Touch Sensor Sensitivity Control for False Trigger Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Touch sensors often inadvertently activate device functions due to accidental detection of objects, such as a user's face or fingers, leading to unwanted actions during specific operations like phone calls, where reduced sensitivity is desired in certain areas to prevent such activations.
Innovation Solution
A touch-sensor controller dynamically adjusts the detection range by decreasing sensitivity in specific areas, such as coupling electrodes to a fixed voltage source to reduce the detection range in unwanted areas while maintaining or increasing sensitivity in others, allowing for tailored sensitivity settings based on device operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the touch sensor maintains high sensitivity across the entire detection area, then the detection capability is improved, but accidental activations increase due to detection of objects like user's face or fingers in unwanted areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by dividing the touch sensor detection area into multiple regions with different sensitivity levels. High-sensitivity areas are designated for intentional touches, while low-sensitivity areas are designated for preventing accidental activations. The controller dynamically adjusts the sensitivity of specific regions based on the operational state, allowing the same sensor to have different detection characteristics in different locations simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the touch sensor into multiple detection regions, each with independently controllable sensitivity. This segmentation allows the system to treat different areas differently - maintaining high sensitivity in areas where touches are intended while reducing sensitivity in areas where accidental activations should be prevented, thus resolving the contradiction between overall detection capability and accidental activation prevention.
2Measurement precision
If the detection range is extended to improve detection capability, then the sensitivity is increased, but the likelihood of detecting unwanted objects and triggering unwanted functions increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by creating spatially varying sensitivity characteristics within the touch sensor. Instead of uniform sensitivity across the entire sensor, different regions have different sensitivity levels tailored to their specific functional requirements. This allows the system to maintain extended detection range where needed while preventing false triggers in areas where objects like the user's face or fingers may inadvertently be detected.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics by making the sensitivity settings changeable based on operational state. The controller can dynamically adjust which regions have high sensitivity and which have low sensitivity depending on the current operation mode. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to adapt the detection characteristics to prevent false triggers during specific operations while maintaining detection capability when needed.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If sensitivity is reduced in specific areas to prevent accidental activations, then unwanted functions are prevented, but detection capability in those areas is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the sensor surface into distinct high-sensitivity and low-sensitivity regions. The segmentation allows the system to reduce sensitivity in specific areas to prevent unwanted functions while maintaining high sensitivity in other areas for legitimate detection. This spatial differentiation resolves the contradiction by showing that detection capability and unwanted function prevention can coexist through proper regional allocation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality to create non-uniform sensitivity distribution across the sensor. By making sensitivity a local property rather than a global one, the system can optimize each region independently - reducing sensitivity where unwanted functions should be prevented while maintaining detection capability where intentional touches are expected, thus resolving the contradiction between preventing unwanted functions and maintaining detection capability.
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 effectively prevents accidental device activations by reducing sensitivity in areas prone to false triggers, while maintaining or enhancing sensitivity in areas where detection is necessary, thereby improving user interaction and potentially extending battery life.
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
In one embodiment, a method for changing the detection range of a touch sensor includes receiving a signal associated with an operation of a device having a touch sensor, and in response to the signal, determining that a detection mode of the touch sensor associated with the device is to be changed. In response to the determination, decreasing sensitivity of a portion, but not all, of the touch sensor.