Tri-Contact Transmitter Electrode for Proximity Sensor Positional Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing proximity sensor devices face challenges in reducing low-ground-mass effects, decreasing scan times, and increasing positional accuracy while being robust to noise sources.
Innovation Solution
A processing system comprising a transmitter module, a receiver module, and a determination module, which drives a first transmitter electrode with three contacts to produce voltage gradients and receives signals with corresponding receiver electrodes to determine positional information of input objects within a sensing region.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional single-contact transmitter electrodes are used, then device complexity is low, but positional accuracy and noise robustness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The transmitter electrode is segmented into multiple contacts (first, second, and third contacts) arranged in a triangular configuration. Each contact is driven independently to create distinct voltage gradients, enabling more precise localization of input objects through multi-dimensional signal differentiation while maintaining a relatively simple overall electrode structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from traditional linear or single-point electrode contacts to a two-dimensional triangular arrangement of three contacts. This dimensional expansion creates independent voltage gradient paths in multiple directions, improving positional accuracy by enabling the system to distinguish signals from different spatial directions and reduce noise interference.
2Reliability
If multiple voltage gradients are produced with three-contact electrodes, then noise robustness improves, but scan time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic switching of voltage gradients applied to the three transmitter contacts, cycling through different gradient configurations in a systematic sequence. This periodic action allows multiple measurements to be taken efficiently over time, improving noise robustness through signal averaging while maintaining controlled scan times through optimized switching sequences.
Solution Approach 2:
The voltage gradient measurements using three contacts are performed in a continuous, overlapping sequence rather than discrete separate scans. By maintaining continuous measurement action with overlapping data collection windows, the system achieves improved noise robustness through increased sampling without proportionally increasing total scan time.
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 configuration enhances the accuracy and robustness of proximity sensor devices by effectively reducing noise interference and improving positional detection precision.
Implementation Method 1
produce a first voltage gradient between the first contact and the second contact, and to produce a second voltage gradient between the first contact and the third contact
Data Source
AI summary
A processing system includes a transmitter module, a receiver module, and a determination module. The transmitter module is configured to drive a first contact, a second contact, and a third contact of a first transmitter electrode, wherein the first contact is disposed between the second contact and the third contact. This produces a first voltage gradient between the first contact and the second contact, and produces a second voltage gradient between the first contact and the third contact. The receiver module receives, with a first receiver electrode, a first resulting signal including effects of the first voltage gradient, and to receive, with a second receiver electrode, a second resulting signal comprising effects of the second voltage gradient. The determination module determines positional information for an input object located within a sensing region based on the first resulting signal and the second resulting signal.