Touch Panel Sensing for Hover and Contact Event Differentiation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing touch panels lack the ability to effectively accommodate hover touch operations, which are preferred in certain user interactions.
Innovation Solution
A touch panel with a matrix of touch sensors and a control circuit that can differentiate between normal touch and hover touch events by processing one-dimensional and two-dimensional touch data, enhancing sensitivity and accuracy through analog and digital accumulation of touch data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a touch panel is designed for normal touch operations only, then the touch detection accuracy is sufficient for contact interactions, but the device cannot accommodate hover touch operations at extended sensing distances
Solution Approach 1:
The touch panel sensors are segmented into a matrix arrangement (x columns and y rows) that can independently process one-dimensional and two-dimensional touch data. This segmentation allows the system to differentiate between hover touch events (processed as 1D data) and normal touch events (processed as 2D data), enabling both hover and contact operations with maintained precision at different sensing distances
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a dimensional differentiation approach where hover touch events are processed using one-dimensional touch data along a scan direction, while normal touch events utilize two-dimensional touch data across the sensor matrix. This dimensional change enables the system to extend sensing distance for hover operations while maintaining the precision required for traditional contact operations
2Length of stationary object
If the touch panel sensing distance is extended to enable hover touch, then hover operation capability is achieved, but the responsiveness and detection accuracy decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical contact-based touch detection with a field-based sensing mechanism that can detect hover touches at extended distances. By using control circuits to scan the touch panel and process one-dimensional touch data, the system achieves reliable hover detection without requiring physical contact, thereby extending sensing distance while maintaining responsiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes detection parameters based on the type of touch event. For hover touches, the control circuit processes one-dimensional touch data with parameters optimized for extended sensing distances, while for normal touches, it uses two-dimensional data with parameters optimized for contact precision. This parameter adaptation maintains reliability across different operating modes
3Measurement precision
If the touch panel processes both one-dimensional and two-dimensional touch data to differentiate hover and normal touches, then event differentiation accuracy is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control circuit is designed with multi-functionality to handle both one-dimensional and two-dimensional touch data processing within a single unified architecture. The same control circuit scans the touch panel and can process different types of touch events (hover and normal) using different data dimensions, eliminating the need for separate processing circuits and reducing overall device complexity while maintaining high differentiation accuracy
Data Source
AI summary
A sensing device includes a touch panel and a control circuit coupled to the touch panel. The touch panel includes touch sensors arranged in a matrix of x columns and y rows, and is used to generate touch data upon being scanned. The control circuit is used to scan the touch panel and differentiate between a normal touch event and a hover touch event according to the touch data.