Touchpad Button Event Filtering Using Touchpad Data

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Solution Overview

Problem

Portable computing devices experience false button press events due to housing flexure, which conventional techniques like spacers and rigid materials either fail to address effectively or add size, cost, and weight, undermining the goal of reducing device size and weight.

Innovation Solution

Implement executable logic in the IHS to determine if touchpad data is being received; inhibit button press events from processing when no touchpad data is detected, and allow events when data is active, with a time window for external button presses.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional techniques like spacers and rigid materials are used to prevent false button press events, then button press reliability is improved, but device size, cost, and weight increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebutton press reliabilityVSAvoiddevice weight
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical solutions (spacers, rigid materials) with a software-based detection system. The processor executes instructions to monitor touchpad data and distinguish between genuine button presses and false events caused by housing flexure, eliminating the need for additional mechanical components that would increase weight.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces touchpad data as an intermediary signal to detect and verify button press events. By monitoring the presence or absence of touchpad data during button press detection, the system can identify false events caused by housing flexure and filter them out, improving reliability without adding physical components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If conventional techniques like spacers and rigid materials are used to prevent false button press events, then button press reliability is improved, but device size increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebutton press reliabilityVSAvoiddevice size
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical solutions (spacers, rigid materials) with a software-based detection system. The processor executes instructions to monitor touchpad data and distinguish between genuine button presses and false events caused by housing flexure, eliminating the need for additional mechanical components that would increase device volume.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If conventional techniques like spacers and rigid materials are used to prevent false button press events, then button press reliability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebutton press reliabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical solutions (spacers, rigid materials) with a software-based detection system. The processor executes instructions to monitor touchpad data and distinguish between genuine button presses and false events caused by housing flexure, eliminating the need for additional mechanical components that would increase manufacturing cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Weight of moving object

If the housing is made more flexible to reduce size and weight, then device portability is improved, but false button press events increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice weightVSAvoidbutton press reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces touchpad data as an intermediary signal to detect and verify button press events. By monitoring the presence or absence of touchpad data during button press detection, the system can identify false events caused by housing flexure and filter them out, allowing the housing to remain flexible for portability while maintaining button press reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12405691B2Systems and methods to mitigate false touchpad button events
Publication Date: 2025.09.02 DELL PROD LP
  • US12405691B2 patent drawing
  • US12405691B2 patent drawing
  • US12405691B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide systems and methods to prevent false triggering of the touchpad buttons associated with a touchpad. The false touchpad button mitigation system and method uses executable logic that upon detection of a button press event, determines whether touchpad data is currently being received from the touchpad, and when no touchpad data is currently being received, inhibit the button press event from being processed by an Information Handling System (HIS). Touchpad data refers to data generated by a touchpad when a user's finger is touching the touchpad. Thus, if the user is not actively touching the touchpad, the false button press event may be blocked by the executable logic.