Vehicle Touch Switch Sub-Conductor Plate Environmental Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle accessory touch switches malfunction due to changes in atmospheric conditions and electromagnetic interference, leading to incorrect electrostatic capacitance measurements and improper functioning.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle accessory touch switch is designed with a sub-conductor plate independent of the sensor conductor plate, where the capacitance measurement section measures changes in electrostatic capacity between the sub-conductor plate and ground, allowing the control section to adjust the control judgment value and prevent malfunctions caused by environmental changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a touch switch uses a sensor conductor plate to detect electrostatic capacitance changes, then the touch switch can control accessory equipment, but the capacitance measurement becomes inaccurate due to changes in atmospheric conditions and electromagnetic interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a sub-conductor plate as an intermediary reference element that is not directly touched by the user. This sub-conductor plate serves as a reference for measuring environmental capacitance changes, allowing the system to distinguish between genuine touch inputs and environmental variations. The reference conductor plate acts as a mediator that captures only the environmental interference component, which is then subtracted from the sensor conductor plate measurements to achieve accurate touch detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the capacitance of both the sensor conductor plate and the reference conductor plate, using the reference measurement as feedback to adjust the threshold for detecting genuine touches. By comparing the differential change between the two plates against a dynamically adjusted threshold, the system can adapt to changing environmental conditions and maintain reliable operation.
2Measurement precision
If the capacitance measurement is highly sensitive to detect user touches, then touch detection is accurate, but the system becomes prone to false triggering from environmental changes
Solution Approach 1:
The reference conductor plate serves as an intermediary that captures environmental interference separately. By measuring the capacitance of this reference plate and comparing it with the sensor plate, the system can identify and filter out false triggers caused by humidity, temperature, or electromagnetic changes, while maintaining high sensitivity for genuine user touches.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful effect of environmental capacitance changes into a useful reference signal. By deliberately placing a reference conductor plate that experiences the same environmental conditions but not user touches, the system transforms environmental noise into a calibration reference that actually improves touch detection accuracy.
3Device complexity
If a single conductor plate is used for capacitance sensing, then the device structure is simple, but the system cannot distinguish between environmental changes and actual user touches
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the capacitance sensing function into two separate conductor plates: a sensor conductor plate for detecting user touches and a reference conductor plate for measuring environmental changes. This segmentation allows the system to independently measure and compare the two types of capacitance changes, enabling accurate discrimination between genuine touches and environmental variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds another dimension to the measurement system by introducing a second measurement channel (the reference conductor plate). Instead of relying on a single capacitance measurement, the system now operates in a two-dimensional measurement space, comparing the sensor plate reading with the reference plate reading to extract the genuine touch signal from environmental noise.
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
The solution effectively prevents malfunctions by adjusting sensitivity based on environmental changes, ensuring reliable operation of the touch switch even in varying conditions.
Implementation Method 1
the capacitance to ground of the sensor conductor plate 20 can be changed when a surface of the touch plate 16, which is opposite to a surface to which the sensor conductor plate 20 is bonded, is touched with a human hand having electrostatic capacity with respect to the ground conductor 26
Implementation Method 2
The capacitance measurement/control unit 24 measures the electrostatic capacitance between the sensor conductor plate 20 and the ground conductor 26
Implementation Method 3
a sub-conductor plate is disposed independent of the sensor conductor plate, the capacitance measurement section measures a change in electrostatic capacity between the sub-conductor plate and the ground conductor as a sub-conductor plate capacity change
Data Source
AI summary
A touch switch for controlling accessory equipment of a vehicle in such a manner that malfunctions caused by factors such as changes in atmospheric conditions, receipt of an electromagnetic impulse, or the like can be avoided. A vehicle accessory touch switch comprises a touch section having a sensor conductor plate which is touched by an operator, a capacitance measurement section which measures a change in electrostatic capacity of the sensor conductor plate to a ground conductor as a sensor conductor plate capacity change, and a control section which controls accessory equipment according to comparison between the sensor conductor plate capacity change and a control judgment value, wherein the vehicle accessory touch switch controls the accessory equipment according to an operator touching the touch section, a sub-conductor plate is disposed, the capacitance measurement section measures a change in electrostatic capacity between the sub-conductor plate and the ground conductor as a sub-conductor plate capacity change, and the control section decides the control judgment value according to the sub-conductor plate capacity change measured by the capacitance measurement section.