Touch Sensor Compensation for Isolated Sensing-Line Failures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Touch sensors in personal computing devices can malfunction due to inoperative sensing lines, which are not easily discernible and lack practical software solutions, affecting user experience and controllability, especially when surrounded by operative lines.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method adjust touch-detection sensitivity by evaluating sensing signals from adjacent operative sensing lines to compensate for inoperative lines, allowing continued touch detection in regions affected by malfunctioning lines.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If touch sensors use a grid of sensing lines for touch detection, then touch detection coverage is improved, but malfunctioning sensing lines create undetectable dead zones that reduce reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines signals from multiple adjacent sensing lines to detect touches in regions affected by malfunctioning lines. When a sensing line malfunctions, the system merges readings from neighboring operative lines to compensate for the loss and maintain detection capability in the affected region.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts detection parameters such as sensitivity thresholds and signal evaluation criteria based on the operational status of sensing lines. When malfunctions are detected, the parameters are changed to accommodate the reduced signal quality and maintain accurate touch detection.
2Measurement precision
If sensing lines are made densely spaced to improve detection precision, then measurement precision is improved, but the probability of isolated malfunctioning lines increases which reduces reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection to identify malfunctioning sensing lines and proactively adjusts its operation to compensate for them. By detecting and adapting to failures before they significantly impact user experience, the system maintains reliability while preserving the benefits of dense sensing line spacing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors sensing line operation and uses feedback from malfunction detection to dynamically adjust detection algorithms. This feedback mechanism allows the system to adapt to individual line failures and maintain overall system reliability despite the increased probability of malfunction in densely spaced configurations.
3Device complexity
If standard touch detection algorithms are used, then device complexity is minimized, but the ability to handle sensing line malfunctions is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adaptation where the detection algorithm automatically adjusts its behavior based on the operational status of sensing lines. The system transitions from standard detection mode to compensation mode when malfunctions are detected, enabling versatile malfunction handling without requiring permanently complex algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-diagnosis to identify malfunctioning sensing lines and automatically adjusts its detection methodology to compensate for the failures. This self-service capability enables the system to handle malfunctions without external intervention or permanently complex algorithms, maintaining simplicity while gaining adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus (12) and method (400) disclosed herein embody techniques for adapting read operations with respect to a touch sensor (14), to avoid or mitigate touch-detection problems arising from inoperative sensing lines (60) used to detect touch inputs to a touch surface (16) of the touch sensor (14). A particular advantage is that the avoidance or mitigation techniques address instances of touch sensor malfunctioning that involve isolated instances of sensing-line malfunctions. A further advantage is that the technique allows for continued “normal” organization, sizing, and placement of user-interface elements displayed on the touch surface (16)—e.g., a touchscreen display surface—because the technique provides for touch detection in regions of the touch surface (16) affected by inoperative sensing lines (60), at least in cases where an inoperative sensing line (60) is bounded by operative sensing lines (60).