Touch Proximity Sensor Fusion for Accurate Input Recognition

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing touch input apparatuses struggle with accurately recognizing user inputs such as 'move', 'tap', and 'flick' due to detection accuracy issues and unintended movements, often misrecognizing vibrations or small movements as intended operations.

Innovation Solution

The system recognizes user inputs by combining conditions from both the detected touch position and proximity state before and after the touch, using a touch sensor and proximity sensor to distinguish between touch and proximity positions, and applying specific threshold conditions for each operation type to reduce misrecognition.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If touch input apparatuses recognize operations based only on touch position information, then the recognition process is simple, but detection accuracy is easily affected by sensor accuracy issues or unintended user movements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverecognition process complexityVSAvoidoperation recognition accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines touch position information with proximity state information to determine user operations. By merging data from both touch sensors and proximity sensors, the system achieves more accurate operation recognition while filtering out false detections caused by vibrations or unintended movements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The proximity state information acts as an intermediary that helps distinguish between intentional operations and unintended movements. By using proximity data as a mediator, the system can verify whether detected touch movements represent genuine user intent before triggering operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If the system uses only touch position data for operation recognition, then the system structure is simple, but misrecognition of vibrations as intended operations occurs frequently

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem structureVSAvoidoperation recognition reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges touch sensor data with proximity sensor data to create a more reliable operation recognition mechanism. This combination allows the system to distinguish between genuine user operations and false signals caused by vibrations or sensor noise.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The proximity state information provides feedback that helps verify the authenticity of detected operations. By continuously monitoring proximity changes alongside touch position, the system can confirm whether detected movements represent intentional user actions before executing operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If the system considers both touch and proximity state information, then operation recognition accuracy improves, but the processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperation recognition accuracyVSAvoidprocessing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the operation recognition process into distinct stages: proximity state detection, touch position detection, and combined analysis. This segmentation allows the system to process information in an organized manner, reducing overall processing complexity while maintaining high recognition accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary detection of proximity state before analyzing touch operations. By pre-establishing the proximity context, the system simplifies subsequent operation analysis, as the proximity information is already available to help interpret touch movements without requiring complex real-time processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2998846B1Information processing apparatus, method for controlling information processing apparatus, and storage medium
Publication Date: 2023.11.08 CANON KK
  • EP2998846B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP2998846B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP2998846B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

An information processing apparatus includes a touch position detection means for detecting a touch position indicated by an operation object in contact with an input target surface, a proximity position detection means for detecting a proximity position indicated by an operation object in proximity to the input target surface, and a recognition means for recognizing that an operation object has started a moving operation, based on a condition to be satisfied by a movement amount of the touch position detected by the touch position detection means. The condition changes according to a movement amount of the proximity position detected by the proximity position detection means before the touch position detection means starts to detect the touch position.