Touch Panel Input Verification Using Vibration and Deformation Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Operating devices for household electronic appliances with touch-sensitive and proximity-sensitive touch switches often suffer from imprecision in detecting contact or proximity due to environmental and user-related factors, leading to incorrect or missed detections.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an additional sensor system that detects shaking and deformation of the cover plate, combined with existing touch sensor systems, to enhance the reliability of contact and proximity detection, allowing for accurate differentiation between contact and proximity events.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If touch sensor systems are used to detect contact or proximity, then user interaction capability is improved, but detection precision deteriorates due to environmental and user-related factors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensor systems (capacitive touch sensor, optical sensor, and acceleration sensor) into a unified detection system. The control device integrates signals from all sensors to determine touch events, leveraging the strengths of each sensor type while compensating for their individual weaknesses. This merging approach enables reliable detection across varying environmental conditions and user characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors sensor signals and uses feedback from multiple sources to validate touch events. The control device evaluates whether detected events are genuine touches or false positives by cross-referencing data from different sensors, thereby improving detection precision while maintaining versatile user interaction capabilities.
2Measurement precision
If additional sensor systems are added to improve detection reliability, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the detection function into separate sensor modules, each responsible for specific detection aspects. The capacitive sensor handles contact detection, the optical sensor handles proximity detection, and the acceleration sensor handles vibration detection. This segmentation allows for modular design and simplified integration while achieving high detection reliability through combined evaluation.
3Measurement precision
If multiple sensor systems are integrated to distinguish contact from proximity, then measurement precision is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the sensor system so that each sensor type serves multiple functions. The capacitive sensor detects both contact and proximity to some extent, the optical sensor provides both proximity detection and touch validation, and the acceleration sensor contributes to both touch verification and false positive reduction. This multi-functionality reduces the need for dedicated sensors for each function, thereby lowering overall manufacturing costs while maintaining high precision.
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
This approach significantly improves the reliability of detecting contact and proximity, reducing false positives and negatives, and can be implemented with fewer additional sensors, offering manufacturing and cost advantages while maintaining high accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
at least one additional sensor system, which is disposed and configured to detect a shaking (e.g. vibration) and/or deformation of the cover plate caused by touch
Implementation Method 2
a capacitive or optical technology is often used for the touch sensor system
Implementation Method 3
a capacitive or optical technology is often used for the touch sensor system
Data Source
AI summary
An operating device for an electronic household appliance has at least one touch switch each formed by a respective operator panel of a cover plate, and a touch sensor system for detecting contact with and/or proximity to the operator panel. A control device evaluates sensor signals generated by the touch sensor system. At least one additional sensor system which can detect shaking and/or deformation of the cover plate due to touch provides clearer verification of a contact made with an operator panel. The control device is also configured to evaluate sensor signals generated by the additional sensor system and to combine evaluations of the sensor signals of the touch sensor system and the additional sensor system to detect contact with the operator panel. An electronic household appliance and a method for operating an operating device are also provided.