Wheel Input Touch Sensing for Separating Simultaneous Screen Inputs

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electronic devices with touch screens and wheel input regions often misinterpret user inputs when a finger touches both the screen and the wheel input device simultaneously, leading to unintended processing results.

Innovation Solution

The device distinguishes between touch inputs on the display region and wheel inputs on the bezel region using a touch sensor panel that differentiates between touch and proximity signals, allowing separate processing of these inputs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the wheel input device width is made narrower than the user's finger width, then the wheel input device can be more compact, but it causes simultaneous identification of both touch input and wheel input when the user touches the edge of the touch screen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewheel input device widthVSAvoidinput identification accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The touch sensor panel is divided into multiple sensing regions (first sensing region and second sensing region) that are spatially separated. The first sensing region is configured to detect touch inputs on the display, while the second sensing region is configured to detect wheel inputs on the bezel. This segmentation allows the system to distinguish between the two types of inputs even when the wheel input device width is narrow, resolving the contradiction between compactness and input identification accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If the wheel input device width is increased to prevent simultaneous input identification, then input identification accuracy improves, but the device complexity and size increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinput identification accuracyVSAvoidwheel input device structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The touch sensor panel serves multiple functions by integrating both touch sensing and wheel input sensing capabilities within a single component. The first sensing region handles touch inputs while the second sensing region handles wheel inputs, eliminating the need for separate input devices. This multi-functionality reduces device complexity and avoids the need for additional mechanical structures, resolving the contradiction between input identification accuracy and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If the electronic device processes both touch input and wheel input simultaneously, then all user inputs are captured, but unintended processing results occur when both inputs occur at the same time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinput processing completenessVSAvoidprocessing result accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary identification of the input type by determining which sensing region (first or second) detects the user's finger contact first. Based on this preliminary determination, the system selectively processes only the appropriate input (touch or wheel) while ignoring the other simultaneous input. This preliminary action prevents unintended processing results while maintaining complete input capture capability, resolving the contradiction between processing completeness and result accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3991018B1Electronic device for processing wheel input and operation method thereof
Publication Date: 2025.08.27 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3991018B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2B
  • EP3991018B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~5A
  • EP3991018B1 patent drawingFigure 5B~7B

AI summary

An electronic device for processing an input and a method therefor are provided. The electronic device includes a cover window, a display disposed under the cover window, a touch panel including one or more touch sensing elements disposed in a region corresponding to the display, the touch panel configured to generate at least one of a touch signal or a proximity signal by using the one or more touch sensing elements, at least one processor operationally connected to the display and the touch panel, and a memory operationally connected to the at least one processor. The memory may store instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to, identify a first touch input in a first region on the cover window, corresponding to the display, by using the touch signal generated by the touch sensor, identify a first proximity input in a second region on the cover window, surrounding the display, by using the proximity signal generated by the touch sensor, determine whether a designated input determination condition is satisfied, based on the first touch input and the first proximity input, select one of the touch input in the first region corresponding to the display or the first proximity input in the second region surrounding the display, based on whether the designated input determination condition has been satisfied, and perform a function corresponding to the selected input.