Foldable Touchscreen Accidental Input Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Foldable touchscreen devices often experience accidental touch actions when being handled or transitioned between configurations, leading to unintended device interactions and user frustration.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a grip sensor and motion sensors to detect when the device is being folded or unfolded, and using processor circuitry to ignore or reject touch actions that occur during these processes, thereby preventing accidental triggers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the touchscreen is made foldable to enable compact form factor and portability, then the device becomes easier to transport and store, but accidental touch actions occur during folding and unfolding operations
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of folding motion using motion sensors and grip sensors before accidental touches can occur. When folding motion is detected, the system proactively enters a protected state that prevents touch actions, thereby preventing the problem before it happens
Solution Approach 2:
Motion sensors and grip sensors act as intermediary detection mechanisms between the physical folding action and the touchscreen interface. These sensors detect the folding state and mediate by triggering a protected mode that blocks touch inputs during transitions
2Reliability
If motion sensors and grip sensors are added to detect folding states, then accidental touches are reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The motion sensor system serves multiple functions: it detects folding motions, determines device orientation, and triggers protected modes. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated sensors for each function, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The existing touchscreen device infrastructure (processor, existing sensor frameworks) is leveraged to handle the additional sensor data. The system uses its own existing resources to process the new sensor inputs, reducing the need for additional dedicated processing components
3Reliability
If touch actions are blocked during folding operations, then accidental triggers are prevented, but user interaction responsiveness may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The touch input protection is dynamic rather than static. The system continuously monitors sensor data and adjusts the protected state in real-time, enabling touch inputs when appropriate and blocking them only when folding motions are detected, thereby maintaining responsiveness for legitimate user interactions
4Reliability
If the system continuously monitors sensor data to detect folding states, then accidental touches are minimized, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous monitoring, the system uses periodic sampling of sensor data at strategically chosen intervals. This approach maintains adequate detection capability while significantly reducing the energy consumption associated with constant sensor polling and data processing
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods to reduce accidental touch actions on a touchscreen are disclosed herein. An example electronic device includes a body including a first body portion and a second body portion that is movable relative to the first body portion. The first and second body portions are movable between a folded configuration and an unfolded configuration. The electronic device includes a touchscreen carried by the body, a sensor carried by the body, machine readable instructions, and processor circuitry to be programmed by the machine readable instructions. The processor circuitry is to determine, based on sensor data from the sensor, the body is being folded or unfolded, detect a touch on the touchscreen, and prevent a touch action corresponding to the touch based on the determination the body is being folded or unfolded.