Touch Display Navigation Input Timing Filter

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Solution Overview

Problem

Portable electronic devices with touch-sensitive displays face challenges in distinguishing between intentional user inputs and unintentional touches, particularly when the navigation device is inadvertently activated, leading to potential misinterpretation of commands and user frustration.

Innovation Solution

A method and electronic device configuration that detect touches on a touch-sensitive display and receive inputs from a separate navigation device, where functions are performed only after a predetermined time period has elapsed or based on the direction and timing of the input relative to the touch, effectively differentiating between touch data and navigation inputs to prevent misinterpretation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the touch-sensitive display and navigation device are integrated into a single device, then the device can provide both touch input and navigation functions, but unintentional touches on the display may be misinterpreted as commands to the navigation device

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice functionalityVSAvoidinput interpretation accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the input interface into two separate components: a touch-sensitive display for visual interaction and a separate navigation device for directional input. This segmentation prevents cross-contamination of input signals, ensuring that touches on the display are not misinterpreted as navigation commands and vice versa, thereby resolving the reliability issue while maintaining both functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a controller as an intermediary component that receives signals from both the touch-sensitive display and the navigation device separately. The controller processes these signals independently and only executes navigation functions when both a touch is detected on the display and a corresponding input is received from the navigation device within a predetermined time window, preventing misinterpretation while enabling coordinated operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Speed

If the navigation device is activated in response to any touch on the display, then the device responds quickly to user input, but unintentional touches cause unnecessary operations and user frustration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresponse timeVSAvoidunintentional operations
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent requires a touch to be detected on the display before the navigation device can be activated. The system waits for a touch event, then activates the navigation device only if a subsequent input is received within a predetermined time window. This preliminary touch detection prevents unintentional activations from random touches while maintaining quick response to intentional input sequences.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the system monitors for navigation device input only after detecting a touch on the display. The controller checks whether a navigation input occurs within a predetermined time window following the touch. This feedback loop ensures that navigation functions are activated only in response to intentional touch-navigate sequences, filtering out unintentional operations while maintaining responsive behavior.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If the system waits for a time period between touch and navigation input, then unintentional touches are filtered out, but the response time for intentional inputs is delayed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinput differentiation accuracyVSAvoidresponse delay
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a predetermined time window parameter to differentiate between intentional and unintentional input sequences. By adjusting this time parameter, the system can filter out unintentional touches that occur too quickly or too slowly after a navigation input, while allowing intentional sequences to pass through. This parameter-based approach balances reliability in input differentiation with acceptable response time for legitimate user actions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2407867B1Portable electronic device with a touch-sensitive display and navigation device and method
Publication Date: 2015.12.23 BLACKBERRY LTD
  • EP2407867B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2407867B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2407867B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method includes detecting a touch at a location on a touch-sensitive display, receiving an input by a navigation device, and performing a function associated with at least one of the touch and the input in response to elapsing of a time period between detecting the touch and receiving the input.