Pinch-in Finger Detection via Area Sum Comparison
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image forming apparatuses fail to accurately determine the presence of two operating fingers during pinch-in operations when the fingers become close, leading to incorrect functionality and poor operability.
Innovation Solution
An operation apparatus comprising a detector, an area calculator, and a determiner that calculates the areas of detection regions and determines the continuation of a pinch-in operation by establishing a condition where the area of one detection region is greater than or equal to the sum of the areas of two detection regions, ensuring that two operating fingers are recognized as present even when close.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the detection system merges two close fingers into one detection region, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision of finger count deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by storing the sum of areas of two detection regions before they merge, and storing the area of one detection region after merging. This preliminary data collection enables accurate finger count determination even when fingers are close together, resolving the contradiction between simplified detection and accurate measurement.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the detection logic based on the relative positions and areas of detection regions. When two fingers are close, the system transitions from treating them as separate regions to treating them as a merged region, while using area comparison to maintain accurate finger count detection throughout this dynamic transition.
2Measurement precision
If the system requires clear separation between fingers for accurate detection, then the measurement precision improves, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the detection parameter from requiring spatial separation to using area comparison. By comparing the area of one merged detection region with the stored sum of areas of two separate regions, the system maintains accurate finger detection even when fingers are close together, improving ease of operation without sacrificing precision.
3Device complexity
If the system treats close fingers as one finger, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of pinch-in operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by storing area information before and after finger merging. This stored information is used to reliably determine whether a pinch-in operation is in progress, ensuring that the system correctly interprets the user's intent even when fingers are close together, thereby maintaining high reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from area comparison to continuously adjust its determination of finger count and operation state. By comparing the current detection region area with previously stored area sums, the system receives feedback that enables reliable detection of pinch-in operations regardless of finger proximity.
Data Source
AI summary
An operation apparatus includes a detector that detects contact of a plurality of operating fingers on an operating surface, an area calculator that calculates an area of a detection region in the operating surface where the operating fingers have been detected, and a determiner that, after a state in which two operating fingers are detected has changed to a state in which one operating finger is detected, obtains a sum of areas of two detection regions where the two operating fingers are detected and an area of one detection region where the one operating finger is detected from the surface area calculator, and determines that an operation made by the two operating fingers is continuing when a continuation condition, in which the area of the one detection region is greater than or equal to the sum of the areas of the two detection regions, is established.