Touch Screen Force Detection Front Back Differentiation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Force sensors in touch-screen devices cannot distinguish between forces applied to the front and rear sides, leading to incorrect detection of user interactions.
Innovation Solution
A method that measures force applied to a force sensor and correlates it with touch contacts detected by a touch sensor, differentiating between front-side and back-side forces by analyzing capacitance variations and using specific actions for uncorrelated back-side forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If force sensors are used to detect force applied to the touch-screen device, then force detection capability is improved, but the ability to distinguish between front-side and back-side forces deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the force detection problem into two separate sensing systems: one for detecting force magnitude and another for determining force direction. The touch sensor panel detects touch location and the controller distinguishes whether the force is applied to the front or back side by analyzing the relationship between touch contact presence and force sensor output, effectively segmenting the detection functions to preserve directional information.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the device allows force detection from both front and back sides, then user interaction versatility is improved, but the accuracy of force source identification deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from the touch sensor to validate force sensor readings. When a force is detected, the controller checks whether there is a corresponding touch contact at the calculated location. If no touch contact is present, the system infers the force is from the back side, using this feedback mechanism to accurately identify the force source while maintaining versatility for both front and back interactions.
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
Enables accurate detection and differentiation of forces applied to the front and rear sides, preventing misinterpretation of back-side forces as front-side interactions and allowing for additional user interaction possibilities.
Implementation Method 1
Force sensors that detect force by measuring capacitance variation due to deformation
Implementation Method 2
a touch location is sensed based on an interference of the stimulation signal
Data Source
AI summary
In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method including detecting force applied to a force sensing layer in a device and detecting touch contacts applied to a touch screen layer in a device. The method also includes determining if the location and/or amount of force detected by the force sensing layer correlates to a touch contact, and, if it correlates, treating the force as front-side force, while if the location and/or amount of force detected by the force sensing layer does not correlate to a touch contact, treating the force as a back-side force. Based on the type of force detected, appropriate action may be taken, including back-side specific actions such as multi-tasking application switches or content or viewport manipulation.