Touchscreen Terminal Weighing via Capacitance Compensation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing touchscreen terminals require an external hook for weighing, making them inconvenient to carry and use.

Innovation Solution

A method and terminal implementation that uses capacitance values and compensation relationships to determine the weight of an object placed on the touchscreen without additional external structures, by compensating capacitance values and correlating them with weights, allowing for weight measurement directly on the device.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If an external hook is attached to the touchscreen terminal for weighing, then weighing function is achieved, but portability and convenience are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveweighing functionVSAvoidportability
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the weighing function into the touchscreen terminal by integrating force sensors beneath the touchscreen display. The touchscreen structure itself becomes part of the weighing mechanism, eliminating the need for external hooks. The force sensors are embedded in the terminal housing, directly coupling the display assembly with the weighing functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The touchscreen terminal is designed to serve multiple functions: it acts as both a display interface and a weighing platform. The same terminal that displays information also measures weight through integrated force sensors, allowing the device to function as both a smartphone/tablet and a digital scale without requiring additional external components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If an external hook is attached to the touchscreen terminal, then weighing capability is provided, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveweighing capabilityVSAvoidstructure
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the weighing mechanism with the existing terminal structure. Force sensors are integrated into the housing beneath the touchscreen, and the display assembly itself serves as the weighing platform. This merging eliminates separate external hook components and reduces overall structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The touchscreen terminal uses its own structural components (display assembly, housing) to perform the weighing function. The force sensors are built into the terminal, and the touchscreen itself becomes the weighing surface, allowing the device to weigh objects without requiring external attachment components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Measurement precision

If capacitance values are compensated using a compensation relationship, then measurement accuracy is improved, but computational complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement accuracyVSAvoidcomputation
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary calibration by establishing compensation relationships between capacitance values and force measurements during device setup or manufacturing. These compensation relationships (lookup tables or mathematical models) are pre-computed and stored in memory, allowing runtime weight calculations to use simple table lookups or straightforward computations rather than complex real-time calibration algorithms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 convenient and accurate weight measurement on a touchscreen terminal without the need for external hooks, enhancing portability and usability by utilizing the touchscreen's capacitance changes to calculate object weight within a preset error range.

Implementation Method 1

obtaining a reported first capacitance value and reported coordinates of a compensation point; compensating the first capacitance value according to a compensation relationship

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapacitance: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentEP3306281B1Touch terminal weighing method and touch terminal
Publication Date: 2021.06.30 HONOR DEVICE CO LTD
  • EP3306281B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3306281B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3306281B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Embodiments of the present invention provide a weighing method of a touchscreen terminal, and a touchscreen terminal. When a to-be-weighed object is placed in a preset area of a touchscreen of a touchscreen terminal, a reported first capacitance value and reported coordinates of a compensation point are obtained. The first capacitance value is compensated according to a compensation relationship, the coordinates of the compensation point, and the first capacitance value to obtain a second capacitance value. In this way, no additional external structure is needed for the touchscreen terminal, making the touchscreen terminal convenient to carry.