Touch Screen Sensing Circuit for Bending Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional flexible or foldable electronic devices require additional sensors and integrated circuits for bending detection, increasing thickness and circuit complexity due to the need for separate pressure sensors.
Innovation Solution
Utilizing a conventional touch screen as a sensing circuit to detect pressure applied to the device, allowing the electronic device to sense bending information and adjust its operation mode accordingly without the need for additional sensors or increased thickness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If a conventional pressure sensor is attached to the electronic device to sense bending, then bending detection capability is improved, but device thickness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the pressure sensing function with the existing touch screen by integrating a pressure sensor layer beneath the touch screen. This merging approach allows bending detection capability to be added without requiring a completely separate sensing system, thereby improving functionality while minimizing additional thickness compared to attaching separate pressure sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
The touch screen is designed to serve multiple functions: it acts as both the user interface for touch input and as a pressure sensing component for bending detection. By making the touch screen multi-functional, the patent eliminates the need for separate dedicated pressure sensors, thus improving bending detection capability without proportionally increasing device thickness.
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If additional integrated circuits are added to drive the pressure sensor, then sensing capability is improved, but circuit complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the pressure sensing circuitry with the existing touch screen controller. The same integrated circuit that controls touch screen operations is extended to also process pressure sensor signals. This consolidation improves sensing capability while avoiding the proliferation of separate dedicated circuits, thereby controlling overall circuit complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The touch screen controller is designed to perform multiple functions: it handles both touch input processing and pressure sensing operations. By making the controller multi-functional, the patent improves sensing capability without requiring additional dedicated integrated circuits, thus preventing circuit complexity from increasing proportionally to the added functionality.
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 effectively change operation modes based on bending information using existing touch screen technology, reducing complexity and thickness while maintaining functionality.
Implementation Method 1
a sensing circuit may include a first electrode layer and a second electrode layer... a capacitance between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer may be formed
Data Source
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Figure 2A~2D
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AI summary
According to various embodiments, an electronic device comprises: a housing; a sensing circuit; a processor operatively connected to the sensing circuit; and a memory operably connected to the processor, wherein the memory can store instructions that when executed, cause the processor to: identify output values of the sensing circuit associated with a touch or a pressure applied to the sensing circuit; when at least a portion of the output values are changed, obtain bending information of the sensing circuit at least on the basis of the changed output values; and control to change an operation mode of the electronic device to at least one of specified operation modes at least on the basis of the bending information of the sensing circuit. Other embodiments are possible.