Touch Screen Proximity Sensing via Conductive Layer Antenna
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing touch screen systems in vehicles lack effective proximity sensing capabilities to accurately determine the distance of a user's hand from the screen and differentiate between drivers and passengers, leading to potential interference and inaccurate control inputs.
Innovation Solution
A touch screen control system with first and second conductive layers that utilize a detection system with a proximity sensing signal generator to transmit and receive signals, allowing for the determination of contact position and distance, and includes a touch screen controller to alternate between touch position sensing and proximity sensing modes, ensuring accurate user interaction detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a specially provided antenna is used for proximity sensing, then proximity sensing capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The touch screen's conductive layers are made to serve dual purposes: traditional touch position sensing and proximity sensing. The first conductive layer acts as both a touch sensor electrode and a proximity sensing antenna, eliminating the need for separate dedicated antennas while maintaining both functionalities.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the touch sensing function and proximity sensing function into a single integrated system. The detection system processes both touch position signals and proximity sensing signals through the same conductive layers, combining multiple sensing capabilities into one unified structure.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the second conductive layer is connected during proximity sensing, then touch screen structure integrity is maintained, but signal interference increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connection state of the second conductive layer is dynamically adjusted based on the sensing mode. During proximity sensing, the second layer is electrically isolated to prevent interference. During touch sensing, the second layer is connected to maintain structural integrity and enable touch detection. This dynamic reconfiguration optimizes performance for each specific function.
Solution Approach 2:
The detection system preliminarily isolates the second conductive layer before proximity sensing begins, preventing potential signal interference from occurring in the first place. This proactive measure ensures clean proximity sensing signals without requiring complex interference cancellation techniques.
3Measurement precision
If the detection system continuously monitors both touch position and proximity, then user interaction detection accuracy is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The detection system uses periodic time-multiplexed scanning to alternate between touch position sensing mode and proximity sensing mode. During each scanning cycle, the system sequentially activates different sensing functions at different time intervals, allowing both touch and proximity detection to occur periodically without continuous simultaneous operation, thus reducing overall processing burden.
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
The system effectively determines the distance of a user's hand from the touch screen and distinguishes between drivers and passengers, enhancing user interaction accuracy and reducing interference, thereby improving the control of vehicle subsystems.
Implementation Method 1
The strength of the signal indicates the capacitance between the driver or passenger and the control input, and therefore the distance of the user's hand from the control input
Implementation Method 2
a proximity sensing system in which a signal is transmitted through the driver or passenger, for example between an antenna in their seat and a control input such as a push button or touch screen
Data Source
AI summary
A touch screen control system comprising a touch screen (14) having first (50) and second conductive layers (52) arranged to be brought together by touching of the screen (14). A detection system (20, 30) is arranged to detect a contact position at which the screen (14) is touched by monitoring electrical signals from at least one of the layers (50, 52). The system further comprises an antenna (26), and the detection system includes a proximity sensing signal generator arranged to generate a proximity sensing signal to be transmitted between the antenna (26) and the first layer (50) via a user (40) of the system. The detection system is further arranged to receive the transmitted proximity sensing signal and determine therefrom the distance between a part (46) of the user and the touch screen (14).