Terminal Holding Gesture Detection via Capacitive Sheet

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Solution Overview

Problem

Large-screen mobile phones are difficult to control with a single hand due to the need for manual tapping to switch operation interfaces, which is not intelligent and causes operation difficulties.

Innovation Solution

A terminal with capacitive touch screens and conductive sheets on either side, forming capacitors with the hand to detect holding gestures by measuring capacitance differences, allowing the processor to determine the holding gesture and adjust the interface accordingly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If manual tapping is used to switch operation interfaces, then the terminal can adapt to different holding gestures, but the operation difficulty increases and the system becomes less intelligent

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptation to different holding gesturesVSAvoidoperation difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal automatically detects holding gestures through capacitive sensors and self-adjusts the operation interface without requiring manual tapping. The system serves itself by autonomously identifying whether the user is holding with left hand, right hand, or both hands, and automatically switching the interface layout accordingly, eliminating the need for manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical manual tapping operation with an automatic capacitive detection system. Instead of requiring physical tapping actions to switch interfaces, the system uses capacitive sensors to detect the electrical properties of different holding gestures and automatically adjusts the interface, substituting mechanical interaction with electrical field-based detection and automatic control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If manual tapping is required to switch interfaces, then the terminal can provide gesture-specific interfaces, but the system intelligence is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegesture-specific interface switchingVSAvoidsystem intelligence
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSExtent of automation

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal performs self-detection of holding gestures through capacitive sensors embedded in the housing. The system automatically identifies the holding pattern (left hand, right hand, or both hands) and self-adjusts the operation interface without requiring any manual switching actions from the user, thereby demonstrating intelligent automation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The capacitive sensors continuously monitor the electrical capacitance changes caused by different holding gestures. The system uses this feedback information to dynamically adjust the operation interface in real-time, creating a closed-loop control system where the terminal responds automatically to user holding patterns, enhancing system intelligence.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Area of stationary object

If the screen size is increased, then the display capability is improved, but the ease of single-handed control deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescreen sizeVSAvoidsingle-handed control
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The operation interface is made dynamic by automatically reconfiguring its layout based on the detected holding gesture. When single-handed holding is detected, the system dynamically adjusts the interface to concentrate controls in the easily reachable area. This dynamic adaptation allows large screens to maintain ease of single-handed control by flexibly reorganizing the interface rather than being fixed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The interface layout is optimized for local accessibility based on holding detection. When single-handed holding is detected, the system concentrates important controls and navigation elements in the region most accessible to that hand, while less critical elements are placed in less accessible areas. This local optimization ensures that essential functions remain easily controllable despite the large screen size.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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

Enables intelligent determination of holding gestures, simplifying operations by automatically adjusting the user interface to optimize single-handed control, reducing operation difficulty and enhancing user experience.

Implementation Method 1

the first conductive sheet and the second conductive sheet form a first capacitor and a second capacitor with the hand, respectively

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapacitance: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentEP3065036B1terminal
Publication Date: 2018.09.05 HUAWEI DEVICE CO LTD
  • EP3065036B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3065036B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3065036B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Embodiments of the present invention provide a terminal, where the terminal includes: a conductive sheet, configured to form a capacitor with a hand when the hand holds the terminal; and a processor, connected to the conductive sheet, where the processor is configured to detect a capacitance of the capacitor, and determine a holding gesture for the terminal according to the detected capacitance and a preset correspondence between a capacitance and a holding gesture. In the embodiments of the present invention, a conductive sheet is disposed in a terminal, and when a hand holds the terminal, the conductive sheet forms a capacitor with the hand. When the terminal is held by using different holding gestures, capacitances of capacitors formed between the conductive sheet in the terminal and the hand are different, and a correspondence between a capacitance and a holding gesture is preset by using this difference. Therefore, during actual detection, a holding gesture for the terminal can be determined by performing matching according to a detected capacitance of the capacitor and the preset correspondence.