Touchscreen Grip Sensor Dynamic Inactive Zone
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Solution Overview
Problem
Touchscreen terminals with grip sensors face issues of unintentional touches due to user grip, leading to increased bezel size and reduced touchscreen area, as existing solutions require a bezel to prevent such touches.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a touch-inactive area on the touchscreen that is dynamically defined based on grip sensor signals, where touches within this area are classified as non-executable gripping touches, allowing the bezel to be minimized or eliminated, thereby increasing the touchscreen area without compromising functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a bezel is included to prevent unintentional touches when the user grips the terminal, then unintentional touches are prevented, but the terminal size becomes unnecessarily large and the touchscreen area becomes relatively small
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the touch-inactive area dynamic rather than static. The touch-inactive area is established based on grip sensor detection, meaning it appears only when the user grips the terminal and disappears when the grip is released. This dynamic approach allows the touchscreen to be fully active when not being gripped, maximizing the usable touchscreen area while still preventing unintentional touches during grip, thereby resolving the contradiction between reliability and touchscreen area.
2Reliability
If a bezel is included to protect the touchscreen against unintentional touch when gripped by the user, then unintentional touches are prevented, but the size of the terminal becomes unnecessarily large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a dynamic touch-inactive area that is established only when grip is detected, eliminating the need for a permanent physical bezel. This allows the terminal to maintain a compact size without compromising the prevention of unintentional touches, as the software-based inactive area provides protection only when needed.
3Area of stationary object
If the touchscreen area is increased by reducing or eliminating the bezel, then the touchscreen area becomes larger, but unintentional touches due to user grip may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a touch-inactive area as an intermediary zone between the grip area and the fully active touchscreen area. This intermediary area acts as a buffer that prevents grip-related unintentional touches from being registered as valid touch inputs, while still allowing the touchscreen to extend to the edges of the display. The touch-inactive area is positioned adjacent to the grip area and dynamically established based on grip sensor detection.
4Reliability
If a touch-inactive area is established adjacent to the grip area, then unintentional touches are prevented, but the executable touchscreen area is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by making the touch-inactive area dynamic rather than permanent. The area is established only when grip is detected and is removed when grip is released, allowing the full touchscreen area to be executable during normal operation while still providing protection against unintentional touches during grip.
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus and methods for controlling operations of a touchscreen terminal having grip sensors are disclosed. A grip signal is detected when the terminal is gripped. A touch-inactive area is established in the touchscreen area based at least upon the grip signal. Touches occurring within the touch-inactive area are designated as non-executable gripping touches. Accordingly, unintentional touch executions due to an overlapping grip are prevented.