Dual Touch Sensor Mode Switching for Portable Devices

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing portable electronic devices require multiple operations to switch modes, leading to inefficiency and potential unintended mode switching, as they determine mode changes based on assigned secret attributes rather than user intention.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a dual touch sensor system, where a first touch sensor performs a primary process and a second touch sensor modifies or overrides the primary process when both sensors detect a touch operation, allowing for intuitive mode switching that reflects user intention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a single touch sensor is used to detect touch operations for mode switching, then the device operation is simple, but the user must perform multiple separate operations to switch modes, increasing time and effort

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemode switching operationVSAvoidtime for mode switching
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple touch sensors (first touch sensor and second touch sensor) into a unified input system. By merging the detection capabilities of both sensors, the system can recognize complex touch patterns (such as touching both sensors simultaneously or in sequence) that enable mode switching in a single integrated operation, eliminating the need for multiple separate operations and reducing the time required for mode switching.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If mode switching is determined based on assigned secret attributes to data, then data security is improved, but mode switching may occur contrary to user intention

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata securityVSAvoiduser intention control
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the system detects touch operations through multiple touch sensors and presents mode selection options to the user. The system waits for explicit user confirmation before executing mode switching, ensuring that the final mode change reflects user intention. This feedback loop maintains data security through attribute-based access control while preventing unintended mode switching by requiring active user confirmation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If multiple touch sensors are added to enable intuitive mode switching, then user intention recognition is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser intention recognitionVSAvoidtouch sensor system
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the multiple touch sensors serve multiple functions: they detect not only mode switching operations but also other user interactions with the device. The first and second touch sensors can recognize various touch patterns (simultaneous touches, sequential touches, different positions) to trigger different operations. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional specialized components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while still enabling intuitive user intention recognition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3457672B1Portable electronic device, touch operation processing method, and program
Publication Date: 2019.11.20 NEC CORP
  • EP3457672B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3457672B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3457672B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A portable electronic device comprising: a first touch sensor; a second touch sensor; and a processing unit which is configured to (a) when the first touch sensor detects a touch operation serving as a user authentication request operation, perform a first process of performing authentication of a user and, if the authentication is successful, permitting access to first data from a predetermined program and (b) when the first touch sensor detects the touch operation serving as the user authentication request operation and the second touch sensor detects a touch operation, perform, in place of the first process and as a process related to the first process, a second process of performing the authentication of the user, and, if the authentication is successful, permitting access to second data from the predetermined program.