Palm Rest Touch and Force Sensing for Reliable Palm Rejection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Convertible information handling systems face inefficiencies in touch input interactions due to reduced key size and vertical travel, and palm rest touchpad rejection mechanisms struggle with accurate discrimination between intended and unintended touches.

Innovation Solution

A palm rest with integrated touch and force detection sensors distinguishes intended inputs from unintended touches by comparing touch areas and forces, allowing for function key interactions through a touch function row on-screen-display user interface, eliminating the need for mechanical keys and enhancing input accuracy and efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If virtual keyboards with touch detection are used instead of mechanical keys, then the system footprint is reduced and portability is improved, but input accuracy and user feedback are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem footprintVSAvoidinput accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines capacitive touch detection with force sensing technology in the keyboard assembly. The force sensor detects vertical travel and press force of keys, providing mechanical feedback characteristics in a virtual keyboard system, thereby improving input accuracy while maintaining the compact footprint of virtual keys

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The force sensor acts as an intermediary between the user's finger press and the system's input detection. It measures the physical force and displacement of key presses, translating mechanical input into electrical signals that enhance the precision of touch-based input detection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If mechanical keys with vertical travel are used, then positive feedback and input accuracy are improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinput accuracyVSAvoidkeyboard structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The force sensor serves multiple functions: it detects key press force, measures vertical travel distance, and provides tactile feedback information. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate mechanical components, simplifying the overall keyboard structure while maintaining input accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex mechanical switch mechanisms with a force sensing system. Instead of using traditional mechanical contacts and switches, the system uses force sensors to detect key presses, reducing mechanical complexity while preserving the benefits of vertical travel feedback

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Device complexity

If palm rest touchpad is used for function key inputs, then the number of physical keys is reduced, but the ability to distinguish intended from unintended touches is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of physical keysVSAvoidtouch discrimination accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of touch characteristics (force, area, duration) before registering an input. By analyzing these parameters in advance, the system can distinguish between intentional function key presses and unintentional palm touches, improving touch discrimination accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the detection parameters from simple touch presence to multi-parameter analysis including force magnitude, touch area, and press duration. This parameter expansion enables the system to differentiate between various touch types, improving reliability of function key input detection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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

This solution enables more confident and efficient touch input interactions by accurately rejecting unintended touches and allowing for seamless function key inputs without diverting gaze from the display, improving user experience and system performance.

Implementation Method 1

A portable information handling system palm rest includes a touch detection surface to detect touch inputs and a force detection sensor to detect the force applied at touched locations

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectForce detection:

Implementation Method 2

Touch and force detection is enhanced by a piezo based sensing so that a large palm rest touch detection surface distinguishes for an end user the touch input locations

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPiezoelectric effect: Piezoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentUS12554364B2Information handling system touch detection palm rejection by force detection

Publication Date: 2026.02.17 DELL PROD LP

AI summary

A portable information handling system palm rest adjacent a mechanical keyboard includes a touch detection surface to accept end user touches as inputs to the information handling system and a force detection sensor to detect pressure associated with the touches. Logic executing on a processing resource compares touch areas with associated pressures to differentiate intentional inputs from unintentional inputs, such as a palm resting on the palm rest.