Force Sensing Touch Screen with Perimeter Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional touch screen displays are limited to two-dimensional user interfaces, restricting user interaction opportunities and device responses to simple gestures on the surface.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a plurality of force sensors around the perimeter of the touch screen display to detect three-dimensional touch information, including magnitude, centroid, and shear force, allowing for the selection of commands that control the computing device beyond traditional two-dimensional interactions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional touch sensing technology is used, then the device complexity is low, but the user interaction capability is limited to two dimensions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces force sensing capability to the touch screen by incorporating force sensors between the display and touch-sensitive overlay. This adds the third dimension (force magnitude) to the traditional two-dimensional touch detection, enabling users to interact through varied pressure levels and thereby expanding interaction capabilities without fundamentally redesigning the entire system architecture
2Adaptability or versatility
If force sensors are added to detect three-dimensional touch information, then the user interaction capability is enhanced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The force sensors are integrated into the existing touch screen structure by placing them between the display and the touch-sensitive overlay. This merging approach combines force sensing functionality with the existing touch sensing system, allowing both two-dimensional position detection and three-dimensional force detection to work together within a unified system rather than requiring separate independent systems
3Adaptability or versatility
If force sensors are integrated between display and overlay, then three-dimensional touch information is detected, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The force sensing function is segmented into separate force sensor elements that can be independently manufactured and then integrated into the touch screen assembly. This segmentation allows the force sensors to be produced using standard component manufacturing processes and then assembled into the final product, simplifying the overall manufacturing process compared to creating a fully custom integrated sensor array
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
Enables enhanced user interaction with the ability to manipulate data, adjust settings, and control applications using varied forces, improving user convenience and device functionality with three-dimensional gestures.
Implementation Method 1
At least one force sensor is disposed between the display and the overlay and is arranged and constructed to determine a value of an applied force to the overlay
Implementation Method 2
Some touch sensing technologies, such as capacitive sensors, may detect how close an object is to the touch screen display, but ultimately determines the object to be in contact when the detected parameter, e.g., capacitance, is within a specified threshold
Data Source
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AI summary
A computing device includes a touch screen display with a plurality of force sensors, each of which provides a signal in response to contact with the touch screen display. Using force signals from the plurality of force sensors, a characteristic of the contact is determined, such as the magnitude of the force, the centroid of force and the shear force. The characteristic of the contact is used to select a command which is processed to control the computing device. For example, the command may be related to manipulating data displayed on the touch screen display, e.g., by adjusting the scroll speed or the quantity of data selected in response to the magnitude of force, or related to an operation of an application on the computing device, such as selecting different focal ranges, producing an alarm, or adjusting the volume of a speaker in response to the magnitude of force.