Touchscreen Interface Device with Disabled Region for Hardware Buttons

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Solution Overview

Problem

Interface devices with touch panels and hardware operation elements often experience erroneous inputs due to the proximity detection of fingers, leading to unintended touch operations.

Innovation Solution

An interface device configuration that includes a touchscreen, hardware interfaces with operation elements, and a control unit that disables touch operations in specific regions associated with the operation elements during estimated usage periods, preventing erroneous inputs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If operation elements are disposed on the surface of the touchscreen to enable hardware-type interface operations, then ease of operation is improved, but erroneous touch inputs are induced due to proximity detection

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoidinput accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The touchscreen surface is segmented into multiple regions: a first region where touch operations are normally accepted, and a second region (disabled region) where touch operations are rejected during operation element usage. This spatial segmentation allows the system to maintain both hardware operation elements and touchscreen functionality while preventing erroneous inputs by disabling touch detection in the specific region where operation elements are disposed during their active period.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The touch operation acceptance state of the disabled region is dynamically changed based on the operational state of the operation elements. The control unit switches the disabled region between a first state (accepting touch operations) and a second state (rejecting touch operations) according to whether the operation element is currently being used, allowing adaptive control that resolves the contradiction between maintaining touch functionality and preventing erroneous inputs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If touch panel detects proximity of finger to enable touch operation, then ease of operation is improved, but erroneous input occurs due to false detection

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetouch operation sensitivityVSAvoidtouch detection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

Different regions of the touchscreen have different touch detection properties. The disabled region is configured to reject touch operations when operation elements are active, while other regions maintain normal touch detection sensitivity. This local differentiation of touch detection quality allows the system to maintain high sensitivity where needed while preventing false detection in regions where operation elements are disposed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS11366575B2Interface device and information processing device

Publication Date: 2022.06.21 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK

AI summary

An interface device, including: a touchscreen; one or more hardware interfaces having an operation element disposed on a surface of the touchscreen; a storage unit configured to store the operation element in association with a disabled region that is a region on the touchscreen where touch operation is disabled; and a control unit configured to disable touch operation to the disabled region that is associated with the operation element, during a prescribed period estimated that a user operates the operation element.