Touch Input Light Feedback for Tap and Slide Differentiation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing input interface technologies fail to provide a dynamic and expressive optical presentation that accurately reflects the movement speed and type of finger operations, such as tap and slide, on input devices like capacitive touchscreens, limiting the range of user interaction and feedback.
Innovation Solution
An input interface device with a detector and light emitters that adjust luminous intensity and emission based on finger contact or proximity, distinguishing between tap and slide operations by varying light patterns and speeds, and controlling cursor movement and character input accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a light source emits light at a position corresponding to a finger being slid on a slide operation section, then the optical presentation reflects the finger position, but it fails to distinguish between different operation types (tap vs. slide) and movement speeds
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the light emission characteristics variable rather than static. The light emitter adjusts its luminous intensity and duration dynamically based on the detected operation type (tap or slide) and movement speed. For slide operations, the light gradually decreases in intensity over a predetermined period, creating a trailing effect that visually represents the movement trajectory and speed, thereby encoding operation information in the temporal and intensity characteristics of light emission.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters of light emission (luminous intensity, duration, and decay rate) to encode different operation types. By varying these parameters based on operation characteristics, the system distinguishes between tap and slide operations without requiring additional hardware, thus resolving the contradiction between information representation and device complexity.
2Loss of information
If the light emitter gradually reduces luminous intensity over time after finger movement, then the optical trail reflects movement speed and trajectory, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses periodic or time-limited light emission rather than continuous emission. The light emitter activates only during and immediately after the finger operation, with the gradual intensity reduction confined to a predetermined short period. This time-bound emission strategy maintains the optical trail effect for trajectory representation while minimizing overall energy consumption compared to sustained light emission.
3Ease of operation
If the system provides detailed optical feedback for different operations, then user interaction becomes more intuitive, but the control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by providing immediate optical response to finger operations. The light emitter responds in real-time to detected operations, creating visual feedback that confirms the operation type and trajectory. This feedback mechanism enhances user interaction intuitiveness by making the system's response to different operations visually distinct and immediately perceivable.
Solution Approach 2:
The light emitter serves as an intermediary between the detector and the user. It translates the electrical detection signals into visual optical patterns that are easily perceivable by users. This intermediary role simplifies the user interface by converting complex detection data into intuitive visual feedback without requiring complex display systems.
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 user interaction by providing distinct optical presentations for tap and slide operations, allowing for more expressive and intuitive control of cursor movement and character input, improving operational feedback and user experience.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of light emitters disposed alongside at positions corresponding to the detector and making the detection surface light up
Data Source
AI summary
An input interface device includes at least one processor. The processor performs control to cause, among light emitters, a first light emitter corresponding to a contact/proximity point detected by a detector to emit light with a luminous intensity higher than that of a remaining light emitter. The contact/proximity point is where an object is in contact with or in proximity to a detection surface. The processor further performs control, while the object is moving along the light emitters in a state in which the object is in contact with or in proximity to the detection surface, to gradually reduce a luminous intensity of, among the light emitters, a second light emitter corresponding to a point where the object being in contact with or in proximity to the detection surface once detected by the detector is no longer detected to put out the second light emitter in a predetermined time.