Touch Panel Liquid Submersion Detection via Electrode Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern electronic systems with touch screens malfunction when submerged in conductive liquids, such as water, due to reduced input functions, necessitating a solution to detect and differentiate touch inputs above and below the water surface.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device equipped with a touch panel, attitude sensor, and central processing unit (CPU) module that detects a liquid surface line and gathers positional data to determine if a component is submerged in conductive liquid, allowing for distinct touch input processing and output adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the touch panel is covered by conductive liquid, then the touch screen can detect touches through the liquid, but the touch system malfunctions due to inability to distinguish valid touches from liquid interference
Solution Approach 1:
The touch panel is divided into multiple detection regions (first touch region and second touch region) with different detection mechanisms. The first region uses traditional touch detection while the second region uses liquid level detection, allowing the system to differentiate between touches above and below the liquid surface, thus resolving the malfunction issue.
Solution Approach 2:
A liquid level detection mechanism serves as an intermediary to distinguish between conductive liquid presence and actual touch inputs. By detecting the liquid surface position, the system can filter out false touches caused by liquid conductivity and only respond to valid touch inputs above the liquid level.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the electronic device is designed to be water-proof, then the device can operate near water, but the touch screen input functions are reduced to water-proof buttons only
Solution Approach 1:
The touch panel dynamically adjusts its detection behavior based on the detected liquid level. When the liquid level is detected, the system activates different input modes for different regions, allowing full touch functionality above the liquid while maintaining water-proof operation, thus eliminating the need to reduce to button-only input.
3Ease of operation
If the touch panel detects touches through conductive liquid, then touch input is possible, but false touch detections occur due to liquid conductivity interference
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from the liquid level detection mechanism to adjust touch detection sensitivity and interpretation. By continuously monitoring the liquid surface position and comparing it with touch detection signals, the system can distinguish between actual touches and liquid-induced signals, thereby maintaining touch input availability while eliminating false detections.
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 the electronic device to function effectively in wet environments by accurately determining submersion status and adapting input processing, enhancing user experience and system functionality near water surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
a touch sensitive processing apparatus, coupled to the touch panel, configured to detect a liquid surface line when the electronic device is partially submerged in the conductive liquid
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a touch sensitive processing method for detecting a liquid line when a touch panel half submerged in conductive liquid, wherein the touch panel comprises multiple parallel first electrodes and multiple parallel second electrodes, the touch sensitive processing method comprising: determining whether a liquid line piece group touches two sides of the touch panel if the liquid line piece group does exists; calculating two averaged values of sensing information with regard to two parts of the touch panel separated by the liquid line piece group if it touches two sides of the touch panel; determining a part of the touch panel having a larger averaged value is above the conductive liquid and another part of the touch panel is below the conductive liquid; and determining a liquid line according to a surface between the part above the conductive liquid and the liquid line piece group.