Multi-User Touch Screen User Identification via Body Conduction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing touch screen systems cannot distinguish between touches made by multiple users, treating all touches as originating from a single user or an unknown user, which is a limitation in applications involving simultaneous multi-user interactions such as gaming, collaboration, or command centers.
Innovation Solution
A multi-user touch screen system with a transparent and electrically conductive surface, incorporating at least two electrodes, a transmitting unit, and a receiving unit to detect unique identifying signals when a user touches the screen, allowing the system to associate a touch with a specific user based on timing, magnitude, and position, using a control unit to correlate the touch data with the identifying signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional touch screen systems are used, then the system can detect touch positions, but it cannot distinguish between touches made by different users
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the touch detection function into two independent parts: a touch screen for detecting touch positions and electrodes for detecting user identities. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in one function while working together to provide comprehensive multi-user touch detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The human body acts as an intermediary element that electrically connects the touched electrode to the touch screen. When a user touches both an electrode and the touch screen, their body conducts the identifying signal from the electrode to the touch screen, enabling the system to detect both the touch position and the user identity simultaneously.
2Measurement precision
If sampling techniques are used to detect overlapping touches, then several touches can be distinguished to some extent, but the system still cannot identify which user made each touch
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary identification by detecting which electrode is connected to the user's body before or during the touch action. This preliminary detection of user identity through electrode connection allows the system to subsequently attribute touch positions to specific users, preventing loss of user identity information.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides feedback by continuously monitoring the electrical connection between electrodes and the touch screen through the user's body. This feedback mechanism allows the system to dynamically track which user is touching the screen and attribute subsequent touch positions to the correct user in real-time.
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 user identification and touch association, improving the system's ability to differentiate between multiple users, enhancing usability in collaborative and multi-user environments by correlating touch positions and signals with user identities.
Implementation Method 1
a touch identification system comprising at least two electrodes, at least one transmitting unit for transmitting an identifying signal, at least one receiving unit for detecting at least one identifying signal
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a touch screen system with a touch screen (400) comprising a transparent and electrically conductive surface (450) arranged to receive touches from users (UA, UB) of the touch screen system; and touch sensitive elements (420) arranged to detect the position of said touches on said electrically conductive surface (450). The touch screen system is further comprising a touch identification system (900) comprising at least two electrodes (EA-ED), at least one transmitting unit (910) connected to the electrically conductive surface (450) for transmitting an identifying signal to said electrically conductive surface (450), and at least two receiving units (900A-900D), each connected to at least one of said electrodes (EA-ED) for detecting said identifying signal when a user (UA, UB) simultaneously touches the electrically conductive surface (450) and an electrode (EA-ED) that is connected to the receiving unit (900A-900D).