Touch Input Device Distinguishing Support and Input Positions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional touch input devices struggle to differentiate between support and input touch positions accurately, leading to difficulties in interpreting complex finger movements and pressing operations, which affects the precision and reliability of user inputs.

Innovation Solution

A touch input device equipped with a capacitive sensor for detecting multiple touch positions and a piezoelectric sensor for pressure detection, utilizing a control unit to identify support and input touch positions based on their locations, movements, and pressing forces, and executing operations only during active pressing periods.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the touch input device detects multiple touch positions and pressing operations, then the operational capabilities are increased, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring the input positions accurately increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational capabilitiesVSAvoidinput position accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The touch input device divides the operation surface into multiple independent detection zones using separate sensor arrays. Each sensor independently detects touch positions and pressing operations, allowing the system to process multiple touch events simultaneously while maintaining high positional accuracy for each individual touch point.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a control unit that acts as an intermediary between the sensor array and the processing system. This control unit receives raw sensor data, identifies support positions versus input positions, and filters out irrelevant touches (such as those on the support position), thereby improving the accuracy of input detection while handling multiple operational capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If the device identifies support position versus input touch positions, then the precision of user input interpretation is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinput interpretation precisionVSAvoidposition identification complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit performs preliminary identification of support positions before processing input commands. By detecting which touch position corresponds to the support function (e.g., thumb resting position) in advance, the system can exclude these positions from input interpretation, thereby improving precision without requiring complex real-time analysis during operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies partial action by focusing computational resources only on identifying the support position once, rather than continuously analyzing all touch positions. This preliminary identification simplifies subsequent input processing, as the system only needs to monitor changes in non-support positions, reducing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

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

Enhances the accuracy and reliability of user inputs by distinguishing between support and input touch positions, allowing for precise interpretation of finger movements and pressing operations, thereby improving the overall user experience and device responsiveness.

Implementation Method 1

a capacitive sensor for detecting multiple touch positions

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapacitance: Capacitance

Implementation Method 2

a piezoelectric sensor for pressure detection

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPiezoelectric effect: Piezoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentUS10146380B2Touch input device and mobile display device

Publication Date: 2018.12.04 MURATA MFG CO LTD

AI summary

A touch input device includes a sensor for detecting a plurality of touch positions at which a touch operation has been performed on an operation surface, a pressure sensor for detecting a pressing operation which has been performed on the operation surface at at least one of the touch positions, and a control unit. The control unit (a) identifies a first of the touch positions as a support position which is not used to input information into the input device by way of movement of the support position, (b) identifies at least second and third of the touch positions as input touch positions used to input information into the input device by way of movement of the input touch positions, and (c) causes the input device to carry out an operation identified by the movement of the input touch positions.