Magnetic Touch Panel Biasable Medium Layer Palm Reject
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional touch panels suffer from 'palm reject' issues and accidental contact errors due to the design of tensioned membranes, which distort visual quality and register incorrect input when users rest their hand on the touch surface.
Innovation Solution
A touch panel with a biasable medium layer and a pressure-sensitive layer arrangement, where a magnetically biased medium layer is used to register pointer positions, avoiding direct contact with the palm and reducing erroneous inputs by using a ferromagnetic or magnetically biasable medium, such as ferrous paint or ball bearings, and a pointer with a magnetic field to bias the medium layer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a tensioned membrane is used to define the touch surface, then the touch panel can detect pointer contact through membrane deflection, but the membrane causes palm reject issues and accidental contact errors when users rest their hand on the surface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical tensioned membrane deflection system with a magnetic field-based detection system. Instead of using physical contact and membrane deflection to detect touch input, the system uses a magnetic pointer that interacts with a biasable medium layer through magnetic forces, eliminating the need for mechanical contact and thereby resolving palm reject issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a biasable medium layer as an intermediary between the pointer and the detection system. This medium layer, which can be biased by magnetic fields, serves as a mediator that translates magnetic pointer positioning into detectable signals without requiring direct mechanical contact, thus eliminating accidental contact errors.
2Ease of operation
If a tensioned membrane is disposed over the display, then touch interaction with displayed graphical interface is enabled, but the membrane and spacing structure distort the visual quality of displayed images
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the tensioned membrane and air gap structure by replacing the mechanical touch detection system with a magnetic field-based system. This allows the display to be positioned closer to the touch surface without the need for spacing, thereby improving visual quality and image clarity while maintaining full touch interaction capability.
3Measurement precision
If a tensioned membrane defines the touch surface, then pointer contact can be detected through electrical contact with the substrate, but the membrane structure obscures the actual pointer touch input when palm contact occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical membrane contact system with a magnetic field-based positioning system. The magnetic pointer's position can be detected through its interaction with the biasable medium layer without requiring physical contact, allowing accurate pointer position detection even when the palm is resting on the surface, thus preventing loss of actual pointer input information.
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
The solution effectively mitigates 'palm reject' problems and reduces accidental contact errors by accurately registering pointer positions, enhancing the visual quality and accuracy of touch input without obscuring the actual pointer touch input.
Implementation Method 1
a pointer for biasing said biasable medium layer at a position adjacent said pointer when said pointer is positioned proximate said touch surface
Implementation Method 2
the biasable medium layer is ferromagnetic and includes a layer of ferrous paint applied to the flexible layer
Implementation Method 3
The pressure sensitive layer arrangement includes two spaced, conductive resist layers that are brought into contact upon biasing of the biasable medium layer
Data Source
AI summary
A touch panel includes an input registration structure comprising a biasable medium layer. A generally inflexible cover is disposed on the input registration structure and defines a touch surface. A pointer biases the biasable medium layer at a position adjacent the pointer when the pointer is positioned proximate the touch surface. The input registration structure generates a position signal corresponding to the position of the pointer in relation to the touch surface.