Touch-Sensitive Input Unit Signal Processing for Medical Interference

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Solution Overview

Problem

Touch-sensitive input units in medical environments face interference from electromagnetic fields and conductive fluids, leading to erroneous sensor signals that hinder accurate control of medical apparatuses.

Innovation Solution

A method that employs a trained function to process sensor signals from touch-sensitive input units, suppressing unwanted components and enhancing spatial and temporal resolution to distinguish intended inputs from interference, using a combination of capacitive, optical, or resistive input technologies.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If touch-sensitive input units are used in medical environments, then control functionality is provided, but electromagnetic fields and conductive fluids cause erroneous sensor signals

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol functionalityVSAvoidsignal accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by detecting the sensor signal characteristics before processing, identifying unwanted-signal components such as electromagnetic interference and conductive fluid effects in advance, and preparing appropriate filtering parameters to prevent erroneous inputs from affecting control operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

A signal processing intermediary layer is introduced between the touch-sensitive input unit and the control system. This intermediary detects sensor signals, separates unwanted components from valid inputs, and provides cleaned output signals to the control system, thereby maintaining control functionality while eliminating interference from electromagnetic fields and conductive fluids

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If sensor signals are processed with high spatial and temporal resolution, then input detection accuracy is improved, but unwanted-signal components from interference sources increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespatial and temporal resolutionVSAvoidunwanted-signal components

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts unwanted-signal components from the sensor signal by detecting characteristic patterns of interference from electromagnetic fields and conductive fluids. The extracted unwanted components are then removed from the original signal, leaving only the valid input information while preserving the high spatial and temporal resolution of the original sensor data

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If multiple interference sources are present in the medical environment, then electromagnetic coupling and conductive fluid effects increase, but the ability to distinguish intended inputs from interference decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinterference sourcesVSAvoidinput recognition accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring sensor signals and comparing processed output signals with expected input patterns. When deviations indicating interference are detected, the system adjusts its signal processing parameters in real-time to maintain accurate distinction between intended inputs and multiple interference sources

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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 method provides a reliable output signal with reduced errors, enabling precise control of medical apparatuses by filtering out interference from electromagnetic fields and conductive fluids, thus improving input accuracy and reducing operational errors.

Implementation Method 1

the electrical field produced between the second layer and an operating object, (e.g., an input pen and/or finger of the operator), may be projected through a transparent outer layer located on the first layer. Thus, touching and/or approaching may cause a change in the capacitance at the position of the touch, with the first layer able to detect this change in a spatially resolved manner.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapacitance: Capacitance

Implementation Method 2

optical input units (e.g., infrared-based input units)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical detection: Light

Implementation Method 3

surface-wave based input units

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSurface wave detection: Surface Acoustic Wave

Implementation Method 4

ultrasound-based input units

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectUltrasound detection: Ultrasound

Data Source

PatentUS11249596B2Providing an output signal by a touch-sensitive input unit and providing a trained function

Publication Date: 2022.02.15 SIEMENS HEALTHINEERS AG

AI summary

A computer-implemented method for providing an output signal by a touch-sensitive input unit includes detecting a sensor signal, wherein the sensor signal is time-resolved and spatially resolved with respect to a surface of the touch-sensitive input unit, and wherein the sensor signal includes unwanted-signal components. The method also includes determining the output signal by applying a trained function to input data, wherein the input data is based on the sensor signal, wherein the output signal is time-resolved and spatially resolved with respect to the surface of the touch-sensitive input unit, wherein at least one parameter of the trained function is based on a comparison with a sensor signal in the absence of unwanted-signal components. The method also includes providing the output signal.