Irregular Input Identification on Multi-Touch Surfaces

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing multi-touch touch-surface devices lack the ability to robustly discriminate between multiple simultaneous inputs, such as fingers, thumbs, palms, cheeks, and ears, leading to potential misinterpretation of touch events and operational mode changes.

Innovation Solution

A method is introduced to process proximity images from multi-touch touch surfaces by calculating an irregularity measure and controlling device operations based on this measure, using techniques like patch irregularity calculation and signal density analysis to distinguish between different types of touch events, thereby improving input discrimination.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If multi-touch touch-surface devices detect multiple simultaneous inputs, then the device can recognize more touch events, but the ability to discriminate between different types of inputs (fingers, thumbs, palms, cheeks, ears) deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetouch event recognition capabilityVSAvoidinput discrimination accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the touch surface into multiple regions or zones that can be independently analyzed. By dividing the touch surface into distinct areas, the system can separately process and identify different types of inputs (fingers, thumbs, palms, cheeks, ears) that may be present simultaneously, thereby maintaining both high touch event recognition capability and accurate input discrimination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different analysis methods or parameters to different regions of the touch surface based on their local characteristics. Each region can be processed with customized algorithms that are optimized for detecting specific input types, enabling the system to accurately discriminate between various inputs while maintaining overall productivity in touch event recognition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Speed

If the device processes all touch inputs without discrimination, then the processing speed is maintained, but false inputs are generated leading to operational mode changes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetouch input processing speedVSAvoidoperational mode accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary analysis of touch inputs to identify and filter out false inputs before they trigger operational mode changes. By conducting preliminary discrimination between valid and invalid inputs, the system maintains fast processing speed while preventing erroneous operational changes, thus improving reliability without sacrificing speed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts and removes false or irrelevant inputs from the stream of touch events before they are processed for operational mode changes. By separating out spurious inputs (such as those from cheeks, ears, or accidental contacts), the system ensures that only valid inputs trigger operational changes, maintaining both processing speed and operational accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS10025429B2Irregular input identification

Publication Date: 2018.07.17 APPLE INC

AI summary

Techniques for identifying irregular objects in contact with, or in close proximity to, a touch-surface are described. An irregularity measure is determined based on the regions intrinsic characteristics (e.g., energy content) rather than on the shape (or pattern) of the pixels within the region.