Edge Touch Input Filtering for Bezel-Free Displays

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing information handling devices with touch screens face challenges in minimizing the non-functional bezel area while preventing inadvertent inputs, as users often hold the device by the edge, leading to unwanted actions.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a software solution that detects user inputs within a predetermined edge region of the touch screen, filters non-committal inputs, and adjusts display output to prevent accidental actions, allowing the touch screen to extend to the edge of the device without a conventional bezel.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of moving object

If the touch screen extends to the edge of the device without a conventional bezel, then the interactive surface area is increased, but inadvertent inputs occur when users hold the device by the edge

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinteractive surface areaVSAvoidinput accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The touch screen is segmented into a functional edge region and a non-functional hold region. The processor identifies touch inputs in the edge region and determines whether they are intentional interactions or holding gestures, applying different processing rules to each segment to prevent inadvertent inputs while maintaining full-screen functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different quality attributes are applied to different regions of the touch screen. The functional edge region accepts touch inputs that can trigger actions, while the hold region filters out touches that are likely holding gestures. This local differentiation allows the screen to extend to the edge without sacrificing input accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If a non-functional bezel area is maintained around the touch screen, then inadvertent inputs are prevented, but the interactive surface area is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinput accuracyVSAvoidinteractive surface area

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSArea of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The physical bezel structure is extracted and removed, replacing it with a software-based solution. The processor extracts and analyzes touch input characteristics to distinguish between intentional touches and holding gestures, eliminating the need for a physical non-functional border while maintaining input accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The mechanical bezel structure is replaced with a software-based filtering system. Instead of using a physical barrier to prevent inadvertent inputs, the system uses algorithmic analysis of touch characteristics (pressure, duration, location patterns) to differentiate between intentional interactions and holding gestures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS9134835B2Detecting and filtering edge touch inputs

Publication Date: 2015.09.15 LENOVO SWITZERLAND INTERNATIONAL GMBH

AI summary

An aspect provides a method, including: detecting, on a touch screen of an information handing device, user input; determining, using a processor, that the user input occurs within a predetermined edge region of the touch screen; adjusting, using a processor, display output of the touch screen based on the user input that occurs within a predetermined edge region; and filtering, using a processor, the user input that occurs within a predetermined edge region such that the user input does not commit an input action on the information handling device. Other aspects are described and claimed.