Touchpad Segmentation for Palm Rest Integration

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional portable computers face challenges in maintaining portability while providing a large enough touchpad that is not prone to accidental activation by the user's palms during typing, as larger touchpads increase the risk of unintended input due to their proximity to palm rest areas.

Innovation Solution

A portable computer design featuring an enlarged touchpad that extends into the palm rest areas, equipped with a sensor system to differentiate between intentional and unintentional contacts, allowing the touchpad to function as both an input device and a palm rest, thereby reducing accidental activations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of moving object

If the touchpad is enlarged to extend into palm rest areas, then the touchpad area is increased, but the likelihood of accidental activation by palms increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetouchpad areaVSAvoidaccidental activation

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The touchpad is divided into multiple contact patches along its width, with each patch independently controllable. The system selectively activates only the portion of the touchpad corresponding to the user's finger contact area, while ignoring contact patches where palms naturally rest during typing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the touchpad are assigned different functional properties. The system determines which contact patches should respond to input based on their spatial relationship with the keyboard and palm rest areas, making the touchpad responsive in some regions while non-responsive in others during typing activities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the touchpad is centered below the keyboard and minimized in size, then accidental activation is reduced, but the cursor control capability is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccidental activationVSAvoidcursor control capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The touchpad is divided into multiple contact patches along its width, with each patch independently controllable. The system selectively activates only the portion of the touchpad corresponding to the user's finger contact area, while ignoring contact patches where palms naturally rest during typing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system adds a spatial dimension to touchpad control by determining which contact patches should respond based on their position relative to the keyboard and palm rest areas. This allows the touchpad to extend horizontally into palm rest areas while maintaining vertical positioning that prevents accidental activation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Length of moving object

If the touchpad is mounted flush with the top surface to reduce thickness, then portability is improved, but the likelihood of accidental brushing by palms increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoverall thicknessVSAvoidaccidental brushing

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The touchpad is divided into multiple contact patches along its width, with each patch independently controllable. The system selectively activates only the portion of the touchpad corresponding to the user's finger contact area, while ignoring contact patches where palms naturally rest during typing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediary filtering mechanism that analyzes the characteristics of contact patches (such as size, location, and duration) to determine whether they represent intentional input or accidental palm contact, allowing the touchpad to be flush-mounted without increasing accidental activation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS7561146B1Method and apparatus to reject accidental contact on a touchpad

Publication Date: 2009.07.14 APPLE INC

AI summary

In one exemplary embodiment, a portable computer having a display assembly coupled to a base assembly to alternate between a closed position and an open position. Palm rest areas are formed by a touchpad disposed on the surface of the base assembly. In an alternative embodiment, a touchpad disposed on the base assembly has a width that extends substantially into the palm rests areas of the base assembly.