Touch Control System Using Pressure and Contact Area Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing touch-sensitive operating systems in vehicles and other devices often experience undesired erroneous triggering due to variations in user input, such as pressure and contact area, leading to incorrect actuations.
Innovation Solution
A method and unit that utilize a pressure detection device to determine if an operating field is exposed to a higher pressure threshold and a detection device to assess the change in contact area by a predetermined factor, ensuring actuation signals are only output when a valid and controlled change occurs, thereby reducing erroneous triggering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If only pressure threshold detection is used to trigger actuation signals, then the system is simple to operate, but undesired erroneous triggering occurs frequently
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines pressure detection and contact area detection into a unified control mechanism. Both parameters must be satisfied simultaneously (pressure exceeds threshold AND contact area changes by predetermined factor) to trigger an actuation signal, merging two detection functions to improve reliability while maintaining operational simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds contact area detection as an additional dimension to the traditional pressure-only detection system. By monitoring changes in contact area alongside pressure levels, the system creates a multi-parameter control mechanism that reduces erroneous triggering without significantly increasing complexity
2Reliability
If contact area change detection is added to pressure detection, then erroneous triggering is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The operating field serves multiple functions: it acts as both the interface for user input and the sensor for detecting both pressure and contact area changes. This multi-functionality allows the system to implement reliable contact area detection without adding separate dedicated sensors, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity
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 approach significantly reduces undesired triggering by ensuring that only intentional and controlled user inputs result in actuation signals, providing a consistent and reliable user experience across different users.
Implementation Method 1
it is detected, by means of a pressure detection device, whether an operating field of the operating system is exposed by means of an actuating element to a higher pressure than a predetermined pressure threshold value
Implementation Method 2
by means of a detection device, the size of a contact area of the actuating element that touches the operating field is detected
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for operating an operating system (10), in particular of a motor vehicle, having the steps: detecting by means of a pressure detection device whether an operating field (14) of the operating system (10) has been exposed by means of an actuating element (12) to a greater pressure than a predetermined pressure threshold value; if it is detected that the operating field (14) is exposed to a greater pressure than the pressure threshold value: outputting of at least one confirmation signal by means of the operating field (14); wherein by means of a detection device, the size of a contact area (22, 22′) of the actuating element (12) that touches the operating field (14) is detected; the confirmation signal is output only if, during the pressure exertion on the operating field (14), it is detected that the contact area (22, 22′) of the actuating element (12) has been changed by a predetermined factor. The invention furthermore relates to a unit with an operating system (10).