Force-Sensing Touch Screen for Accidental Input Filtering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current touch screen devices face issues such as incorrect touch location reporting when multiple fingers are used, accidental inputs from unintended touches, lack of force sensing, and inadequate tactile feedback, which hinder efficient multi-touch interactions and text entry.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating physical sensors into touch screen devices to detect the position, movement, and force of user inputs, allowing for precise determination of user interactions and initiation of corresponding functions based on sensed parameters, while providing tactile feedback through sensor-activated deflection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If capacitive-based touch screens are used to enable multi-touch capability, then the ability to sense individual finger locations is improved, but accidental touches are incorrectly sensed as user inputs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the sensing parameter from binary touch detection to force magnitude detection. By measuring the magnitude of force applied at each touch location, the system can distinguish between intentional presses (higher force) and accidental brushes (lower force), thereby maintaining multi-touch capability while filtering out false inputs
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides tactile feedback to the user through haptic feedback mechanisms. This feedback loop allows users to confirm intentional touches by feeling the tactile response, while accidental touches without sufficient force or proper tactile interaction patterns are ignored, improving reliability of multi-touch input
2Device complexity
If resistive-based sensor networks are used for touch detection, then simple touch location sensing is achieved, but the user must press down with force and multi-touch is not supported
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from measuring only touch location (2D position) to measuring both touch location and force magnitude (2D position + 1D force). This parameter expansion enables the system to differentiate between multiple simultaneous touches and determine which ones are intentional presses versus light contacts, enabling multi-touch support while building upon simpler sensor foundations
Solution Approach 2:
The force-sensing capability serves multiple functions: it enables multi-touch differentiation, filters accidental inputs, provides tactile feedback thresholds, and supports various input gestures with different force levels. This single force measurement capability addresses multiple limitations of traditional touch screens
3Device complexity
If binary touch sensing is used to detect finger contact, then simple touch detection is achieved, but force sensing and tactile feedback are not provided
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the measurement parameter from binary (touch/no touch) to continuous (force magnitude). This allows the system to detect not just whether a finger is touching the screen but how hard it is pressing, enabling force-based input recognition and differentiated tactile feedback responses
Data Source
AI summary
A computer implemented method for determining an intensity of user input to a computer system, performed by the computer system that is programmed to perform the method includes determining by a display, an indication of a finger position a user in response to a change in finger position relative to the computer system, wherein change in fin position is also associated with a magnitude of change, determining by a physical sensor of the computer system, the magnitude of change in response to the change in finger position, determining by the computer system, a user selection of a function to perform in response to the indication of the finger position, determining by the computer system, an input parameter associated with the function in response to the magnitude of change, and initiating performance by the computer system, of the function in response to the input parameter.