Haptic Input Interface Gesture Selection and Activation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing haptic input systems for selecting and activating input fields on screens, particularly in vehicles, suffer from erroneous interpretations of finger movements due to changes in the finger contact area, leading to unintended selection and activation of wrong options before the intended switching function is executed.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that assess a displacement vector and surface area change over time to differentiate between gesture inputs and the activation of switching functions, ensuring robust selection and activation by disregarding displacement vectors when the surface area decreases and maintaining the selection when it increases, thereby preventing unintentional cursor movements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the input area is used for both gesture input and switching function actuation, then the device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to finger deformation causing erroneous input position detection
Solution Approach 1:
The input process is segmented into distinct phases: a selection phase where gestures are recognized for cursor movement, and an actuation phase where force is applied to trigger the switching function. The system evaluates the temporal sequence and characteristics of input events to determine whether the user intends to select or activate, preventing erroneous gesture recognition during force application.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts its interpretation of input based on the temporal sequence and characteristics of the input events. By monitoring the duration, force magnitude, and sequence of inputs, the system can distinguish between a deliberate gesture intended for selection and a forceful press intended for activation, even when both occur on the same input area.
2Productivity
If the system responds immediately to detected gestures, then productivity is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to premature cursor movement before switching function execution
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary evaluation of the input sequence to determine the user's intent before executing the corresponding action. By assessing whether a gesture precedes a forceful press or vice versa, the system can preemptively prevent erroneous cursor movements and ensure that the correct input field is selected before activation occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides feedback by monitoring the temporal sequence and characteristics of input events, using this information to dynamically adjust its response. The evaluation of whether a gesture or press occurred first serves as feedback that determines the subsequent system behavior, ensuring reliable operation while maintaining responsive performance.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and device for selecting input fields displayed on a screen and/or for activating input content displayed in a selected input field on the screen by manual inputs into an input area of an input interface. The input interface is designed for the haptic input of gestures into the input area, in order to control the selection of an input field, and for the activation of input content of a selected input field by triggering an electrical switching function of the input interface by means of exerting a predefined minimum force on the input area. A displacement vector V(POS(t1),POS(t2)) is determined from determined input positions POS(t1),POS(t2) of a manual, continuous input of gestures into the input area at a first point in time t1 and a second point in time t2, where t:=time and t1<t2. An absolute value |F(t)| of a surface area F(t), with which the manual gesture input acts on the input area is determined. Provided that: |F(t2)|<|F(t1)|: the input field adjacent or at least closest to a position POSSCREEN(POS(t1)) associated with the position POS(t1) on the screen as seen in the direction of the displacement vector V(POS(t1),POS(t2)) is selected. Triggering the electrical switching function at the point in time t2 activates a function associated with the input content of this input field, and, provided that (|F(t2)|>|F(t1)|), the displacement vector V(POS(t1),POS(t2)) is disregarded and the function associated with the position POSSCREEN(POS(t1)) is activated.