Touchpad Force Threshold Adjustment by Contact Area
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Solution Overview
Problem
Force sensing touchpads often filter out non-finger contacts, making it difficult for users with chronic hand pain or limb differences to interact effectively, as they struggle to use these devices with single-finger input.
Innovation Solution
The touchpad adjusts force thresholds based on the area of contact, allowing users to input using various body parts such as the side of their hand, knuckle, or palm, by determining the area of touch and adjusting the force threshold accordingly, enabling effective interaction with a wide range of user inputs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed force threshold is used for touch input, then the touchpad can reliably detect finger contacts, but users with non-fingertip inputs (such as hand pain or limb differences) struggle to interact effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The force threshold is made dynamic rather than fixed. The system automatically adjusts the force threshold based on the detected touch area size. When a user contacts the touchpad with a larger area (such as the palm or side of the hand), the system increases the force threshold accordingly. This dynamic adjustment allows users with different physical capabilities to interact effectively with the touchpad using their preferred body parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the force threshold parameter based on the touch area parameter. By monitoring the area of contact and adjusting the force threshold in response, the system adapts to different user inputs. This parameter change allows the touchpad to accommodate various body parts and user needs, improving both adaptability and ease of operation for diverse users.
2Ease of operation
If the force threshold is lowered to accommodate users with chronic hand pain, then ease of operation improves, but false inputs from non-finger contacts increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different force threshold criteria based on the local characteristics of the touch contact. Instead of using a single universal threshold, it adjusts the threshold locally based on the touch area detected at the point of contact. This allows the system to be more permissive (lower threshold) for small contacts while maintaining higher thresholds for larger contacts, thus reducing false inputs while accommodating users with hand pain.
Solution Approach 2:
The force threshold is dynamically adjusted based on the detected touch area. When a user with hand pain makes contact with a smaller area, the system detects this and lowers the force threshold to make interaction easier. Conversely, when a larger area is detected, the system raises the threshold to prevent false inputs. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction between ease of operation and reliability.
3Reliability
If a high force threshold is used to prevent false inputs, then reliability improves, but users with limb differences or chronic hand pain find it difficult to interact
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the force threshold parameter dynamically based on the touch area parameter. When a user contacts the touchpad with a larger body part (such as the palm or side of the hand), the system detects the larger area and adjusts the force threshold upward. This ensures that users with limb differences or chronic hand pain can still interact reliably, as the system adapts the threshold to match their unique input characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The force threshold is made dynamic and adaptive rather than static. The system continuously monitors the touch area and adjusts the force threshold in real-time. This dynamic behavior allows the touchpad to maintain high reliability by preventing false inputs while simultaneously adapting to accommodate users with different physical capabilities and body parts.
4Ease of manufacture
If the touchpad uses standard force thresholding, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but usability for diverse users is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The touchpad system performs self-adjustment based on the detected touch characteristics. When a user makes contact, the system automatically measures the touch area and adjusts the force threshold accordingly, without requiring manual configuration or user setup. This self-service capability maintains manufacturing simplicity while dramatically improving usability for diverse users, as the system adapts automatically to different body parts and user needs.
Data Source
AI summary
Computing devices, touchpads, and related methods for adjusting a force threshold for touch input on a touchpad are disclosed. In one example, a computing device comprises a force sensing touchpad, a processor, and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to receive a first contact on the touchpad. An area of touch of the first contact is determined, and an adjusted force threshold for touch input is determined based at least on the area of the touch. A second contact is received on the touchpad, and a touch force of the second contact is determined. Based at least on determining that the touch force exceeds the adjusted force threshold, a touch input on the touchpad is registered.