The present disclosure provides a touch panel including: a touch region having a plurality of ultrasonic signal detection circuits and a reference region having a plurality of reference circuits, each ultrasonic signal detection circuit includes an ultrasonic sensor and a first driving circuit; the ultrasonic sensor includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a dielectric layer between the first electrode and the second electrode, the first driving circuit is configured to drive the ultrasonic sensor; each of the plurality of reference circuits includes a reference transceiver and a second driving circuit, the reference transceiver includes a third electrode, a fourth electrode, and a dielectric layer between the third electrode and the fourth electrode; the second driving circuit is configured to drive the reference transceiver; the dielectric layer of the ultrasonic sensor has piezoelectric sensitivity; the dielectric layer of the reference transceiver does not have the piezoelectric sensitivity.

A modular user interface unit for an appliance is provided. The modular user interface unit includes an upper film layer comprising a conductive polymer and a plurality of electrodes. The modular user interface unit also includes a circuit board with a microcontroller thereon. The circuit board is electrically coupled to the upper film layer by a conductive polymer connector. The microcontroller is configured to receive raw capacitance data from the plurality of electrodes and to detect a touch based on the raw capacitance data.

A method of configuring a touch sensor includes transmitting an ultra-sonic test signal induced by a first excitation signal towards a touch structure that has a first interface with an enclosed interior volume of the touch sensor and a second interface with an external environment; receiving a plurality of ultra-sonic reflected signals produced from the ultra-sonic test signal and the touch structure, including a first ultra-sonic reflected signal internally reflected by the first interface and a last ultra-sonic reflected signal internally reflected by the second interface; determining a last time of flight corresponding to the last ultra-sonic reflected signal; and selectively configuring a second excitation signal based on the last time of flight. The second excitation signal is used for inducing further ultra-sonic signals.

A method of configuring a touch sensor includes transmitting an ultra-sonic test signal induced by a first excitation signal towards a touch structure that has a first interface with an enclosed interior volume of the touch sensor and a second interface with an external environment; receiving a plurality of ultra-sonic reflected signals produced from the ultra-sonic test signal and the touch structure, including a first ultra-sonic reflected signal internally reflected by the first interface and a last ultra-sonic reflected signal internally reflected by the second interface; determining a last time of flight corresponding to the last ultra-sonic reflected signal; and selectively configuring a second excitation signal based on the last time of flight. The second excitation signal is used for inducing further ultra-sonic signals.

Embodiments of the present application provide acoustic wave signal reading apparatuses, acoustic wave signal reading circuits, and control methods thereof related to the field of acoustic wave signal reading technology. One embodiment of an acoustic wave signal reading circuit comprises: an acoustic wave receiver, a reset control circuit, a function circuit, and an output circuit; an acoustic wave receiver is configured to convert a received acoustic wave signal into an electrical signal and outputs the electrical signal to a first node; the reset control circuit outputs a voltage to the first node; the function circuit switches states based on the first node, a signal terminal, and a voltage terminal, and outputs a voltage to a second node to reset the second node or amplifies a potential of the first node and outputs to the amplified potential to the second node depending on a state of the function circuit.

Embodiments of the present application provide acoustic wave signal reading apparatuses, acoustic wave signal reading circuits, and control methods thereof related to the field of acoustic wave signal reading technology. One embodiment of an acoustic wave signal reading circuit comprises: an acoustic wave receiver, a reset control circuit, a function circuit, and an output circuit; an acoustic wave receiver is configured to convert a received acoustic wave signal into an electrical signal and outputs the electrical signal to a first node; the reset control circuit outputs a voltage to the first node; the function circuit switches states based on the first node, a signal terminal, and a voltage terminal, and outputs a voltage to a second node to reset the second node or amplifies a potential of the first node and outputs to the amplified potential to the second node depending on a state of the function circuit.

Disclosed are apparatus and methods for enhancing operation of an ultrasonic sensing device for determining the status of an object near such ultrasonic sensing device. From the ultrasonic sensing device, an emission signal having a current frequency or band in an ultrasonic frequency range is emitted. Ultrasonic signals are received and analyzed to detect one or more objects near or contacting the ultrasonic sensing device. After expiration of a predefined time period of emitting the emission signal, a background noise signal is detected from an environment of the ultrasonic device and background noise metrics are estimated based on the background noise signal. It is then determined whether the current frequency of the emission signal is optimized based on the background noise metrics. A next frequency or band is selected and the emission signal is emitted at the next frequency or band if it is determined that the current frequency or band is not optimum. The operations of detecting, estimating, determining, and selecting are repeated after each time a next frequency or band is selected and the emission signal is emitted at such next frequency or band.

Disclosed are apparatus and methods for enhancing operation of an ultrasonic sensing device for determining the status of an object near such ultrasonic sensing device. From the ultrasonic sensing device, an emission signal having a current frequency or band in an ultrasonic frequency range is emitted. Ultrasonic signals are received and analyzed to detect one or more objects near or contacting the ultrasonic sensing device. After expiration of a predefined time period of emitting the emission signal, a background noise signal is detected from an environment of the ultrasonic device and background noise metrics are estimated based on the background noise signal. It is then determined whether the current frequency of the emission signal is optimized based on the background noise metrics. A next frequency or band is selected and the emission signal is emitted at the next frequency or band if it is determined that the current frequency or band is not optimum. The operations of detecting, estimating, determining, and selecting are repeated after each time a next frequency or band is selected and the emission signal is emitted at such next frequency or band.

The display panel comprises: a display substrate and a touch detection device; wherein the touch detection device comprises: a touch substrate located on a side of the display substrate away from a display surface, and a plurality of ultrasonic detection units located on a side of the touch substrate away from the display substrate; the ultrasonic detection unit comprises: a first electrode located on a side of the touch substrate away from the display substrate, a plurality of second electrodes between the touch substrate and the first electrode, and a piezoelectric induction layer between the first electrode and the second electrodes; in a fingerprint recognition stage, at least a part of the ultrasonic detection units in a fingerprint recognition area are used as an ultrasonic-generating source, and the second electrodes in at least a part of the ultrasonic detection units in the fingerprint recognition area respectively output fingerprint recognition signals.

The display panel comprises: a display substrate and a touch detection device; wherein the touch detection device comprises: a touch substrate located on a side of the display substrate away from a display surface, and a plurality of ultrasonic detection units located on a side of the touch substrate away from the display substrate; the ultrasonic detection unit comprises: a first electrode located on a side of the touch substrate away from the display substrate, a plurality of second electrodes between the touch substrate and the first electrode, and a piezoelectric induction layer between the first electrode and the second electrodes; in a fingerprint recognition stage, at least a part of the ultrasonic detection units in a fingerprint recognition area are used as an ultrasonic-generating source, and the second electrodes in at least a part of the ultrasonic detection units in the fingerprint recognition area respectively output fingerprint recognition signals.