Touchscreen Proximity Detection with Visual Feedback for Hygiene
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Capacitive touchscreens pose sanitary issues due to the need for direct contact, and infrared touchscreens lack accuracy and versatility in input operations, making them unsuitable for environments requiring hygiene and complex command inputs.
Innovation Solution
A touchscreen device with a touch sensing unit that transmits and receives measurement signals, a control unit for position calculation, and a position indication unit emitting visibly recognizable light to assist user input recognition, allowing input operations without direct contact and enabling diverse command inputs through multiple touch sensing units.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If capacitive touchscreen is used, then touch position can be sensed, but bacteria or contaminants may propagate through direct contact
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary infrared sensing layer between the user's finger and the display screen. This infrared touchscreen uses infrared light to detect touch positions without requiring direct contact, thereby preventing bacteria propagation while maintaining accurate touch position sensing capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical contact-based capacitive sensing system with an optical infrared sensing system. Instead of detecting electrical capacitance changes through direct finger contact, the system uses infrared light transmission and reception to sense touch positions non-contactually
2Object-affected harmful factors
If infrared touchscreen is used, then sanitary problems are solved, but user recognition of sensing region and input accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the system provides visual or haptic feedback to confirm when a touch input is successfully registered. This feedback loop helps users verify that their input operations are being accurately detected, improving user confidence and perceived input accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs color changes or visual indicators on the display to show the sensing region and confirm touch detection. By changing colors or displaying visual cues at the detected touch position, the system enhances user recognition of the sensing region and validates input accuracy
3Ease of operation
If infrared touchscreen is used, then contact-free operation is enabled, but command input versatility is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the touch sensing capability into multiple independent sensing zones or regions, each capable of detecting different input gestures. By dividing the sensing area and assigning different functions to different zones, the system enables diverse command inputs while maintaining contact-free operation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic gesture recognition that can detect and interpret various motion patterns, speeds, and durations. The system dynamically adjusts its interpretation of user inputs based on the characteristics of the detected motion, enabling versatile command input through different gesture types
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
Enhances user recognition of input positions and motions, prevents sanitary issues by allowing contact-free operation, and facilitates various command inputs, improving usability and hygiene in sensitive environments.
Implementation Method 1
a touch sensing unit including a transmission module configured to transmit a touch measurement signal and a reception module configured to receive the touch measurement signal from the transmission module
Implementation Method 2
a position indication unit disposed adjacent to the touch sensing unit and configured to emit visibly recognizable light
Data Source
AI summary
A touchscreen device includes: a touch sensing unit including a transmission module configured to transmit a touch measurement signal and a reception module configured to receive the touch measurement signal from the transmission module; a control unit configured to control the transmission module and the reception module and calculate a touch position according to an output signal of the touch sensing unit; a position indication unit disposed adjacent to the touch sensing unit and configured to emit visibly recognizable light; and a support member configured to support the touch sensing unit and the position indication unit. When the touch sensing unit senses a motion of a user in a sensing region, the control unit controls the position indication unit to emit light that is turned on and off to be visibly recognizable.