Touch Input Mode Stability During Multi-Finger State Changes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing touch panel systems face operability issues when a user's touch state changes during a multi-finger operation, leading to invalidation of input modes and reduced user experience due to unintended mode switches.
Innovation Solution
An input apparatus with a touch-operation detecting unit, a touch-state determining unit, and an input-mode determining unit that sets and maintains specific input modes based on the touch state, ensuring continuous execution of the initial input mode even if the touch state changes, preventing unintended mode switches during ongoing touch operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the input mode is automatically switched based on touch state changes during a touch operation, then the system can respond to new touch conditions, but the original input operation is invalidated and operability is damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the touch operation processing into two independent parts: (1) detection of touch state changes during the operation, and (2) determination of whether to switch input modes. By separating the detection function from the mode switching decision, the system can identify touch state changes without automatically invalidating the original operation, thus resolving the contradiction between adaptability and ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary judgment mechanism that acts as a mediator between touch state detection and input mode switching. This intermediary layer evaluates whether a touch state change during operation should trigger a mode switch, preventing automatic invalidation of the original operation while still allowing appropriate mode changes when truly needed
2Reliability
If the palm cancel function is executed based on finger gap conditions during multi-finger touch operation, then erroneous operations can be excluded, but valid input operations are incorrectly invalidated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by determining the input mode based on the touch state at the start of the touch operation before any finger gap changes occur. By establishing the input mode in advance and maintaining it throughout the operation, the system prevents incorrect palm cancel execution while still reliably excluding genuine erroneous operations that occur before the operation starts
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the conventional palm cancel logic by not executing palm cancel when finger gaps change during operation, but rather by maintaining the originally determined input mode. This inversion prevents valid multi-finger operations from being incorrectly invalidated while still maintaining reliability for detecting genuine errors
Data Source
AI summary
An input apparatus includes a touch-operation detecting unit, a touch-state determining unit, a setting unit, an input-mode determining unit, and a process executing unit. The touch-operation detecting unit detects a touch operation. The touch-state determining unit determines a touch state in the touch operation. The setting unit sets a plurality of input modes in accordance with the touch state, the input modes including at least a first input mode and a second input mode. The input-mode determining unit determines any one input mode from among the set input modes on the basis of the determined touch state. The process executing unit executes an input process on the basis of the detected touch operation in the determined input mode. In a case where the determined input mode is changed by a change in the touch state between a start time of the touch operation and an end time of the touch operation, if the change is from the first input mode to the second input mode, the input process is executed with the first input mode maintained.