Touch Screen Reference Voltage Adjustment for Underwater Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Capacitive touch screen panels fail to detect user inputs accurately when operated underwater due to the conductivity of water, leading to incorrect detection of the entire screen being touched.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that detect a change in coupling voltage to determine if the touch screen panel has transitioned from an air environment to an underwater environment, and adjust the reference voltage accordingly, allowing for normal touch detection and operation in underwater conditions by switching to an underwater mode.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a capacitive touch screen panel is used, then touch detection is enabled through static electricity generation, but the entire screen area is falsely detected as touched when operated underwater due to water conductivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the reference voltage parameter based on the detected environment (air vs. underwater). When underwater operation is detected through coupling voltage analysis, the reference voltage is adjusted to account for water conductivity effects, enabling accurate touch detection in both air and underwater environments
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the coupling voltage between transmitter and receiver electrodes to detect environmental changes. This feedback mechanism allows the touch controller to identify when the device transitions from air to underwater operation and automatically adjust the reference voltage accordingly
2Reliability
If the touch screen operates in air environment with standard reference voltage, then normal touch detection works, but detection fails when the device is submerged underwater
Solution Approach 1:
The reference voltage is made dynamic rather than fixed. The system automatically transitions between air-mode reference voltage and underwater-mode reference voltage based on real-time environmental detection, ensuring reliable touch operation across different environments
Solution Approach 2:
The touch screen system is designed to function universally in multiple environments (air and underwater) by incorporating environment detection and adaptive reference voltage adjustment, making the same hardware capable of reliable operation in diverse conditions
3Measurement precision
If the entire screen area shows coupling voltage change underwater, then water presence is indicated, but user touch inputs cannot be distinguished from water contact
Solution Approach 1:
The system analyzes coupling voltage changes locally at different screen positions and patterns. By examining the spatial distribution and characteristics of voltage changes, it can distinguish between uniform water contact across the screen and localized user touch inputs, preserving touch signal information even in underwater mode
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 accurate detection and processing of user inputs in underwater environments by adjusting the reference voltage, ensuring proper operation of electronic devices like smartphones and tablets even when submerged.
Implementation Method 1
the capacitive type touch screen panel is a touch screen panel which detects a touch using static electricity generated in a human body
Implementation Method 2
detects a touch using static electricity generated in a human body
Implementation Method 3
the entire area of the touch screen panel is fully touched due to the conductivity of water
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3
AI summary
Various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a method and apparatus for processing an input using a touch screen, and an operation method of an electronic device includes: determining whether a surrounding environment of a touch screen panel has changed from a first surrounding environment to a second surrounding environment or not; and, when the surrounding environment has changed to the second surrounding environment, changing a reference voltage of the touch screen panel from a first reference voltage to a second reference voltage. Other embodiments are possible.