Wooden Capacitive Touch Interface for Wireless Loudspeaker Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing capacitive touchscreens are typically made of glass or other non-wooden materials, limiting the aesthetic appeal and functionality of user interfaces in devices like loudspeakers.
Innovation Solution
A wireless-enabled loudspeaker with a wooden or dielectric capacitive touch interface that allows users to control operations through capacitive touch sensors integrated into the wooden exterior, enabling features like volume control, track navigation, and social media interaction, while connecting to streaming audio content via Wi-Fi.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If glass or non-wooden materials are used for capacitive touchscreen, then the capacitive touch functionality is achieved, but the aesthetic appeal and natural appearance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining wood (a natural, aesthetically pleasing material) with conductive elements (such as conductive ink or embedded electrodes) to create a capacitive touchscreen surface. This composite structure allows the wood to provide aesthetic appeal while the conductive components enable capacitive touch functionality, resolving the contradiction between appearance and function.
2Ease of manufacture
If wood is used as exterior surface, then the aesthetic appeal and natural appearance is improved, but the capacitive touch sensitivity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by modifying specific regions of the wood surface to enhance capacitive coupling. This may involve applying conductive coatings to specific areas, creating localized conductive patterns, or treating certain zones of the wood to improve its electrical properties while maintaining the overall natural appearance and aesthetic appeal of the wooden surface.
3Measurement precision
If traditional glass touchscreen is used, then the capacitive touch sensitivity is maintained, but the aesthetic appeal and design versatility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the electrical and physical parameters of the wood surface to enable capacitive touch functionality. This includes adjusting the conductivity, surface impedance, and dielectric properties of the wood or its coating to achieve touch sensitivity comparable to glass, while simultaneously expanding design versatility through natural wood grains, colors, and textures.
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 experience by providing a natural, aesthetically pleasing interface with functional controls and connectivity to streaming services, allowing seamless control and feedback through a wooden surface.
Implementation Method 1
a capacitive sense electrode in communication with the processor, wherein the wooden exterior surface acts a dielectric for the capacitive touch user interface
Implementation Method 2
the wooden exterior surface acts a dielectric for the capacitive touch user interface
Data Source
AI summary
Wireless-enabled loudspeaker includes a capacitive touch user interface. The loudspeaker may comprise at least one electroacoustic transducer, a processor in communication with the at least one electroacoustic transducer, and an exterior surface comprising a capacitive touch user interface that allows a user to control operation of the loudspeaker. The exterior surface acts a dielectric for the capacitive touch user interface. The loudspeaker may comprise a wireless transceiver circuit for receiving and transmitting wireless communication signals via a wireless network. The wireless transceiver circuit may receive wirelessly audio content from streaming audio content servers that are connected to the Internet. The capacitive touch user interface comprises a plurality of capacitive sense electrodes.