Touch Sensor Controller Area Suppression for False Input
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Solution Overview
Problem
Capacitive touch sensors often detect unintended inputs, such as a user's hand, during activities like handwriting due to similarities in capacitance with intended writing utensils, leading to false inputs and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A touch-sensor controller initiates an area suppression mode during user activities like handwriting, detecting intended touch objects while suppressing detection of objects outside a defined area, which tracks the movement of the intended touch object to prevent false inputs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If capacitive touch sensor detects all capacitive objects in contact with the sensor, then detection sensitivity is improved, but false inputs from unintended objects (such as user's hand) increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by defining a detectable area around the intended touch object and applying different detection rules to different regions. Within the detectable area, the sensor maintains high sensitivity for intended objects, while outside this area, unintended objects are suppressed. This spatial differentiation of detection quality resolves the contradiction between overall detection sensitivity and false input rate.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (the detectable area definition and suppression logic) that mediates between the touch sensor's natural tendency to detect all capacitive objects and the need to filter out false inputs. This intermediary layer processes raw touch detections by comparing object locations against the defined detectable area, allowing intended objects to pass through while blocking unintended ones.
2Adaptability or versatility
If touch sensor detects all objects in the touch-sensitive area, then comprehensive input detection is achieved, but user hand contact is misinterpreted as intended input
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by creating a spatially differentiated detection zone. The detectable area is dynamically defined around the intended touch object (such as a stylus), allowing the system to maintain comprehensive detection within this localized region while suppressing detections outside it. This resolves the contradiction by making detection coverage adaptive rather than uniform across the entire touch-sensitive area.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the touch-sensitive area into distinct zones: the detectable area where intended objects are monitored, and the suppression area where unintended objects are filtered. This segmentation allows the system to simultaneously achieve comprehensive detection of intended inputs while excluding unintended hand contact, improving both detection coverage and interaction accuracy.
3Productivity
If capacitive touch sensor monitors entire touch-sensitive area continuously, then no input is missed, but processing load and false detections increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by concentrating processing resources on the detectable area rather than uniformly monitoring the entire touch-sensitive area. By defining a focused region around the intended touch object and suppressing detections outside this area, the system maintains complete detection of relevant inputs while significantly reducing the processing load and false detections that would result from monitoring the entire surface.
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 effectively eliminates false inputs during user activities by distinguishing intended from unintended touch objects, improving the responsiveness and accuracy of touch sensors.
Implementation Method 1
When an object touches or comes within proximity of the surface of the capacitive touch screen, a change in capacitance may occur within the touch screen at the location of the touch or proximity.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus includes a touch sensor operable to sense objects that touch the touch sensor. The apparatus also includes a touch sensor controller operable to detect a first object and determine that the first object is an object that a user intends to touch the touch sensor. The touch sensor controller also defines an intended touch area associated with the first object and suppresses detection of touches that are outside of the defined intended touch area.