Integrated Touch Sensor Layout for Stylus and Finger Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electronic devices with touch screens face challenges in distinguishing between fingers and stylus pens, particularly in capacitive touch screens, leading to operational errors and requiring additional components like separate sensor panels and integrated circuits for inductive electromagnetic resonance methods, which increase thickness and cost.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device design that integrates a sensor unit with multiple patterns connected to a touch controller in a double routing method, allowing for simultaneous sensing of objects and stylus pens without the need for additional sensors, enabling stylus pen functionality on both inner and outer touch screens while reducing the number of channels between the sensor unit and touch controller.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If inductive electromagnetic resonance method is used to distinguish stylus pen from finger, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional sensor panels and integrated circuits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the EMR sensor patterns and capacitive touch sensor patterns into a single integrated sensor unit. The EMR sensor patterns (first and second patterns) and capacitive touch sensor patterns (third and fourth patterns) are formed together on the same substrate, eliminating the need for separate sensor panels and reducing device complexity while maintaining stylus pen detection accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated sensor unit performs multiple functions: it detects stylus pens using EMR method, detects finger touches using capacitive method, and distinguishes between the two input types. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate dedicated EMR sensor panels while maintaining the ability to accurately identify different input sources.
2Measurement precision
If separate sensor panel for EMR is added to detect stylus pen, then measurement precision is improved, but device thickness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines EMR sensor patterns and capacitive touch sensor patterns into a single integrated sensor unit formed on the same substrate. This integration eliminates the need for separate EMR sensor panels, thereby reducing device thickness while maintaining accurate stylus pen position detection through the EMR method.
3Measurement precision
If additional integrated circuit for EMR is added, then measurement precision is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates EMR sensor patterns and capacitive touch sensor patterns into a single sensor unit that can be manufactured together in one process. This integration reduces the need for additional separate integrated circuits and assembly steps, thereby lowering manufacturing costs while maintaining the precision of touch input identification.
4Device complexity
If capacitive resonance method is used, then device complexity is reduced, but signal transmission quality deteriorates due to great attenuation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the sensor unit into distinct functional components: EMR sensor patterns (first and second patterns) for reliable stylus pen detection with strong signal transmission, and capacitive touch sensor patterns (third and fourth patterns) for finger touch detection. This segmentation allows each component to perform its optimal function while maintaining overall system simplicity.
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 design enhances the ability to accurately identify touch inputs from both fingers and stylus pens, reduces device thickness and manufacturing costs, and eliminates the need for additional sensors, thereby improving user interaction and device efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a position measurement device in an electromagnetic resonance (EMR) method is used to distinguish the hand from the stylus pen
Implementation Method 2
The EMR method has an advantage of being insensitive to a display and an external noise by using a magnetic field instead of an electric field as driving force
Implementation Method 3
The C-type touch screen operates in a method of sensing a difference between capacitances of transparent electrodes generated by contact of an object
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure relates to an electronic device, and more particularly, to an electronic device capable of sensing a stylus pen and an external object such as a finger, which is brough into proximity or contact with the electronic device and reducing the number of channels between a sensor unit and a touch controller. The electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a sensor unit and a touch controller. Here, the sensor unit includes: a plurality of first patterns, each of which extends in a first direction and has both ends electrically connected to the touch controller; and a plurality of third patterns, each of which extends in a second direction different from the first direction to cross the first pattern and has both ends of which at least one end is electrically connected to the touch controller.