Touch Sensor Vibration Contact Position Accuracy

Solution Overview

Problem

Touch sensors in electronic devices face accuracy issues when detecting contact positions, especially when operated with fingers, due to uneven resistance distribution and vibration, leading to incorrect detection of intended input locations.

Innovation Solution

An electronic device with a contact detection unit, a vibration unit, and a control unit that calculates the contact position by averaging multiple detected positions over a predetermined time, while generating vibration to provide tactile feedback and adjust sampling time based on pressure data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a touch sensor detects contact position based on voltage gradient in conducting films, then contact position can be detected, but detection accuracy deteriorates when contacted over large area or at multiple locations due to uneven resistance distribution

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontact position detection accuracyVSAvoidfinger contact area

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies mechanical vibration to the touch sensor surface at a specific frequency (e.g., 200 Hz). This vibration creates a dynamic environment where contact detection is performed across multiple vibration cycles. By analyzing contact position data collected during vibration, the system can identify the true contact point more accurately, even when the contact area is large or distributed across multiple locations. The vibration helps distinguish between intentional contact and variations caused by finger pressure distribution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #18Mechanical vibration

2Adaptability or versatility

If different processing is allocated to each object position on the touch sensor, then functional versatility is improved, but detection accuracy becomes critical for correct input recognition

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing differentiation by objectVSAvoidcontact position detection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring contact position during vibration and using this information to confirm whether the detected contact corresponds to the intended object. The control unit analyzes the relationship between contact position and object position, and only executes the allocated processing when the contact is confirmed to be intentional and accurate. This feedback mechanism ensures that the versatility of allocating different processing to different objects does not lead to incorrect execution due to inaccurate detection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If the touch sensor is contacted with a finger instead of a stylus, then ease of operation is improved, but contact position accuracy deteriorates due to larger contact area

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedirect finger inputVSAvoidcontact position accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies mechanical vibration to the touch sensor surface at a specific frequency (e.g., 200 Hz). This vibration creates a dynamic environment where contact detection is performed across multiple vibration cycles. By analyzing contact position data collected during vibration, the system can identify the true contact point more accurately, even when the contact area is large or distributed across multiple locations. The vibration helps distinguish between intentional contact and variations caused by finger pressure distribution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #18Mechanical vibration

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary action by detecting contact position at multiple time points during the vibration cycle before making a final determination. The control unit collects contact position data across several vibration periods and uses this accumulated information to confirm the true contact point. This preliminary multi-point detection ensures that the final processing execution is based on accurate contact position identification, compensating for the larger contact area inherent in finger input.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 enhances the accuracy of contact position detection even during vibration, reducing fluctuations and ensuring precise input recognition, thereby improving user interaction with touch-sensitive devices.

Implementation Method 1

a vibration unit configured to vibrate the contact detection unit

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Data Source

PatentUS9606651B2Electronic device

Publication Date: 2017.03.28 KYOCERA CORP

AI summary

An electronic device (1) is provided with a contact detection unit (40) that detects contact by a contacting object, a vibration unit (50) that vibrates the contact detection unit (40), and a control unit (10) that controls the vibration unit (50) to vibrate. The control unit (10), while controlling the vibration unit (50) to vibrate, determines a position of the contact based on a plurality of positions of contact detected by the contact detection unit (40) during a predetermined time.