Clickable Touchpad Compensation for Digit Deformation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional clickable touchpads experience positional inaccuracies due to digit movement and deformation during click events, which are difficult to compensate for due to variability in touchpad geometry and user digit size.
Innovation Solution
An input device comprising a touchpad component and a compensation module that produces positional information and senses click events, with the compensation module generating outputs to correct for movement and deformation of the input object by analyzing a time history of positional data prior to the click event.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a simple correction factor is used to compensate for digit movement, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision deteriorates due to inability to handle variable geometry and digit size
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by capturing positional information at multiple time points before the click event occurs. The compensation module analyzes the time history of positional data to predict and compensate for the digit's movement and deformation during the click, rather than using a simple post-event correction factor.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring the positional information of the input object and using this feedback to dynamically adjust the compensation. The compensation module receives the time history of positional data and generates corrected positional information based on the observed movement patterns, creating a closed-loop system that adapts to variable geometry and digit size.
2Reliability
If the touchpad surface is pressed down to detect click, then the click detection reliability is improved, but the positional information changes due to digit rolling and asymmetric surface area increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system captures positional information at multiple time points before the click event, creating a time history of the digit's position. This preliminary data allows the compensation module to predict and compensate for the digit's movement and deformation that occurs during the press-down action, maintaining positional accuracy while ensuring reliable click detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The compensation module acts as an intermediary between the raw positional information from the touchpad and the final corrected positional data. It processes the time history of positional information and generates compensated output that accounts for digit rolling and surface area changes, effectively mediating between the mechanical action and the digital representation.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and devices for improved clickable touchpads are described. An input device includes a touchpad component configured to produce positional information associated with an input object sensed within a sensing region of the touchpad component and to sense a click event produced by the input object within the sensing region. The input device further includes a compensation module communicatively coupled to the touchpad component, the compensation module configured to produce an output that compensates for a change in the positional information due to at least one of movement and deformation of the input object during the click event.