electrode is used to send a signal. The pen body extends along a first direction. The touch sensor is provided on or in the pen body and includes a plurality of column electrodes extending along the first direction. There is a first gap between two adjacent column electrodes. Each column electrode has a first sensing electrode and a second sensing electrode. A first end of the first sensing electrode in the first direction has a recess to define a recess area. A second end of the second sensing electrode in the first direction has a projection extending into the recess area. There is a second gap between the projection and the recess. The second gap is smaller than the first gap.