Multi-touch Desktop Surface with Integrated Input Zones

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Solution Overview

Problem

Multi-touch surfaces in desktop environments face limitations due to sensing resolution issues, which affect precision in tasks like typing and selecting fine features, and lack tactile feedback, making users uncomfortable with on-screen keyboards.

Innovation Solution

Integrating a multi-touch surface into a desktop environment by detecting input devices, defining regions for enhanced task bars, multi-functional touch pads, and digital mouse pads, allowing for precise control and increased interaction bandwidth without replacing traditional keyboards and mice.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a multi-touch surface replaces traditional input devices in a desktop environment, then the interaction efficiency and control of multiple degrees-of-freedom are improved, but the sensing resolution and precision of touch input deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinteraction efficiencyVSAvoidsensing resolution

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple input devices (keyboard, mouse, stylus) with the multi-touch surface into an integrated desktop environment. The multi-touch surface does not replace traditional devices but works alongside them, merging their functionalities to achieve both high efficiency and precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The multi-touch surface is designed to support multiple input methods and gestures simultaneously, serving as a universal input interface that can handle both coarse navigation (fingers) and fine precision tasks (stylus), while traditional devices retain their specialized functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If an on-screen keyboard is projected on the multi-touch surface, then the typing functionality is provided, but the tactile feedback and user comfort deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetyping functionalityVSAvoiduser comfort

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The input interface is segmented into different zones: the on-screen keyboard handles typing functionality while the physical keyboard provides tactile feedback. Users can switch between virtual and physical keyboards depending on the task, dividing the input functions to maintain both versatility and comfort.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If the multi-touch surface is used for precise input tasks, then the interaction bandwidth is increased, but the sensing resolution limitations cause precision deterioration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinteraction bandwidthVSAvoidinput precision

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces an intermediary layer that maps multi-touch gestures to precise cursor movements and selections. Software algorithms translate imprecise finger touches into accurate pointer positions, mediating between the low-resolution touch input and high-precision output requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS9600090B2Multi-touch integrated desktop environment

Publication Date: 2017.03.21 AUTODESK INC

AI summary

A technique for integrating a multi-touch surface into a desktop environment is disclosed. One or more multi-touch display devices are placed on the horizontal surface surrounding or beneath a keyboard or mouse. At least one region on the multi-touch surface is defined to display one or more user interface tools on the multi-touch surface. The one or more user interface tools displayed via the multi-touch surface may control or display information associated with desktop applications displayed via a primary display device.