Two-Sided Touch Screen Display With Attenuation Layer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional touch-screen displays often struggle to allow simultaneous independent operation by multiple users due to interference between capacitive touch screens, limiting their ability to deliver diverse content efficiently in shared environments like restaurants.
Innovation Solution
A two-sided touch screen unit with capacitive touch screens positioned in opposite directions and an attenuation layer made of electrically conductive material, such as a wire mesh or conductive paint, between them, which prevents touch interference by providing a path to ground and allowing independent processing of touches on each side.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If two capacitive touch screens are positioned back-to-back in close proximity, then the device can support multiple users simultaneously and deliver diverse content efficiently, but touch interference occurs between the two screens causing one user's touch to be registered on the other side
Solution Approach 1:
An attenuation layer made of electrically conductive material is positioned between the two capacitive touch screens to block the electric field from passing through to the other side. This intermediary layer prevents touch interference while allowing each screen to function independently for its respective user.
Solution Approach 2:
The electric field of each touch screen is segmented and confined to its respective side by the attenuation layer. This segmentation prevents the electric field from extending to the opposite screen, ensuring that touches on one side do not register on the other side.
2Volume of moving object
If two capacitive touch screens are positioned back-to-back in close proximity, then the device housing can be more compact, but the electric field from one screen interferes with the other screen
Solution Approach 1:
The attenuation layer serves as an intermediary barrier between the two touch screens, blocking the harmful electric field interference while allowing the screens to be positioned in close proximity for a compact design.
Solution Approach 2:
The attenuation layer, which blocks electric field interference, is implemented using materials that can be integrated into the compact housing design, converting the potential harm of close proximity into a benefit of space efficiency.
3Ease of operation
If an attenuation layer is positioned between the two touch screens, then touch interference is prevented and independent operation is enabled, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The attenuation layer is designed to serve multiple functions: blocking electric field interference, providing structural support between screens, and potentially serving as a mounting surface for other components, thereby reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The attenuation layer is integrated with the housing structure or mounting mechanisms, combining multiple functions into a single component to minimize the increase in device complexity while enabling independent operation.
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
Enables two users to interact with different content on a tabletop display device independently, enhancing content delivery efficiency and allowing for a more compact design by preventing touch registration on one side from affecting the other side, thus supporting multiple users simultaneously.
Implementation Method 1
The electric current across the sensor results in an electric field having both a horizontal and vertical axis, thereby achieving capacitance
Implementation Method 2
The attenuation layer, coupled to a ground plane, provides a path to ground and may prevent a touch on one side of the screen from registering on the other side of the screen
Implementation Method 3
A panel in a capacitive touch screen may include a sensor that is coated with a material that conducts a continuous electric current across sensor. The electric current across the sensor results in an electric field having both a horizontal and vertical axis, thereby achieving capacitance. A human body may also store electrons, and therefore exhibits capacitance.
Data Source
AI summary
A two-sided touch screen unit is disclosed. In one embodiment, the two-sided touch screen unit includes a housing. A first touch screen positioned in the housing faces a first direction, while a second touch screen is positioned in the housing facing in a second direction that is substantially the opposite of the first direction. At least one attenuation layer is positioned between the first touch screen and the second touch screen.