Touch Panel Liquid Surface Detection for Submerged Devices
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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 functionality, 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 determines the submersion status of components, allowing for distinct touch input processing and output adjustments based on positional data and attitude information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the touch panel is used near water surface, then the electronic system can be operated in water-adjacent environments, but the touch screen malfunctions when submerged in conductive liquid
Solution Approach 1:
The touch panel is divided into multiple detection regions (first region above water surface, second region below water surface) with different touch detection mechanisms. The first region uses conventional capacitive sensing while the second region uses alternative sensing methods that work underwater, allowing the system to maintain functionality in both zones simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the touch panel are assigned different functional properties: the above-water region maintains standard touch sensitivity while the below-water region is optimized for conductive liquid detection. This local differentiation allows each region to operate effectively in its specific environment without interfering with the other.
2Ease of operation
If conventional touch detection is used, then the system works normally in air, but the input function is reduced to waterproof buttons when submerged
Solution Approach 1:
The touch panel is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as both a conventional touch interface for above-water operation and as an underwater detection interface for conductive liquid environments. The same physical panel structure supports both touch input modes through different detection algorithms and sensing regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between different touch detection modes based on the detected liquid surface position. When a region is determined to be below the water line, the system activates underwater touch detection algorithms for that region, while maintaining conventional detection above the surface, allowing adaptive operation across varying environmental conditions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the touch panel detects liquid surface, then different touch input functions can be provided above and below water, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid surface detection functionality is merged with the existing touch panel structure rather than being implemented as a separate sensor system. The touch electrodes and control circuitry are used to detect both touch inputs and liquid surface position, eliminating the need for additional dedicated sensors and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The touch panel's existing sensing capabilities are utilized to detect the liquid surface position and determine submersion status of different regions. The system serves multiple purposes (touch detection, liquid detection, regional classification) using its inherent sensing mechanisms, avoiding the need for separate detection systems.
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 reliable operation of electronic devices near water surfaces by accurately detecting submersion in conductive liquids and adapting touch input functions accordingly, enhancing user experience and system functionality.
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.