Multi-point Touch Sensor Digit Identification via Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Multi-point touch-sensitive sensors struggle to accurately identify and differentiate multiple digits simultaneously, limiting user control and accuracy in interacting with devices.

Innovation Solution

A system that includes a computer-readable storage medium with an assignment module, a receiving module, and a determination module, which assigns distinct digit identities to digits in contact with the sensor during a learning phase, detects digit interactions, and recognizes these identities to initiate specific functions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If multi-point touch-sensitive sensors detect multiple simultaneous touches, then user control and accuracy are improved, but the ability to accurately identify and differentiate individual digits deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser controlVSAvoiddigit identification accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the touch input by assigning unique identifiers to each digit, allowing the system to differentiate between multiple simultaneous touches. Each digit contact point is treated as a separate entity with its own identity, enabling precise tracking and recognition of individual digit interactions even when multiple digits touch the sensor simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary digit identification and assignment during the initial touch contact. By establishing digit identities early in the interaction sequence, the system can maintain accurate tracking throughout the gesture, resolving the identification problem before it affects subsequent measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If distinct digit identification is implemented, then digit recognition accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedigit identity recognitionVSAvoidsystem structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal digit identification system that works across multiple touch points and gesture types. The same identification mechanism handles various scenarios including single-touch, multi-touch, dragging, and gestural inputs, reducing the need for separate complex subsystems for different interaction modes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses digital representations (identifiers) of physical digits rather than complex physical sensors for each digit. This copying approach allows the system to track multiple digits using software-based identification rather than requiring additional hardware components for each digit, thereby reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS9035891B2Multi-point touch-sensitive sensor user interface using distinct digit identification

Publication Date: 2015.05.19 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION

AI summary

For digit identification on a multi-point touch sensitive sensor, an assignment module assigns a digit identity to each digit of at least two digits in contact with a multi-point touch sensitive sensor during a learning phase. The digit identity includes a distinct representation of each digit. A receiving module detects a digit interaction of one or more particular digits of the at least two digits with the multi-point touch-sensitive sensor. A determination module recognizes the assigned digit identity for each particular digit involved in the digit interaction.