Touch Sensor Outer Area Edge Operation Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional information processing systems, such as portable game devices, face limitations in detecting touch operations near the edge of a touch panel due to the overlap between the display surface and the detection surface, leading to restricted range of detectable operations and potential misidentification of edge tracing versus interior tracing, and reduced usability near the panel's edges.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a touch sensor with an inner area covering the display surface and an outer area adjacent to it, allowing detection of slide operations from the outer area to the inner area, and displays a menu with options aligned along the edge, highlighting the option closest to the detected position, enabling processing based on user input even when the touch extends beyond the display surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the display surface occupies the same area as the touch sensor detection surface, then the display area is maximized, but the range of detectable operations near edges is limited and operations cannot be discriminated
Solution Approach 1:
The touch sensor detection surface is segmented into an inner area (overlapping the display surface) and an outer area (adjacent to the display surface). This segmentation allows the system to distinguish between different types of touch operations: tracing operations can be detected when the object moves from the outer area to the inner area, while simple tapping operations occur within the inner area. This resolves the contradiction by enabling differentiated operation detection without reducing the display area.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a spatial dimension extension by adding the outer area adjacent to the display surface. This dimensional extension creates a new operational zone where tracing operations can be initiated and distinguished from interior operations. The touch sensor detection surface effectively expands into a second dimension (adjacent area), enabling the system to detect and differentiate operations based on their spatial origin and trajectory.
2Ease of operation
If no image is displayed in an area near the edge of the touch panel, then edge operations can be detected, but the display surface is not effectively utilized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating different functional zones within the touch sensor detection surface. The inner area (overlapping the display) and outer area (adjacent to the display) have different operational characteristics. The outer area is specifically optimized for detecting tracing operations that start from outside the display, while the inner area handles both tracing and tapping operations. This local differentiation enables edge operation detection without sacrificing display area utilization.
3Measurement precision
If a frame is provided along the circumferential edge of the touch panel, then touching accuracy is improved, but ease of touching near the edge is deteriorated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the frame structure from the physical hardware and relocates it to the functional/software level. Instead of providing a physical frame along the circumferential edge, the system uses the outer area of the touch sensor detection surface (adjacent to the display surface) to detect tracing operations. This extraction eliminates the physical frame while maintaining the ability to accurately detect edge operations and distinguish them from interior operations.
Data Source
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Figure 4B~5A
AI summary
To provide an information processing system capable of increasing the range of variation of a processing executed based on a touch operation. An information processing system such as a portable game device (1) comprises a display (12a), a touch sensor (12b) that detects a position of an object on a detection surface provided in an area including an inside area (14) occupying at least a part of a display surface of the display unit (12a) and an outside area (16) adjacent to the inside area (14) and outside the display surface, and a processing executing unit that executes a processing based on a position corresponding to a position in the inside area (14) and detected by the touch sensor (12b) and a position corresponding to a position in the outside area (16) and detected by the touch sensor (12b).