Touch Panel Non-Contact Operation via Electrostatic Capacitance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cellular phone devices with electrostatic-capacitance touch panels only support two-dimensional contact operations, lacking variety in input operation forms.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus with a touch panel that detects non-contact operations by measuring electrostatic capacitance, allowing for three-dimensional input through multiple operation layers above the touch surface, and a controller that determines the distance between the touch panel and the operation element to control corresponding operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a two-dimensional contact operation is performed on the touch panel, then the input operation is uniform and simple to detect, but there is no variety in input operation forms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the traditional two-dimensional touch panel operation to three-dimensional non-contact operation by detecting electrostatic capacitance changes at different distances above the panel surface. This allows multiple operation layers to be defined, enabling diverse input forms such as hovering, tapping, and long-press operations without physical contact, thereby increasing adaptability while maintaining manageable detection complexity through distance-based threshold comparison
2Adaptability or versatility
If non-contact operation is detected by measuring electrostatic capacitance, then three-dimensional input is enabled, but the detection precision requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the detection parameter from binary contact/non-contact to continuous distance measurement by monitoring electrostatic capacitance variations. By establishing threshold values for different operation layers (first layer, second layer, third layer), the system achieves practical precision without requiring extremely accurate distance measurement, enabling non-contact operations at multiple height levels above the panel
Solution Approach 2:
The electrostatic capacitance serves as an intermediary parameter that indirectly reflects the distance between the operation element and the panel surface. Instead of directly measuring distance, the system uses capacitance changes caused by proximity to infer positional information, thereby enabling three-dimensional input detection with manageable precision requirements
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple operation layers are defined above the touch surface, then diverse non-contact operations are possible, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the three-dimensional space above the touch panel into multiple discrete operation layers (first operation layer, second operation layer, third operation layer) based on distance thresholds. Each layer can be associated with different operation types, allowing diverse non-contact operations to be implemented through simple threshold comparisons rather than complex continuous analysis, thereby managing system complexity while maintaining versatility
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 new three-dimensional input operations without physical contact, providing a more diverse and stable non-contact operation experience by dividing the space into multiple layers and using electrostatic capacitance thresholds for detection.
Implementation Method 1
a touch panel that detects a non-contact operation of an operation element by detecting an electrostatic capacitance of an operation surface of the touch panel
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing apparatus including a touch panel that detects a non-contact operation of an operation element by detecting an electrostatic capacitance of an operation surface of the touch panel; and a controller that determines a distance between the operation surface and the operation element based on the detected electrostatic capacitance, and controls a predetermined operation of the information processing apparatus based on the determined distance.