Input Detection With Pressing-Force Sequence Validation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing input detection devices validate contacts immediately upon detecting a pressing force equal to or greater than a threshold, leading to misinterpretations and misoperations due to light touches or accidental contacts, deviating from the usual validation process.

Innovation Solution

The device detects a contact first and then validates it only when a pressing force equal to or greater than a determination reference value is applied, or transitions to a special mode if a pressing force is detected before a contact, and validates the contact when a predetermined condition is met in this mode.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If a contact is validated immediately when a pressing force equal to or greater than a threshold is detected, then the response speed is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to light touches or accidental contacts being misinterpreted as intentional operations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresponse speedVSAvoidvalidation accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of pressing force application before validating the contact. When a pressing force is detected before a contact is made, the system enters a special mode that monitors for subsequent contact events, ensuring that validation only occurs after both pressing force and contact are confirmed in the correct sequence

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The validation criteria dynamically change based on the detection sequence. In normal mode, the system validates contacts with pressing force immediately. In special mode (activated when pressing force is detected before contact), the system requires additional conditions to be met before validation, adapting the validation logic to the detected sequence of events

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If a contact is validated immediately upon detection in a state where pressing force is already applied, then the productivity is improved, but the reliability deteriorates because the user may misrecognize the validation behavior as erroneous

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperation efficiencyVSAvoiduser perception consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system prepares by detecting pressing force application in advance and transitioning to a special mode before contact occurs. This preliminary detection ensures that when contact is made, the system is already in the appropriate state to validate the contact properly, maintaining both efficiency and user expectation consistency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system monitors the sequence of events (pressing force detection before contact) and adjusts its validation behavior accordingly. By providing different validation logic based on the detected sequence, the system maintains consistent behavior that matches user expectations while preserving operational efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3767444B1Input detection device and input detection method
Publication Date: 2025.07.02 ALPINE ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3767444B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3767444B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3767444B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided are "an input detection device (1) and an input detection method" that inhibit a contact from being validated in a manner greatly different from the usual even in a case where a user performs a pressing operation in a state in which application of a pressing force to a pressing detectable area (11) is detected. The input detection device (1) performs a transition to a special mode in a case where application of a pressing force to the pressing detectable area (11) is detected before a contact on a contact detectable area (8) is detected, monitors whether or not a predetermined condition set in the special mode is satisfied in a case where a contact is detected after the transition to the special mode, and validates the detected contact when the predetermined condition is satisfied. Therefore, the input detection device (1) does not validate the contact unless an intentional operation in which the contact is continuously made until the predetermined condition is satisfied is performed in a case where the contact is detected in a state in which application of a pressing force is detected.