Touchscreen Hand Anchor for Accurate Input in Aircraft Turbulence
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing touch screen displays in aircraft cockpits are difficult to use during periods of turbulence due to vibrations, leading to unintended inputs when users stabilize their hands, which can interfere with intended inputs.
Innovation Solution
A touch screen display assembly with a hand anchor, such as a slot or channel, equipped with a touch sensor and controller to stabilize the user's hand and differentiate between intended and unintended inputs, particularly during turbulent conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a user stabilizes their hand on the touch surface during turbulence, then hand stability improves, but unintended touch inputs are generated
Solution Approach 1:
A hand anchor with capacitive touch sensor is introduced as an intermediary element between the user's hand and the main touch screen. The sensor detects hand presence and stabilization at the anchor location, allowing the system to distinguish between intentional touches on the screen and unintentional touches resulting from hand stabilization, thereby resolving the contradiction between needing hand stability and avoiding false inputs
2Stability of the object's composition
If a physical stabilization device such as a palm or wrist rest is added, then hand stability during turbulence improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hand anchor serves multiple functions: it provides a physical stabilization point for the user's hand during turbulence, contains an integrated capacitive touch sensor to detect hand presence, and communicates with the controller to enable intelligent input filtering. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate stabilization devices while reducing overall system complexity
3Ease of operation
If the touch screen area is enlarged, then usability improves, but the ability to effectively utilize the display during heavy turbulence deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The capacitive touch sensor in the hand anchor provides feedback to the controller about the user's hand state. When the sensor detects that the hand is stabilized on the anchor, the controller uses this feedback information to filter out unintended touches on the enlarged screen, thereby maintaining both the large usable area and operational reliability during turbulence
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
The solution allows users to interact accurately with the touchscreen during turbulence by stabilizing their hand and filtering out unintended inputs, enhancing usability and accuracy of input detection.
Implementation Method 1
the touch sensor includes a capacitive sensor configured to output a signal based on a touch within the touch sensitive area
Data Source
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AI summary
A touch screen display assembly (40, 140) can include a touch sensitive screen (42, 142) having a screen surface (44, 144), and at least one hand anchor (50, 150) located adjacent the screen surface (44, 144). The at least one hand anchor (50, 150) can also be configured to form a stabilizing feature when a user interacts with the touch sensitive screen (42, 142).