Touch Instrument Zero Activation Force via Orientation Distance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing touch instruments face issues with accurately distinguishing between hovering and inking states due to malfunctioning force sensors, leading to unintended activation of inking operations.

Innovation Solution

The system uses communication signals from touch devices to determine the orientation and distance of touch instruments, generating activation or deactivation commands based on these signals to control inking operations, thereby overcoming the limitations of force sensors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If force sensors are used to detect activation force in touch instruments, then inking operations can be differentiated based on force levels, but malfunctioning force sensors cause false positive force detection during hovering

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveforce detection accuracyVSAvoidhover state recognition
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces communication signals as an intermediary mechanism to verify the true state of the touch instrument. Instead of relying solely on force sensor data, the system uses bidirectional communication between the touch instrument and touch device to determine whether the instrument is actually in contact with the screen, thereby mediating the conflict between force detection and hover state recognition

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback through communication signals exchanged between the touch instrument and touch device. The touch device provides feedback about detected touch events, and the touch instrument uses this feedback along with communication signal analysis to confirm or refute force sensor readings, creating a closed-loop verification system that resolves false positives

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If force sensors are used to detect activation force, then different inking effects can be enabled based on force levels, but friction and wear on force sensors cause detection errors

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinking effect differentiationVSAvoidforce sensor durability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical force sensing system with an electromagnetic communication-based verification system. Instead of relying on mechanical force sensors that suffer from friction and wear, the system uses communication signals to verify contact state, thereby substituting a mechanical detection mechanism with a non-contact electromagnetic verification mechanism that eliminates wear-related failures

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

3Measurement precision

If communication signals are used to determine distance and orientation, then accurate touch contact detection can be achieved, but additional processing circuits and antennas are required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetouch contact detection accuracyVSAvoidprocessing circuit and antenna requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the communication system multi-functional by using the same communication signals and processing circuits for both data transmission and touch contact verification. The existing antennas and communication interfaces are utilized for dual purposes: standard communication operations and touch state verification, thereby avoiding the need for separate dedicated hardware components

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

Data Source

PatentEP3921723B1Method and touch instrument for uplink-based zero activation force
Publication Date: 2024.05.01 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC
  • EP3921723B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~2
  • EP3921723B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3921723B1 patent drawingFigure 5A~6B

AI summary

Methods for uplink-based zero activation force are performed by systems and devices. A touch instrument interfaces with a touch device, and includes antennas that receive communication signals from the touch device. The touch instrument also includes a processing circuit that is electrically coupled to the antennas. The processing circuit determines an orientation of the touch instrument with respect to the touch device. A distance between the touch device and the touch instrument is then determined based on the orientation and a communication signal from the touch device received by the antennas, and an activation command is generated when the distance indicates a touch/contact. The activation command, transmitted to the touch device, causes the touch device to perform an inking operation. When the distance determined indicates a hover, and not touching/contact, a deactivation command is generated. Distance is also determined based on touch instrument orientation.