Multi-Event Touch Input System Using Flesh Non-Flesh Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current touch surface systems are limited to two states (touch or no touch) and struggle with unintentional touch events, lacking the precision and functionality of other input devices, especially on smaller screens where an adult's finger can be imprecise.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a touch surface system that distinguishes between different types of touch inputs, including flesh and non-flesh surfaces, to generate multiple events and improve precision, using a touch-surface display arrangement that can differentiate between a flesh contact and a non-flesh contact, such as a fingernail, to drive various events like rollover, selection, and hover actions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional touch screen system is used that only detects touch or no touch states, then the system is simple to operate, but it cannot generate all the events that other input devices can generate and lacks precision
Solution Approach 1:
The touch detection is segmented into multiple independent sensing layers: a first sensing layer detects contact presence, while a second sensing layer detects contact pressure. This segmentation allows the system to generate multiple event types (touch, press, hover) from separate detection mechanisms, increasing adaptability without requiring complete system redesign.
Solution Approach 2:
The touch screen system is enhanced to perform multiple functions using the same physical interface. The screen can detect not only simple touch presence but also contact pressure levels, allowing it to generate diverse events (selection, activation, scrolling) that previously required separate input devices, thereby increasing versatility without adding physical components.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a touch screen system distinguishes between touch and proximity events, then more event types can be generated, but unintentional touch events may result from accidental bumps
Solution Approach 1:
A pressure threshold acts as an intermediary filter between the physical touch contact and the generated event. The system requires the contact pressure to exceed this threshold to generate a valid touch event, thereby filtering out unintentional events from accidental bumps while still allowing deliberate touches to be registered.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides feedback by monitoring contact pressure levels and using this information to determine whether to register a touch event. This feedback mechanism allows the system to distinguish between intentional touches (with sufficient pressure) and unintentional contacts (with insufficient pressure), improving reliability.
3Volume of moving object
If smaller display screens are used to reduce device size, then portability is improved, but precision of finger input decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of contact pressure before registering a final touch event. This preliminary action allows the system to anticipate and compensate for potential precision issues on small screens by validating the intent of the user input through pressure threshold checking, thereby maintaining input precision despite the small display size.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the detection parameter from simple binary touch detection to multi-level pressure detection. By measuring and responding to varying pressure levels, the system can provide more precise control and feedback on small screens, allowing users to perform precise inputs even when the display area is limited.
Data Source
AI summary
Multi-event input systems, methods, and devices for use in connection with touch-sensitive electronic devices are disclosed. In accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure, a third state called “hover” can be achieved on a touch-base user interface device in addition to the states of pointer down and pointer up. In an embodiment involving a capacitive touch-sensing surface, one way to achieve the third state is for the user to contact the touchpad or touch screen with a non-flesh part of a finger, such as a fingernail, rather than the fleshy part of a finger. In other embodiments, the non-flesh part may comprise an electrically insulative layer covering a portion of a finger. The third state enables an adjunct system's user interface to achieve active navigation around the screen in a pointer-up (or left-up) input tool condition. One result is that mouseover pop-ups can be used on touch screen devices. Another result is that tooltips can be used on touch screen devices. Another result is that text can be selected using touch screen devices.