Touch Panel Liquid Surface Detection for Submerged Electronics
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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, a touch sensitive processing apparatus, an attitude sensor, and a CPU module that detects a liquid surface line and determines the submersion status of components based on positional data and attitude, allowing for distinct touch input processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the touch screen is used near water surface, then the electronic system can be operated around water, but the touch screen malfunctions when covered by water or conductive liquid
Solution Approach 1:
The touch screen area is segmented into multiple regions based on liquid surface line detection. The system divides the display into areas above and below the liquid surface, allowing different touch processing methods to be applied to each region. This enables the touch screen to maintain functionality in conductive liquid environments by treating different areas differently.
Solution Approach 2:
Different quality parameters are applied to different regions of the touch screen. Areas above the liquid surface use standard touch detection parameters, while areas below the liquid surface use adjusted parameters that account for the conductive liquid's interference. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by maintaining reliability in each region while preserving overall adaptability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the touch screen detects liquid surface line and adjusts processing, then touch input functions work above and below water, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The existing touch screen electrodes are made to serve multiple functions: both standard touch detection and liquid surface line detection. By utilizing the same electrode structure for dual purposes, the system achieves touch input differentiation without adding separate detection hardware, thus managing complexity while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid surface line detection mechanism acts as an intermediary that bridges the gap between standard touch detection and conductive liquid environment handling. It provides intermediate information about liquid coverage that allows the system to adjust processing parameters dynamically, enabling differentiated touch input processing without complete system redesign.
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 conductive liquid environments by accurately determining submersion status and adjusting input processing 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
Implementation Method 2
an attitude sensor, for detecting an attitude of the electronic device relative to ground
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a method for detecting whether a component is under conductive liquid, comprising: receiving a first liquid line and a second liquid line representing a line where the conductive liquid surface touches a first touch panel of an electronic device and another line where the conductive liquid surface touches a second touch panel of the electronic device when the electronic device submerged in the conductive liquid, respectively; acquiring position data of the first touch panel, the second touch panel and the component; and determining whether the component is under the conductive liquid according to the position data of the first touch panel, the second touch panel and the component as well as the first liquid line and the second liquid line.