Input Device Non-Touch Surface Content Generation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional input devices require a touch-sensitive surface to generate content, limiting their functionality and precision, especially in environments without such surfaces.
Innovation Solution
An input device that uses a force sensor and sensors like motion and orientation sensors, cameras, or electromagnetic/sound-based triangulation to track position and motion, allowing content generation without contact with a surface, including textual input and three-dimensional objects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a touch-sensitive surface is used to generate content with an input device, then content generation precision and functionality are improved, but device versatility and adaptability to different environments deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The input device is designed to function with both touch-sensitive surfaces and non-touch-sensitive surfaces. The device includes multiple sensing capabilities: a force sensor to detect contact force on non-touch surfaces, and a touch sensor to detect touches on touch-sensitive surfaces. This multi-functional design allows the same device to adapt to different environments and surface types, resolving the contradiction between precision (achieved through touch sensors) and versatility (achieved through force sensors and multiple detection modes).
Solution Approach 2:
The device changes its operational parameters based on the surface type detected. When in contact with a non-touch-sensitive surface, the device switches to using force sensor data and motion sensor data for content generation. When in contact with a touch-sensitive surface, it switches to using touch sensor data. This dynamic parameter switching allows the device to maintain high precision across different surface types, resolving the contradiction between precision and adaptability.
2Measurement precision
If a touch-sensitive surface is required for content generation, then input precision is improved, but ease of operation in various environments deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The input device performs self-adaptation by automatically detecting the surface type and switching its operational mode accordingly. The device includes a processor that analyzes data from multiple sensors (force sensor, motion sensor, touch sensor, accelerometer, gyroscope) and autonomously determines the appropriate content generation method. This self-service capability eliminates the need for users to manually configure the device for different surfaces, maintaining ease of operation while preserving input precision across various environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The device dynamically changes its operational parameters based on environmental conditions. When detecting a non-touch-sensitive surface through force sensor activation, the device switches to using force magnitude and motion trajectory for content generation. When detecting a touch-sensitive surface, it switches to using touch coordinates. This automatic parameter adaptation maintains ease of operation while preserving input precision.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple sensors are integrated into the input device to enable non-touch surface operation, then device versatility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensing functions into a single integrated input device. The force sensor, motion sensor, accelerometer, and gyroscope are merged into one device housing, with a unified processor that handles data from all sensors. This merging approach achieves high versatility (ability to work with both touch and non-touch surfaces) while managing complexity through integration rather than separate devices. The processor consolidates data processing tasks, and the unified design reduces the number of separate components needed.
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
Enables content creation on non-touch-sensitive surfaces, enhancing versatility and precision by processing force and position/motion data to generate textual and three-dimensional content without the need for a touch-sensitive surface.
Implementation Method 1
a force sensor configured to detect force data indicative of contact between the input device and the non-touch-sensitive surface
Implementation Method 2
an electromagnetic- or sound-based triangulation scheme
Data Source
AI summary
Content can be using an input device without a touch-sensitive surface. In some examples, touch-down and lift-off on a non-touch-sensitive surface can be monitored by a force sensor of the input device. The position and/or motion of the input device can be tracked according to various methods including one or more of a motion and orientation sensor, a camera, or an electromagnetic- or sound-based triangulation scheme. The force data and position/motion data can be processed to generate content, including textual character input and three-dimensional objects. In some examples, the content can be generated based on tracking position and/or motion of the input device without requiring contact with a surface.