Touch Input Device Shear Force Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional touch input devices face challenges in effectively generating and sensing shear force due to increased thickness and complexity with analog joysticks, and recognition errors with capacitive touch pads and force sensors, limiting their ability to provide rich and accurate 3D touch interactions.
Innovation Solution
A touch input device design featuring a first sensor for touch input and a second force sensor spaced apart vertically, connected through a connecting member, which measures vertical loads and calculates shifts caused by shear force using force and moment equilibrium equations, facilitating accurate shear force sensing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If an analog joystick is interposed between the display and touch panel to sense shear force, then shear force sensing capability is improved, but device thickness increases and configuration complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The force sensor is integrated with the touch panel structure, merging the shear force sensing function into the existing touch input device. This eliminates the need for a separate analog joystick component while maintaining shear force sensing capability, thereby reducing device thickness and configuration complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The touch panel is designed to serve multiple functions: it acts as both the touch input surface and the shear force sensing element. By making the touch panel itself capable of detecting shear force through the integrated force sensor, the system achieves multi-functionality without adding separate specialized components.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional shear force sensing technologies are used, then touch interaction capability is improved, but recognition accuracy deteriorates due to high possibility of recognition error
Solution Approach 1:
The force sensor provides real-time feedback on the vertical load applied to the touch panel. This feedback mechanism enables the system to distinguish between genuine shear force events and false triggers by monitoring force characteristics, thereby improving recognition accuracy while maintaining versatile touch interaction capability.
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 easier shear force generation and accurate sensing, enhancing touch interactions by maintaining device slimness and reducing recognition errors, while allowing for precise calculation of touch position shifts.
Implementation Method 1
a second sensor connected to the second surface of the first sensor for measuring a force caused by the touch input to the first surface
Data Source
AI summary
A touch input device includes a first sensor having a first surface to which a touch is input, and a second surface opposing the first surface, and a second sensor connected to the second surface of the first sensor, and spaced apart from the first sensor in a vertical direction, wherein the first sensor measures a first position of the touch input to the first surface, wherein the second sensor measures a force caused by the touch input to the first surface of the first sensor, and calculates a second position by applying the force measured by the second sensor to force and moment equilibrium equations, when a distance between the first position and the second position is greater than or less than a threshold, the touch input to the first surface of the first sensor is determined to be a shear force or a sliding gesture, respectively.