Touchscreen Overlay Proximity Detection

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing touchscreen systems often inadvertently close overlays when users attempt to interact with other interface elements, leading to accidental dismissal of important messages or notifications.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that determines the presence and location of a digit on a touch-sensitive display, preventing the closure of overlays by detecting proximity and modifying the overlay's operation to prevent closure when the digit is near the predetermined area, thereby ensuring overlays remain open until the digit is removed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the overlay is made closable by touch input at predetermined location, then the overlay can be closed when needed, but the overlay may be accidentally closed when user interacts with other interface elements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoverlay closure functionalityVSAvoidaccidental closure prevention
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The overlay's responsiveness to touch input dynamically changes based on the detected state of other interface elements. When interactive elements are detected in the closure area, the overlay becomes non-responsive to touch inputs at that location, preventing accidental closure while maintaining normal functionality when no such elements are present.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors the touch-sensitive display to detect the presence and state of other interface elements. This feedback mechanism allows the system to adjust the overlay's closure behavior in real-time based on the detected context, ensuring reliable operation without accidental dismissal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If the overlay remains always open to prevent accidental closure, then reliability improves, but the user interface becomes less responsive and more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoverlay closure reliabilityVSAvoidoverlay operation control
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the operational parameters of the overlay based on detected conditions. Specifically, it modifies the touch sensitivity and responsiveness of the overlay at the predetermined closure location depending on whether other interface elements are detected, allowing the overlay to adapt its behavior without requiring constant user intervention or complex control mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If digit proximity detection is implemented to prevent accidental closure, then reliability improves, but the system complexity and processing requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccidental closure preventionVSAvoiddigit detection system
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The touch-sensitive display's existing digit detection capability is utilized to serve the additional function of preventing accidental overlay closure. The system leverages the display's inherent ability to detect digit presence and location, converting this existing functionality into a protective mechanism without requiring separate detection hardware or complex additional systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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

Prevents accidental closure of overlays, enhancing user experience by ensuring users can interact with other interface elements without inadvertently dismissing notifications or messages, and improving the overall usability of touchscreen devices.

Implementation Method 1

detecting a change in a parameter of a signal received from the touch-sensitive panel indicating that a finger, thumb, or stylus is proximate to, or near to, a surface of the touch-sensitive panel

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapacitance: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentEP2517095B1Overlay handling
Publication Date: 2018.05.09 NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
  • EP2517095B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2517095B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP2517095B1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

A method comprises: determining that an overlay is to be displayed at a predetermined area on a touch-sensitive display, the overlay being operable to be closed in response to a user providing a touch input at predetermined location within the predetermined area of the overlay; detecting the presence of a digit proximate to a surface of the touch-sensitive display; determining a digit location, the digit location being a location on the surface of the touch-sensitive display to which the digit is proximate; comparing the digit location with the predetermined location; and if the digit location corresponds to the predetermined location, modifying the operation of the overlay so as to prevent closure of the overlay in response to a touch input provided at the predetermined location.