Multi-Touch Detection Using Local Maxima and Morphological Operations

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current multi-touch detection methods are limited in their ability to robustly and precisely detect an arbitrary number of touches, are not flexible in gesture recognition, and require high processing power, making them unsuitable for applications involving multiple fingers or hands and high noise levels.

Innovation Solution

A method that uses a combination of image filtering, segmentation, and tracking techniques, including local maxima detection and binary morphological operations, to accurately determine touch positions and trajectories with low processing requirements, allowing for flexible gesture recognition and handling of poor-quality input data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional multi-touch detection methods are used, then touch detection capability is provided, but the system is limited in detecting arbitrary number of touches and requires high processing power

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of touches detectionVSAvoidprocessing power

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the touch detection process into distinct stages: image acquisition, binary thresholding, morphological operations (erosion/dilation), connected component analysis, and tracking. Each stage processes data in a simplified manner, enabling detection of arbitrary numbers of touches while reducing computational complexity at each step.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts only the essential features needed for touch detection by applying binary thresholding to convert grayscale images to binary images, then using morphological operations to isolate touch regions. This extraction approach removes unnecessary data while preserving touch information, reducing processing requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Adaptability or versatility

If traditional multi-touch detection methods are used, then basic touch detection is provided, but gesture recognition is not flexible

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegesture recognition flexibilityVSAvoiddetection method complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary actions by implementing robust image preprocessing including binary thresholding and morphological operations before touch detection. This preliminary processing cleans the input data and standardizes touch representations, enabling flexible gesture recognition without requiring complex processing during gesture analysis.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a universal detection framework that can handle multiple touch types (single touch, multi-touch, gestures) using the same core algorithmic structure. The tracking module universally applies to different gesture types, providing flexible gesture recognition without requiring separate complex processing for each gesture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Measurement precision

If traditional multi-touch detection methods are used, then touch detection is provided, but precision is reduced under high noise levels

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetouch position precisionVSAvoidnoise level

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful effect of noise into a benefit by using binary thresholding to convert noisy grayscale images into binary images, effectively filtering out noise. The morphological operations (erosion followed by dilation) further eliminate noise artifacts while preserving and even enhancing the touch region boundaries, improving position precision under noisy conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies morphological operations (erosion and dilation) as a cushioning mechanism before final touch detection. These operations smooth the binary image data and fill in gaps caused by noise, providing a cushion against noise-induced detection errors and improving the reliability of touch position measurements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Data Source

PatentUS9092089B2Method for detecting an arbitrary number of touches from a multi-touch device

Publication Date: 2015.07.28 ADVANCED SILICON

AI summary

A method for detecting an arbitrary number of touches from an input image of a multi-touch device comprising the following steps:processing said input image and obtaining a processed image;segmentation by thresholding of said processed image (8000) and obtaining a segmented image;identifying regions of the segmented image;finding local maxima, each local maximum being of size one pixel on a sub-region inside each region;determining at least one touch position based on said local maxima.