Foldable Device Touch Input Mitigation During Hinge Movement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Portable electronic devices with foldable or extendable form factors often experience accidental touch activations and inadvertent selection of controls due to the movement of touch-sensitive displays during folding or unfolding.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a sensor system that detects changes in the pivot position of a housing assembly, coupled with a controller that ignores touch inputs during these changes, ensures that user interface content and controls are not inadvertently activated during the folding or unfolding of the device.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the device is designed with a foldable or extendable form factor that allows the display to move during folding/unfolding, then the device becomes more compact and versatile, but accidental touch activations and inadvertent control selections occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveform factor flexibilityVSAvoidtouch input accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of folding/unfolding motion using sensors (proximity sensors, accelerometers, gyroscopes) before accidental touches can occur. When folding motion is detected, the system proactively disables touch sensitivity or adjusts touch thresholds in advance, preventing inadvertent control selections while maintaining normal touch functionality during stable device states

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies preliminary anti-action by detecting the onset of folding/unfolding motion and preemptively counteracting potential accidental touches through touch suppression mechanisms. This creates a protective effect that neutralizes the harmful impact of display movement before it can cause unwanted activations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

2Volume of moving object

If the touch sensitive display moves during folding/unfolding to enable compact storage, then the device can be stowed more easily, but accidental touches cause unintentional actions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice compactnessVSAvoidaccidental touch activation

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system detects folding motion in advance using sensors and preemptively adjusts touch sensitivity settings before the display reaches positions where accidental touches are likely. This preliminary adjustment prevents harmful effects while maintaining the compact foldable design

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically changes touch sensitivity parameters based on detected device state. During folding/unfolding transitions, touch thresholds are adjusted or touch sensitivity is temporarily reduced, creating a variable touch response that adapts to the mechanical state of the device

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If the display remains static during folding/unfolding to prevent accidental touches, then touch accuracy is maintained, but the device cannot be folded or extended

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetouch input accuracyVSAvoiddevice configurability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements dynamic touch sensitivity control that adapts in real-time based on device configuration state. During folding/unfolding, touch parameters are dynamically adjusted to maintain accuracy. This allows the display to remain functional and accurate across varying device configurations without requiring a static design

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Ease of operation

If the device allows continuous touch interaction during reconfiguration, then user control is maintained, but inadvertent selection of controls occurs due to display movement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser control continuityVSAvoidcontrol selection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of reconfiguration motion and preemptively adjusts touch interaction parameters before inadvertent selections can occur. This maintains user control continuity while preventing inaccurate control selection during display movement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20250055931A1Foldable electronic device that mitigates inadvertent touch input during folding/unfolding

Publication Date: 2025.02.13 MOTOROLA MOBILITY LLC

AI summary

An electronic device, a method and a computer program product mitigate inadvertent touch activations of display(s) of the electronic device. A controller of the electronic device monitors a sensor configured to detect a change in a pivot position of a housing assembly. The housing assembly includes first and second housings coupled at a hinge to pivot between a fully folded position and fully unfolded position. The controller presents user interface content via the display(s) coupled to the housing assembly. The display(s) includes a visual output layer and a touch input layer. In response to determining, based on input received from the sensor, that the pivot position of the housing assembly is changing, the controller ignores touch inputs to one or more user interface controls assigned to the touch input layer and corresponding to the user interface content during the change of the pivot position.