Touchpad Static Contact Area Click Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing touchpad technologies in electronic devices face challenges in accurately triggering click operations due to the need for additional pressure sensing devices and the imprecision of tapping interval-based methods.

Innovation Solution

An electronic device with a processor connected to a touchpad that senses a static touch and determines a click operation by evaluating the static contact area and position, using predetermined area and shift thresholds to differentiate between intentional clicks and finger sliding.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If pressure sensing devices are added to accurately detect touch pressure, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetouch pressure detection accuracyVSAvoidadditional pressure sensing devices

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses the existing touchpad as an intermediary to detect both touch position and touch area, eliminating the need for separate pressure sensing devices. The touchpad's capacitance changes are analyzed to determine both location and contact area, resolving the contradiction by using one component to perform multiple sensing functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If tapping interval settings are used to determine click operations, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of click detectionVSAvoidclick operation triggering accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the detection parameter from time-based (tapping interval) to area-based (static contact area). By measuring whether the contact area exceeds a threshold during a static touch period, the system accurately distinguishes clicks from slides without complex timing mechanisms, improving precision while maintaining simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If static contact area threshold is used to differentiate clicks from slides, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation worsens due to parameter adjustment complexity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedifferentiation accuracy between click and slideVSAvoidthreshold parameter adjustment

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the area threshold dynamic by adapting it to different users' touch characteristics. The system learns and adjusts thresholds based on individual user patterns, maintaining high differentiation accuracy while automatically accommodating user variations without manual calibration, thus preserving ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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

This approach allows for accurate and efficient triggering of click operations, adapting to different users by dynamically updating thresholds based on moving and static contact areas, enhancing user interaction precision.

Implementation Method 1

sensing a first touch on the touchpad

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapacitance sensing: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentUS10528181B2Touch controlling method, electronic device and non-transitorycomputer-readable recording medium

Publication Date: 2020.01.07 ASUSTEK COMPUTER INC

AI summary

A touch controlling method, an electronic device, and a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium are disclosed. The touch controlling method includes: sensing a first touch on the touchpad; sensing a static contact area of the first touch when the first touch is static; and triggering a first click operation when the static contact area of the first touch exceeds a first area threshold.