Touch Sensor Mode Transitioning via Impact Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Touch sensors in devices often consume unnecessary power when in standby mode or unused, as detecting when to power on can introduce power-consuming activities and is not efficiently managed.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an impact sensor that detects impacts, such as taps, to transition the touch sensor from a low power mode to a higher power mode for detecting objects like fingers or styluses, allowing for controlled power usage and calibration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the touch sensor continuously monitors for object presence, then detection responsiveness is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The touch sensor controller dynamically transitions between a first power mode (low power consumption) and a second power mode (high power consumption) based on detected impact patterns. This dynamic power mode adjustment allows the system to maintain high detection responsiveness when needed while conserving power during normal operation, directly resolving the contradiction between speed and energy use.
2Ease of operation
If the touch sensor is activated frequently to detect user input, then user interaction detection is improved, but false inputs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection using an impact sensor to identify intentional user taps before activating the touch sensor. By detecting the impact pattern in advance and using it as a trigger, the system ensures that touch sensor activation occurs only for deliberate user actions, improving ease of operation while reducing false inputs caused by incidental contacts.
3Measurement precision
If the touch sensor remains in high power mode for calibration, then measurement precision is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The touch sensor controller performs calibration operations periodically or on-demand based on impact detection rather than continuously. The system enters the second power mode for calibration only when triggered by detected impacts, maintaining measurement precision when needed while minimizing power consumption by avoiding continuous calibration operations.
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 approach conserves power by reducing unnecessary touch sensor activation and improves calibration accuracy by initiating calibration only when the user is likely to interact with the device, thus optimizing power consumption and reducing false inputs.
Implementation Method 1
an impact sensor that detects impacts, such as taps
Implementation Method 2
a change in capacitance may occur within the touch screen at a position of the touch sensor of the touch screen that corresponds to the position of the object
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a touch sensor controller includes a processor and a monitoring component coupled to the processor. The monitoring component is configured to perform operations comprising receiving, from an impact sensor, an output signal. The output signal is indicative of a plurality of impacts detected by the impact sensor to a surface of a housing of a device. The monitoring component is further configured to perform operations comprising initiating, based on the output signal corresponding to a predefined impact pattern, a transition of the touch sensor from a first power mode to a second power mode.