Acoustic Touch Input Location Determination Using Dynamic Signature Selection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing touch sensing technologies face challenges in accurately determining the location of user inputs on a surface of electronic devices due to changes in acoustic characteristics caused by other objects contacting the device, which affects the precision of acoustic wave detection.

Innovation Solution

The use of acoustic sensing elements to measure acoustic responses and obtain device acoustic signatures for various support configurations, allowing the control module to determine the location of user inputs by correlating measured acoustic responses with known input locations specific to each support configuration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If acoustic sensing elements are used to determine touch input location, then touch detection capability is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates when other objects contact the device

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetouch detection capabilityVSAvoidinput location accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adapts to different support configurations by detecting acoustic characteristics and selecting corresponding calibration data. The acoustic signature database stores multiple calibration sets for different device orientations and contact scenarios, allowing the system to switch between them based on real-time conditions, thereby maintaining measurement precision across varying operational states

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameter set used for measurement based on detected acoustic characteristics. By identifying the current support configuration through acoustic analysis and selecting the matching calibration parameters from the database, the system adjusts its measurement parameters to compensate for acoustic characteristic changes caused by different object contacts, thus resolving the precision deterioration issue

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Device complexity

If acoustic characteristics are assumed constant for touch detection, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability of input location determination deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveacoustic model simplicityVSAvoidinput location determination accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary calibration for multiple support configurations before actual use. Acoustic signatures are pre-measured and stored in a database for different device orientations and contact scenarios. During operation, the system simply retrieves the appropriate pre-calibrated data based on detected acoustic characteristics, avoiding complex real-time calculations while maintaining high reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates acoustic signature copies for different support configurations and stores them in a database. Instead of using a single acoustic model, multiple copies representing different device states are maintained. The system selects the appropriate copy based on real-time acoustic analysis, thereby improving reliability without significantly increasing device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

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 approach enables more accurate determination of user input locations on electronic devices, accounting for the influence of physical contact points on acoustic characteristics and improving the precision of touch input detection across different support configurations.

Implementation Method 1

sensors to detect acoustic waves propagating in the device and determine the location of touch inputs on a surface of the device based on the acoustic waves and known acoustic characteristics of the device

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcoustic wave propagation: Sound

Implementation Method 2

acoustic sensing elements to measure acoustic responses and obtain device acoustic signatures for various support configurations

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcoustic response measurement: Sound

Data Source

PatentUS8941623B2Methods and devices for determining user input location based on device support configuration

Publication Date: 2015.01.27 GOOGLE TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS LLC

AI summary

Methods and devices are provided for determining location of an input on a surface of a device using a plurality of acoustic sensing elements. An exemplary method comprises determining a current support configuration of the device, selecting a device acoustic signature corresponding to the current support configuration, measuring acoustic response corresponding to the input at each acoustic sensing element of the plurality of acoustic sensing elements, and determining the location of the input based on the measured acoustic responses and the selected device acoustic signature for the current support configuration.