Mobile Terminal Virtual Key Processing with Auxiliary Sensing Area

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Solution Overview

Problem

In mobile terminals with touch screens, users often inadvertently trigger multiple virtual buttons simultaneously, leading to incorrect processing due to the lack of differentiation in touch sensitivity between buttons and the surrounding area.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a touch-sensitive auxiliary sensing area on the touch panel, which adjusts the processing priority of virtual buttons based on their distance from the sensing area, reducing misoperations by identifying the most distant button as the intended trigger.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If virtual buttons are implemented on a touch screen without auxiliary sensing areas, then the device complexity is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but the reliability of button trigger detection deteriorates due to inability to differentiate between intentional and inadvertent touches

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebutton trigger detection accuracyVSAvoidtouch panel structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The touch panel is segmented into multiple functional zones: virtual button areas and auxiliary sensing areas. Each zone has distinct detection characteristics, allowing the system to differentiate between intentional button presses and inadvertent touches based on which zone is activated.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The auxiliary sensing area acts as an intermediary element that indirectly indicates the user's intent. When a user's finger approaches or touches near a virtual button, the auxiliary sensing area detects this proximity or light contact, serving as a mediator to predict the intended button press before actual contact occurs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If the touch panel uses uniform sensitivity across all areas, then the ease of operation is improved and device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision of touch intent deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetouch intent differentiationVSAvoidtouch sensitivity control
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Different regions of the touch panel are assigned different detection sensitivities and functions. Virtual button areas are configured for definitive press detection, while auxiliary sensing areas use proximity or light touch detection. This local differentiation enables precise measurement of user intent based on touch location and characteristics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The auxiliary sensing area detects touches that are partial or incomplete (light touches or proximity without full contact). By detecting these partial actions, the system can infer user intent before a complete button press occurs, improving measurement precision of intended actions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Productivity

If no auxiliary sensing area is provided, then the device complexity is reduced and manufacturing is easier, but the productivity of user operations deteriorates due to incorrect processing requiring user correction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperation accuracyVSAvoidprocessing logic
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The auxiliary sensing area performs preliminary detection of user intent before the actual button press occurs. By detecting proximity or light touches in advance, the system can prepare for the intended operation, reducing the need for user correction and improving overall operation productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from the auxiliary sensing area to adjust processing decisions. When the auxiliary sensing area detects a touch pattern consistent with intentional button pressing, the system confirms the operation; otherwise, it can prevent incorrect processing, creating a feedback loop that improves operational accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3232301B1Mobile terminal and virtual key processing method
Publication Date: 2020.04.22 XIAOMI INC
  • EP3232301B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3232301B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3232301B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a mobile terminal and a method for processing a virtual button, which reduces the incorrect processing caused by the incorrect touch on the virtual buttons. The mobile terminal includes: a touch panel, including a plurality of virtual buttons and an auxiliary sensing area, in which the auxiliary sensing area is located at one side of the touch panel; and a touch processing chip, connected with the touch panel and configured to process a trigger of a virtual button of at least two virtual buttons and far away from the auxiliary sensing area if triggers of the at least two virtual buttons and the auxiliary sensing area are obtained simultaneously. The method includes: obtaining triggers of at least two virtual buttons and an auxiliary sensing area respectively; and processing a trigger of a virtual button of the at least two virtual buttons and far away from the auxiliary sensing area.