Totem Input Device Frictional Tethering on Articulating Touchscreens

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Solution Overview

Problem

Information handling systems with touchscreen displays face issues with unintended movement of totem input devices due to gravitational forces when the display is tilted, leading to disruptions in user interactions.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that utilize friction members extending and retracting based on capacitive sensing and accelerometer data to maintain the totem's position on the touchscreen, adapting frictional resistance to counteract lateral accelerations and prevent unintended movements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the touchscreen display is tilted to provide an angled input surface, then ergonomic comfort is improved, but gravitational forces cause unintended movement of the totem device

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveergonomic comfortVSAvoidtotem position stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The friction members are designed to dynamically adjust their extension state based on detected totem movement. When movement is detected, the friction members extend to increase frictional resistance and stabilize the totem. When no movement is detected, they retract to reduce friction and allow smooth repositioning by the user.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses sensors to automatically detect totem movement and triggers the friction members to extend or retract without user intervention. The system self-regulates the frictional resistance based on the actual movement state, eliminating the need for manual adjustment of friction settings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Stability of the object's composition

If friction members are extended to prevent totem movement, then position stability is improved, but the totem becomes difficult to reposition by the user

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetotem position stabilityVSAvoidtotem repositionability

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The friction members transition between extended and retracted states based on real-time detection of totem movement. This dynamic adjustment ensures high friction when the totem is stationary (preventing unintended movement) and low friction when the user intends to reposition it (enabling smooth movement).

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system detects movement in advance and responds by extending the friction members to counteract further unintended movement. This preliminary detection and response mechanism prevents the totem from sliding further while maintaining ease of intentional repositioning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

3Productivity

If the totem is released by the user, then the user can perform other tasks, but gravitational acceleration causes the totem to slide across the display

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser task efficiencyVSAvoidtotem position stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors the totem's position and movement state through sensors. When the totem is released and begins to slide due to gravity, the feedback mechanism detects this movement and triggers the friction members to extend, creating sufficient frictional resistance to stop the totem in place.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system converts the harmful effect of gravitational force that causes unwanted totem movement into a beneficial detection signal. The sensors detect the gravity-induced movement and automatically activate the friction members to counteract the gravitational effect, turning the problem into a self-correcting mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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

The solution effectively keeps the totem in place during user interactions, reducing unintended inputs and maintaining the workspace integrity by dynamically adjusting frictional resistance according to the display's tilt and user input states.

Implementation Method 1

extension of friction members from a bottom surface of the totem, increasing frictional resistance of the totem to lateral accelerations that induce unintended movements

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 2

capacitive sensing at the totem detects touch and release by the end user to automatically adjust friction at the totem base

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapacitance: Capacitance

Implementation Method 3

the amount of additional friction may vary to adapt to the amount of tilt of the touchscreen display, such as by using accelerometer sensed conditions to determine the distance that an extending member presses out towards a display

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAccelerometer: Accelerometer

Data Source

PatentUS11010043B2Information handling system totem with frictional tethering

Publication Date: 2021.05.18 DELL PROD LP

AI summary

An information handling system totem input device maintains position on an articulating touchscreen display by selectively engaging friction members at the totem bottom surface with the touchscreen display surface. A capacitive sensor integrated in the totem senses end user touch and/or proximity to extend the friction members when an end user releases the totem. In one embodiment, the amount of extension and associated frictional resistance provided by the friction members adjusts based upon lateral acceleration sensed by accelerometers in the totem or in the display.