Configurable Palmrest Touch and Force Detection for Palm Rejection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Convertible information handling systems face inefficiencies due to reduced key size and vertical travel in mechanical keyboards, requiring users to hunt and peck for function keys, and palm rests occupy valuable space while touchpads struggle with accurate touch rejection.

Innovation Solution

A palm rest with a touch detection surface and force detection sensor distinguishes intended inputs from unintentional ones by comparing touch areas and forces, allowing function key interactions through a touch function row on-screen-display, enhancing input accuracy and efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a mechanical keyboard is used in a portable information handling system, then positive feedback and user friendliness are improved, but the key size and vertical travel are reduced due to the small size of the portable housing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser friendlinessVSAvoidkey size

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSArea of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines a mechanical keyboard with a touch-sensitive palm rest into an integrated input system. The palm rest includes touch detection sensors that work alongside the mechanical keys, allowing the system to differentiate between intentional key presses and unintentional palm contacts. This merging enables the portable system to maintain mechanical key benefits while adding touch sensitivity for palm rejection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The touch-sensitive palm rest acts as an intermediary between the user's hand and the mechanical keyboard. By detecting touch patterns, pressure, and contact duration, the palm rest mediates between intentional key inputs and unintentional palm rests, allowing the system to distinguish and respond appropriately to different input types.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the palm rest occupies space in the portable housing, then user comfort is improved, but the available space for other components is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser comfortVSAvoidavailable space

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The palm rest is designed to serve multiple functions: it provides a comfortable resting surface for the user's hand, acts as a touch-sensitive input area for additional controls, and functions as a sensor array for palm detection and rejection. This multi-functionality allows the palm rest to justify its space occupation by delivering multiple benefits from a single component.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Area of stationary object

If a touchpad is used for input, then space efficiency is improved, but accurate touch rejection becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespace efficiencyVSAvoidtouch rejection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system monitors multiple parameters including touch pressure, contact duration, touch location, and gesture patterns to distinguish between intentional inputs and unintentional palm rests. By analyzing changes in these parameters over time, the system achieves accurate palm rejection without requiring a larger touchpad surface area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 system improves input accuracy and efficiency by enabling confident interaction with a touch detection surface, rejecting unintended touches, and providing a wider input area without diverting user gaze from the display, thus optimizing user workflow.

Implementation Method 1

A portable information handling system palm rest includes a touch detection surface to detect touch inputs and force detection sensor that detects the pressure applied touches

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectForce detection:

Implementation Method 2

One technique to improve inputs with virtual keys is to provide localized haptic feedback when an input is performed, such as by a piezoelectric or other vibration source below the key value on the display

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPiezoelectric effect: Piezoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentUS20250244849A1Information handling system touch detection palm with configurable active area and force detection

Publication Date: 2025.07.31 DELL PROD LP

AI summary

A portable information handling system palm rest adjacent a mechanical keyboard includes a touch detection surface to accept end user touches as inputs to the information handling system and a force detection sensor to detect pressure associated with the touches. Logic executing on a processing resource compares touch areas with associated pressures to differentiate intentional inputs from unintentional inputs, such as a palm resting on the palm rest. An active area for detection touches, detecting force and outputting haptic feedback is defined at a user interface presented by a main display of the information handling system and/or a secondary display in the palm rest.