Tiltable Touch Panel Press Detection Under Multi-Touch Input

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing input devices struggle to accurately determine the contact position when multiple contact positions are simultaneously touched on a touch panel.

Innovation Solution

An input device with a tiltable panel, pressure and tilt detectors, and a control device that uses electrostatic sensors, pressure sensors, and magnetic sensors to detect and differentiate between touch and pressure inputs, determining the pressed position based on panel tilt.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If a touch panel detects multiple contact positions simultaneously, then the quantity of detected contact points increases, but the precision of determining the pressed position deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of detected contact pointsVSAvoidprecision of pressed position determination

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a new dimension of measurement by detecting the tilt angle of the panel in addition to contact position coordinates. When multiple contact points are detected, the system uses the tilt angle information from the tilt detector to determine which contact point actually caused the pressing action, thereby resolving the ambiguity in pressed position determination

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The tilt detector acts as an intermediary device that provides additional information about the pressing action. By detecting the panel's tilt angle, it mediates between the multiple contact point detections and the actual pressed position, enabling accurate determination even when multiple fingers touch the panel simultaneously

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

Accurately identifies the pressed position on a tiltable panel even when multiple contact positions are touched, enhancing input detection accuracy and providing tactile feedback.

Implementation Method 1

a tilt detector that detects tilt of the panel

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTilt detection:

Implementation Method 2

a pressure detector that detects pressure to the panel

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure detection:

Implementation Method 3

a plurality of input operation sections that are disposed on the panel and that are capable of detecting a touch input operation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrostatic detection: Electrostatics

Data Source

PatentUS12498812B2Input device detecting a touch input operation based on a panel tilt angle

Publication Date: 2025.12.16 ALPS ALPINE CO LTD

AI summary

An input device including a panel that is held in a tiltable manner, a plurality of input operation sections that are disposed on the panel and that are capable of detecting a touch input operation, a pressure detector that detects pressure to the panel, and a pressing determination section that determines pressing based on a result of the pressure detection performed by the pressure detector, further includes a tilt detector that detects tilt of the panel.