Force Sensor Array for Multi-Point Input Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional touch-sensitive input devices become imprecise when multiple forces are applied simultaneously, leading to inaccurate registration of force inputs, causing user frustration and confusion.
Innovation Solution
An input device with a contact sensor and a force sensor array that detects force magnitudes and centroids, allowing for the calculation of proportional force vectors and contact forces at multiple locations, enabling accurate registration of simultaneous force inputs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a conventional force sensor is used to detect force input, then the device can provide force information for single contact points, but the measurement becomes imprecise when multiple forces are applied simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the force sensing capability into multiple independent force sensors distributed across the input device surface. Each force sensor independently measures force at its specific location, allowing the system to accurately detect multiple simultaneous force inputs without cross-interference. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by enabling both precise measurement and multi-contact point adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-point force measurement to a distributed array of force sensors across the two-dimensional surface of the input device. By adding the spatial dimension of sensor distribution, the system can simultaneously measure force magnitude, contact location, and force direction while maintaining precision for each contact point independently.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple force sensors are distributed across the surface to detect multiple contact points, then the adaptability improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes each force sensor in the distributed array multi-functional. Each sensor not only detects force magnitude but also contributes to determining contact location, force direction, and centroid calculation. This universality reduces the need for separate specialized sensors for each measurement type, thereby managing complexity while maintaining high adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the data from multiple distributed force sensors into unified measurements of force magnitude, contact location, and force direction. By merging the information from the sensor array through computational processing, the system achieves comprehensive multi-contact point detection without requiring proportionally increased complexity in hardware architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
A force-sensitive input device for receiving user input. The input device can include a contact (e.g., touch) sensor and a plurality of force sensors. By combining the information from a multi-touch event with information from each of the plurality of force sensors, a contact centroid and a force centroid can be determined. Thereafter, by projecting a vector defining the force applied to the input device onto a vector defined between the contact centroid and an individual contact location, a magnitude of force applied at that contact location can be approximated.