Touch Command Device Capacitance Filtering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Touch control devices for motor vehicle functions, such as roof and window operation, are prone to unwanted activations due to their sensitivity, which can be triggered by elements other than a user's hand, leading to unintended commands.
Innovation Solution
A control device featuring a touchpad surrounded by an antenna that forms a capacitor with external elements, allowing for capacitance measurement and monitoring within a predetermined range to filter out unwanted commands, ensuring only intended inputs from a user's hand are recognized.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If touch control devices are made more sensitive to detect user input, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to unwanted activations by non-hand elements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary verification mechanism (capacitance measurement system) between the touch input and command execution. This intermediary layer measures the capacitance of the touching object and compares it against predetermined thresholds, allowing the system to filter out false activations from non-hand objects while maintaining sensitivity to legitimate hand inputs
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter used for touch detection from simple contact presence to capacitance measurement. By measuring the electrical capacitance characteristics of the touching object, the system can distinguish between hand inputs (which have specific capacitance ranges) and other objects (which have different capacitance values), thereby resolving the contradiction between sensitivity and reliability
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 effectively prevents unwanted activations by distinguishing between intended hand inputs and other external elements, enhancing the reliability and security of touch control systems in motor vehicles.
Implementation Method 1
at least one antenna arranged around the touchpad so as to frame said touchpad, the antenna being able to form a capacitor with at least one external element coming into contact with the touchpad
Data Source
AI summary
A command device (6) for at least one function of a motor vehicle, the device comprising: —a touchpad (1) configured to receive a command of said at least one function, —at least one antenna (3,4) arranged around the touchpad (1) in such a way as to frame said touchpad (1), the antenna (3,4) being capable of forming a capacitor with at least one exterior element (2,5) in contact with the touchpad (1), —means for measuring (8) the capacitance of the capacitor formed by the antenna (3,4) and said at least one exterior element (2,5), and —a means of control of the command (9) configured so as to take account of the command received by the touchpad (1) when the capacitance measured by the measurement means (8) lies in a predetermined interval.