Touch Display Signal Alignment for Automatic Multi-Screen Setup

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Solution Overview

Problem

Coordination of multiple touch displays in shared tasks is difficult due to manual configuration challenges, which are time-consuming and error-prone, especially for novice users, and alignment inaccuracies are often not easily visible during installation.

Innovation Solution

A computing device with a digitizer panel and control module that detects signals from adjacent displays to automatically compute relative positions, allowing seamless integration and alignment of multiple touch displays as a combined unit.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If manual configuration of touch displays is performed by users, then flexibility in configuring display settings is achieved, but the process becomes time-consuming and error-prone especially for novice users

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconfiguration flexibilityVSAvoidconfiguration time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs automatic configuration of touch displays without requiring user intervention. The digitizer control module automatically detects adjacent displays, computes their relative positions, and configures them as a combined display, allowing the system to serve itself rather than requiring manual user configuration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs detection and computation of relative positions as preliminary actions before the actual display configuration is needed. By pre-detecting the presence and position of adjacent displays, the system prepares the configuration data in advance, enabling seamless automatic setup when displays are connected

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of manufacture

If manual alignment of multiple touch displays is performed, then display configuration is achieved, but alignment inaccuracies occur that are not easily visible during installation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation easeVSAvoidalignment precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces manual mechanical alignment procedures with an automatic detection and computation system. Instead of relying on visual inspection and manual adjustment during installation, the digitizer control module uses signal detection and computational algorithms to automatically determine precise relative positions, substituting mechanical alignment processes with electronic detection and software-based positioning

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

3Measurement precision

If automatic detection of adjacent displays is implemented, then alignment accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional detection and computation functions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition detection accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The digitizer control module performs multiple functions: it detects touch inputs on the display, detects signals from adjacent displays, computes relative positions, and manages display configuration. By making this single component multi-functional, the system achieves automatic alignment without adding separate dedicated hardware components, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high measurement precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 efficient and accurate alignment and extension of content across multiple touch displays without manual intervention, improving usability and reducing interruptions during collaborative tasks.

Implementation Method 1

a digitizer panel comprising at least a plurality of receive electrodes... detect in the monitored signals a signal from a second touch display

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic signal transmission: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP3841448B1Touch display alignment
Publication Date: 2026.03.04 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC
  • EP3841448B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3841448B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3841448B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A computing device has a digitizer control module configured to monitor signals received by receive electrodes and to detect in the monitored signals a signal from a second touch display of a second computing device in physical proximity to the computing device. The digitizer control module is configured to determine one or more locations on the first touch display at which the signals from the second touch display are received. A processor in the computing device is configured to compute a relative position of the second touch display with respect to the first touch display on the basis of the determined locations, and to use the computed relative position to treat the first touch display and the second touch display as a combined touch display.