Capacitive Touch Key Character Recognition With Locus Sampling

Solution Overview

Problem

Current semiconductor devices require large amounts of data storage and complex calculations for character recognition on LCD panels, leading to high costs and long recognition times due to the need for advanced memory and CPU capabilities.

Innovation Solution

A semiconductor device with a sensor detecting electric capacitance of a touch key group and a control device performing character recognition based on changes in electric capacitance, using a sampling pattern of touch key loci to efficiently recognize characters.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a large amount of data is stored for character recognition on LCD panels, then character recognition rate is improved, but memory capacity and device cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecharacter recognition rateVSAvoidmemory capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential features needed for character recognition from the full image data. Instead of storing and processing complete frame data, the system extracts character locus information and key feature points, significantly reducing memory requirements while maintaining recognition accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates simplified representations (copies) of character data through locus extraction and feature point identification. These simplified copies contain only the essential information needed for recognition, replacing the need to store and process complete original image data

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Reliability

If complex calculations are performed for character recognition, then recognition accuracy is improved, but processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverecognition accuracyVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential features needed for character recognition from the full image data. Instead of storing and processing complete frame data, the system extracts character locus information and key feature points, significantly reducing memory requirements while maintaining recognition accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary processing by extracting character loci and feature points before the actual recognition process. This preliminary action simplifies the data structure and reduces the computational complexity of subsequent recognition operations, enabling faster processing without sacrificing accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If advanced memory and CPU capabilities are used, then character recognition performance is improved, but device cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecharacter recognition performanceVSAvoiddevice cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates simplified representations (copies) of character data through locus extraction and feature point identification. These simplified copies contain only the essential information needed for recognition, replacing the need to store and process complete original image data

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameters of data representation from complete pixel information to extracted locus and feature point data. This parameter transformation reduces the data dimensionality and complexity, enabling effective character recognition with simpler and less expensive hardware components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 solution enables efficient character recognition with reduced data storage needs and faster processing times, allowing for widespread integration of character input functions in various products with smaller memory capacities.

Implementation Method 1

a sensor detecting electric capacitance of a touch key group

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectric capacitance: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentUS11494042B2Semiconductor device, character recognition device, and character recognition methods

Publication Date: 2022.11.08 RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORP

AI summary

A semiconductor device includes: a sensor detecting electric capacitance of a touch key group comprising a plurality of touch keys arranged in a matrix; and a control device configured to perform character recognition based on a change in the electric capacitance of the plurality of touch keys detected by the sensor and on a sampling pattern that is time-series data of a loci.