Hybrid Input System Using Motion Sensors to Filter Accidental Touch Gestures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Handheld computing devices face challenges in accurately interpreting contact-type inputs due to accidental or unintentional interactions, leading to frustration and disruption, as they struggle to differentiate between intentional and unintentional gestures, especially in noisy environments or during movement.
Innovation Solution
The computing device integrates movement-type input mechanisms, such as accelerometers and gyro devices, to analyze input events alongside contact-type inputs, allowing it to distinguish between intentional and unintentional actions by considering movement patterns and thresholds, thereby refining the interpretation of contact input events.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the computing device uses contact-type input mechanisms to recognize gestures, then the user can interact with the device, but accidental or unintentional contacts are mistakenly interpreted as valid input events
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines contact-type input mechanisms (touchscreen) with movement-type input mechanisms (accelerometer, gyro device) to create a hybrid input system. By merging data from both sensor types, the system can distinguish between intentional gestures and accidental contacts, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and input accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The movement sensors act as intermediary verification mechanisms that mediate between the contact input and the final gesture recognition decision. The system uses movement patterns as an intermediate check to validate whether a contact was intentional, thereby improving reliability without compromising ease of operation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the computing device accommodates multiple predefined gestures, then the input mechanism becomes more expressive, but similar gestures may be mistakenly interpreted
Solution Approach 1:
By combining contact position data with movement vector data from accelerometers and gyro devices, the system creates a more precise gesture signature. This merged data allows for better differentiation between similar gestures, maintaining high gesture variety while improving measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a temporal and motion dimension to gesture recognition by incorporating movement data from sensors. This transforms 2D touch gestures into 3D+time gesture patterns, enabling more precise differentiation between similar gestures while maintaining expressiveness.
3Reliability
If the computing device uses compound idiosyncratic gestures to reduce accidental input, then the input mechanism becomes more reliable, but the gestures become complex and difficult for users to remember and execute
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the device's own movement characteristics (how it is naturally held and moved in the hand) as part of the gesture validation process. This self-service approach maintains simple, natural gestures while improving reliability by verifying that the device movement pattern matches expected holding patterns.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters used for gesture validation from purely contact-based to include movement-based parameters. By adjusting which parameters are considered (adding acceleration, velocity, orientation), the system maintains gesture simplicity while improving input accuracy through different validation criteria.
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
This approach enhances the accuracy of input action detection, reduces accidental input recognition, and improves user experience by ignoring or correcting unintentional inputs, thus minimizing disruptions and improving gesture recognition.
Implementation Method 1
The computing device also receives one or more input events from at least one movement-type input mechanism, such as an accelerometer and/or gyro device.
Implementation Method 2
The computing device also receives one or more input events from at least one movement-type input mechanism, such as an accelerometer and/or gyro device.
Data Source
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Figure 3A~3G
AI summary
A computing device is described herein which collects input event(s) from at least one contact-type input mechanism (such as a touch input mechanism) and at least one movement-type input mechanism (such as an accelerometer and/or gyro device). The movement-type input mechanism can identify the orientation of the computing device and/or the dynamic motion of the computing device. The computing device uses these input events to interpret the type of input action that has occurred, e.g., to assess when at least part of the input action is unintentional. The computing device can then perform behavior based on its interpretation, such as by ignoring part of the input event(s), restoring a pre-action state, correcting at least part of the input event(s), and so on.