Touch Screen Toy Detection via Capacitive Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for integrating toys with touch screen devices are costly and complex, requiring communication interfaces like Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, which add substantial expense and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A touch-sensitive system that uses peripheral devices with touch points and a capacitive touch screen to detect and identify the presence, position, and orientation of interactive game pieces or toys, enabling interaction through a touch screen device without the need for additional communication interfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If communication interfaces like Bluetooth or Wi-Fi are integrated into toys to enable interaction with touch screen devices, then interactive capability is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a touch-sensitive surface as an intermediary between the toy and the touch screen device. The surface contains embedded sensors that detect the presence and position of the toy without requiring direct electronic communication between the toy and the device, thus enabling interaction while avoiding complex communication interfaces in the toy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces electronic communication systems (Bluetooth, Wi-Fi) with a tactile/mechanical detection system. The touch-sensitive surface uses physical contact and position detection to establish communication between the toy and the device, substituting complex electronic protocols with simpler sensor-based detection
2Adaptability or versatility
If communication interfaces like Bluetooth or Wi-Fi are integrated into toys to enable interaction with touch screen devices, then interactive capability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The touch-sensitive surface acts as a mediator that eliminates the need for expensive communication modules in toys. By embedding sensors in the surface rather than requiring Bluetooth or Wi-Fi hardware in each toy, manufacturing costs are significantly reduced while maintaining interactive functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs simple, inexpensive sensor elements embedded in the touch-sensitive surface that can be easily manufactured and replaced if needed, rather than using expensive, complex communication interfaces that would increase the toy's manufacturing cost
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple triggerable sub-parts are added to a toy to enable function selection, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The touch-sensitive surface serves multiple functions simultaneously: it detects the presence of the toy, determines its position, identifies its orientation, and recognizes which specific sub-part is being touched. This universal interface replaces multiple separate sensors and communication protocols, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the touch-sensitive surface into multiple detectable zones or regions that correspond to different triggerable sub-parts of the toy. Each zone can be independently detected by the sensor array, allowing function selection without requiring separate communication channels for each sub-part
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
Facilitates a robust and cost-effective interactive experience by allowing touch screen devices to recognize and respond to the identity, position, and orientation of toys, reducing complexity and cost while enhancing interactive capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor sensitive to capacitive coupling; at least one object adapted to create a capacitive coupling with the sensor when at least one signal is input to the sensor
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Figure 2a~2b
AI summary
There is provided a system and method for facilitating an interaction using first and second peripheral devices and related structures. Each of the first and second peripheral devices have a plurality of touch points for touching a touch surface of a touch-sensitive system. According to an exemplary embodiment, a method comprises detecting a plurality of contemporaneous touches on the touch surface of the touch-sensitive system. One of the first and second peripheral devices is identified based on the plurality of contemporaneous touches as compared to the plurality of touch points of one of the first and second peripheral devices. In some embodiments, orientation of the one of the first and second peripheral devices can be determined based on the plurality of contemporaneous touches as compared to the plurality of touch points of the one of the first and second peripheral devices.