Acoustic Touch Detection for Soft and Hard Input Distinction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing touch screen technologies cannot distinguish between different types of touch inputs, such as soft and hard touches, limiting the ability to associate specific functions with varying input types.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that utilize acoustic sensors to detect the characteristics of touch inputs, including frequency and amplitude, to differentiate between soft and hard touches, allowing for the association of distinct actions with each type of input at the same location coordinates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If acoustic sensors are used to detect touch characteristics, then the ability to distinguish between different types of touch inputs is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The acoustic sensor system is designed to perform multiple functions: detecting touch location, determining touch type (soft vs hard), and triggering different operations. This multi-functionality allows a single sensor system to replace what would otherwise require multiple separate sensing mechanisms, thereby improving measurement precision without proportionally increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system detects different touch types by analyzing changes in acoustic parameters (frequency and amplitude) generated during touch events. By monitoring these parameter variations, the system can distinguish between soft touches (lower amplitude) and hard touches (higher amplitude), achieving improved measurement precision through parameter analysis rather than adding complex hardware
2Productivity
If the terminal performs different functions based on touch type, then user productivity is improved, but the processing requirements and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary classification of touch types (soft vs hard) at the point of input detection, before triggering the actual operations. This preliminary action allows the system to quickly determine the appropriate function to execute, improving user productivity by reducing unnecessary processing and energy consumption associated with evaluating all possible operations for every touch event
3Measurement precision
If acoustic pulse recognition technology is used, then the ability to detect touch location is improved, but the ability to distinguish touch type remains insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from one-dimensional touch detection (location only) to two-dimensional touch detection by adding the touch type dimension. Acoustic sensors capture both spatial information (x, y coordinates) and characteristic information (frequency, amplitude), enabling the system to distinguish between different touch types while maintaining accurate location detection, thus recovering touch characteristic information that would otherwise be lost
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 productivity by enabling the terminal to perform different functions based on the type of touch input, such as unlocking the device or launching applications, by accurately distinguishing between soft and hard touches.
Implementation Method 1
A touch screen according to the related art includes a plurality of sensors formed in layers making up the touch screen or formed around the periphery of the touch screen... acoustic pulse recognition sensing technology... The acoustic sensors detect when a user touches the touch screen based on the sound created when the user touches the screen
Data Source
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AI summary
A method and a mobile terminal which operates thereupon are provided, wherein the method comprising: associating an application to be launched with a touch input of a hard touch type, detecting a touch input on a touch screen of the terminal, identifying the touch input as a hard touch type based at least on sound generated by the touch input, and if the touch input is identified as the hard touch type, launching the application associated with the hard touch type on the touch screen.