Touch Panel Finger Shape Detection for Multi-Operator Recognition

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing operation display devices struggle to accurately differentiate between multi-touch operations performed by a single operator and separate single-touch operations carried out by multiple operators, especially in scenarios where users are close to each other, leading to incorrect recognition of touch inputs.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a touch panel system that simultaneously detects multiple touch operations and utilizes a finger shape detecting unit to analyze finger attributes, such as shape and direction, to determine whether multiple touch operations are performed by the same operator or multiple operators, allowing for accurate judgment and adjustment of display content accordingly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the touch panel recognizes multiple simultaneous touch operations as multi-touch operations, then the productivity and ease of operation are improved, but the reliability deteriorates when users are close to each other causing incorrect recognition of touch inputs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemulti-touch operation recognitionVSAvoidoperation recognition accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter used for judgment from touch position distance to finger attribute characteristics (shape, size, direction). By analyzing these attributes detected by the finger shape detecting unit, the system can reliably distinguish whether multiple touches are from one operator or multiple operators, resolving the reliability issue while maintaining multi-touch functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical judgment method (based on physical distance between touch positions) with an attribute-based detection method. Instead of measuring spatial separation, the system uses finger shape detection and attribute comparison to determine operator identity, enabling accurate recognition even when users are close together

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

2Ease of operation

If the system divides the display into multiple areas for multiple users, then the ease of operation for multiple users is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemulti-user operationVSAvoidarea assignment system
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically performs area assignment and operation routing without requiring manual configuration or complex user setup. The finger attribute detection automatically identifies operators and assigns appropriate display areas and operations, reducing system complexity while maintaining ease of multi-user operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2685368B1Operation display device, operation display method and tangible computer-readable recording medium
Publication Date: 2020.12.23 KONICA MINOLTA INC
  • EP2685368B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2685368B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2685368B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed is an operation display device, including: a display unit; a touch panel to simultaneously detect touch operations carried out with fingers to a display surface of the display unit; a finger shape detecting unit to detect a shape of a contact part of the finger, which contacts to the display surface in each of the touch operations; and a control unit to control display contents of the display unit, wherein when the touch operations are simultaneously detected by the touch panel, the control unit judges whether the touch operations are an operation carried out by one operator or are operations carried out by a plurality of operators in accordance with the shape of the contact part of the finger relating to each touch operation, and changes the display contents of the display unit in accordance with a result of judging the touch operations.