Touch Sensing IC for Media Device Meter Interconnection Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing audience measurement systems struggle to accurately determine whether a site meter is not detecting power from a media device due to the device being powered off or the meter being physically decoupled, leading to inaccurate crediting of media exposure.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an enhanced operating state detector with a touch sensing integrated circuit (TSI) that can detect power presence on interfaces like USB or HDMI ports and sense capacitance to differentiate between a powered-off media device and a decoupled meter, using a reference capacitor to verify interconnection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If power detection is used to determine media device operating state, then power presence can be detected, but inability to distinguish between device off-state and meter decoupling leads to measurement inaccuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a touch sensing integrated circuit (TSIC) as an intermediary component that senses capacitance on the power line. This TSIC acts as a mediator between the power detection function and the microcontroller, providing additional information about connection status through capacitance measurements. The TSIC includes a sensing capacitor that couples to the power line, allowing the system to detect both power presence and connection status without requiring separate sensing circuits.
Solution Approach 2:
The power line serves multiple functions: it provides power to the media device, carries power detection signals, and functions as a capacitance sensing element for connection verification. The patent makes the power line universal by utilizing it simultaneously for power delivery and for capacitive sensing to determine both operating state and connection status, eliminating the need for separate dedicated sensing lines.
2Reliability
If capacitance sensing is added to distinguish device off-state from meter decoupling, then connection status can be verified, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the power detection function and capacitance sensing function into a single integrated touch sensing integrated circuit (TSIC). Rather than adding a separate capacitance sensing circuit to the existing power detection system, the TSIC combines both functionalities in one component. The sensing capacitor within the TSIC is coupled to the power line and works together with the power detection circuitry to provide both power presence detection and connection status verification.
Solution Approach 2:
The power line itself serves as the capacitance sensing element. The patent utilizes the inherent capacitance of the power line and connected components to perform connection verification, rather than requiring an external or separate sensing component. The TSIC senses the capacitance that naturally exists on the power line when the meter is connected to the media device, allowing the system to use its own existing infrastructure for verification purposes.
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 solution allows for accurate determination of the media device's operating state, ensuring correct crediting of media exposure by distinguishing between power absence due to device off-state and meter decoupling, thereby improving the reliability of audience measurement systems.
Implementation Method 1
the touch sensing integrated circuit to sense capacitance on the power line to determine whether the media device is coupled to the meter
Data Source
AI summary
A disclosed example meter to monitor a media device includes a touch sense circuit including a circuit input and a circuit output, the circuit input to electrically couple with a first power line of the meter and a capacitor, the circuit output to provide a first value based on the capacitor when the first power line of the meter is not electrically coupled with a second power line of the media device, the circuit output to provide a second value different from the first value when the first power line of the meter is electrically coupled with the second power line of the media device. The disclosed example meter also includes at least one processor to detect the first power line of the meter is not electrically coupled with the second power line of the media device when the circuit output of the touch sense circuit provides the first value.