Palm Rest Touch Function Row With Force-Based Palm Rejection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable information handling systems face inefficiencies in input interactions due to reduced key size and vertical travel, requiring users to hunt and peck for function keys, and palm rests occupying space while touchpads struggle with accurate touch rejection.
Innovation Solution
A palm rest with a touch detection surface and force detection sensor distinguishes intended inputs from unintended by comparing touch areas and forces, allowing function key interactions through a touch function row on-screen-display, enhancing input accuracy and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If mechanical keys with vertical travel are used in portable information handling systems, then user feedback and typing speed are improved, but device size and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the function row keys with the palm rest surface, merging two previously separate components (function keys and palm rest) into a single integrated structure. This eliminates the need for separate mechanical keys while maintaining input functionality through touch detection on the palm rest surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical keys with a touch detection system that uses electrical or capacitive sensing instead of mechanical movement. The palm rest surface incorporates touch detection capabilities to recognize function key inputs without requiring physical key travel or mechanical feedback mechanisms.
2Area of stationary object
If function keys are made smaller to reduce keyboard size, then device compactness is improved, but key identification difficulty and input accuracy worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional mechanical key surfaces to a three-dimensional touch detection field across the palm rest surface. This allows for larger, more easily identifiable key areas while maintaining precise touch detection through multi-point touch capability and touch location analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The touch detection system provides immediate visual feedback on the display screen showing which function key area is being touched, enhancing key identification accuracy. The system can detect and report touch location, touch area, and touch pressure to confirm accurate key selection.
3Ease of operation
If palm rest occupies space for user comfort, then ease of operation is improved, but available space for touchpad and other inputs is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the palm rest surface multi-functional by integrating touch detection capability into it. The palm rest now serves both as a comfort surface for palm support and as an input device for function key operations, eliminating the need for separate dedicated key areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the palm rest and function key input areas into a single integrated component. The palm rest surface itself becomes the input surface for function keys, combining two previously separate functions into one unified structure that saves space while maintaining both comfort and input capability.
4Area of stationary object
If touchpad is used for mouse operations, then device compactness is improved, but accurate touch rejection becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different touch detection characteristics to different areas of the palm rest surface. Specific regions are configured with different sensitivity levels or detection thresholds to distinguish between intentional function key touches and unintentional palm touches, enabling accurate touch rejection while maintaining compact design.
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 provides confident and efficient input interactions by accurately rejecting unintended touches and enabling function key inputs without diverting gaze from the display, improving user experience and system performance.
Implementation Method 1
A palm rest with a touch detection surface and force detection sensor distinguishes intended inputs from unintended by comparing touch areas and forces
Data Source
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. A touch row function defined in an upper strip of the touch detection surface interacts with function key value icons presented at a main display to accept function key row inputs in the place of mechanical function keys of the keyboard. 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.