Conductive Touch Screen Eraser for Position and Orientation Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing digital whiteboards lack an intuitive and natural method for erasing digital ink, as physically moving an eraser to erase digital ink on a digital screen is an interpreted interaction rather than a direct physical act.
Innovation Solution
The development of touch screen erasers with conductive patterns that allow them to be recognized by touch screens as erasers, enabling intuitive and natural erasing capabilities in both passive and active modes, with the ability to distinguish between human touch and the eraser.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conductive pattern is added to the eraser to enable recognition by the touch screen, then the eraser can be detected and distinguished from human touch, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the electrical properties of the eraser through conductive patterns. The eraser body is transformed from a non-conductive object to one with specific conductive characteristics, allowing the touch screen to distinguish it from human touch based on electrical parameters such as capacitance and conductivity profiles
Solution Approach 2:
The conductive pattern acts as an intermediary element between the eraser and the touch screen sensor. This intermediate conductive layer enables the touch screen to detect and recognize the eraser by translating the physical presence of the eraser into electrical signals that the system can interpret
2Measurement precision
If the eraser conductive pattern supports three-dimensional orientation determinations, then the user intent and erase width can be accurately assessed, but the measurement and detection difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional touch detection to three-dimensional orientation detection by incorporating conductive patterns that respond to spatial positioning. The conductive elements are arranged to detect not only the presence of the eraser but also its angular orientation and tilt, adding a dimensional aspect to the detection capability
Solution Approach 2:
The conductive pattern is divided into multiple segmented conductive elements distributed across the eraser surface. Each segment independently detects contact information, and by analyzing the combined data from multiple segments, the system can calculate the eraser's orientation and determine the intended erase width with high precision
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 precise and intuitive erasing of digital content on touch screens, allowing users to erase lines, strokes, letters, dots, wide swaths, or entire screens with ease, while maintaining accurate detection and reporting of eraser position and orientation to the content source.
Implementation Method 1
An eraser may be provided that includes a conductive pattern that includes multiple conductors to enable the eraser to be recognized by a touch screen as an eraser
Implementation Method 2
A conductive pattern may be sensed as multiple blobs (patterns/regions) comprising a plurality of signals varying in magnitude with varying proximity of an eraser to a touch screen
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems and computer program products provide touch screen erasing. A touch device includes an eraser detector that configured to analyze one or more blobs comprising a plurality of detected signals caused by a conductive pattern in or on an eraser type of touch instrument in proximity to the touch device. Each detected signal may have an associated intensity and location on the touch device. A position detector is configured to detect a position of an eraser based on the locations of the plurality of detected signals. An orientation detector is configured to detect an orientation of the eraser based on the intensities of the plurality of detected signals. An eraser reporter is configured to report the position and orientation of the eraser to a content source (e.g., an application and/or operating system providing displayed content).