Method and apparatus for processing touch signals of a touchscreen

• US 9,323,369 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2014
• Issued: 04/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: e.solutions GmbH
• Original Assignee: e.solutions GmbH
• Inventors: Lares, Roland
• Primary Examiner(s): Chang, Kent
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fernande, Benjamin Morales
• Application Number:
  US14/321,478
• Publication Number:
  US 20150015506A1
• Time in Patent Office: 665 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus

Abstract

A technique is disclosed for processing touch signals of a touch-operable touchscreen. One aspect of the method comprises detecting a touch signal indicating a touch on the touchscreen, differentiating, on the basis of the detected touch signal, between an input touch for inputting information and/or for control purposes on the one hand and a gripping touch resulting from a user gripping the touchscreen on the other, and rejecting of the detected touch signal as an input touch if the touch signal is attributed to a gripping touch.

Claims

1. A method for processing signals of a touch-operable touchscreen of a portable device, wherein the method comprises:

detecting a first touch signal indicating a first touch on the touchscreen;

identifying a touch region of the touchscreen corresponding to an area of the first touch on the touchscreen;

differentiating, on the basis of the detected first touch signal, between an input touch for at least one of inputting information and controlling the portable device and a gripping touch as a result of the portable device being gripped in the touch region of the touchscreen, wherein differentiating comprises determining a first touch parameter from the detected first touch signal, and comparing the determined first touch parameter with a corresponding first comparative parameter;

rejecting the detected first touch signal as an input touch when the first touch signal is attributed to a gripping touch;

altering the display of the touchscreen, wherein altering comprises reducing one of the display around the touch region and the entire display;

increasing the touch region;

detecting a second touch signal associated with a second touch on the touchscreen, wherein the second touch takes place within the increased touch region;

differentiating, on the basis of the detected second touch signal, between an input touch and a gripping touch, wherein differentiating comprises determining a second touch parameter from the detected second touch signal, and comparing the determined second touch parameter with a corresponding second comparative parameter, the second comparative parameter being more restrictive than the first comparative parameter; and

rejecting the second touch signal as an input touch when the second touch signal is attributed to a gripping touch.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first and/or second touch parameter indicates one or more of the following variables:

at least one geometric variable of the touch, a time duration of the touch, a speed of movement of the touch and a pressure intensity of the touch.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the at least one geometric variable is selected from the area of the touch, the number of touch points and a position of the touch on the touchscreen.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein rejecting the detected first touch signal comprises rejecting the detected first touch signal as an input touch for at least the area of the touch on the touchscreen.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining a spatial orientation of the touchscreen, wherein the first and/or second comparative parameter is selected depending on the determined orientation.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein differentiating is restricted to a touch signal which is attributed to a touch in the edge region of the touchscreen.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

altering the input area of the touchscreen.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein altering comprises reducing one of the input area around the touch region and the entire input area.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein altering comprises a change in colour of the display in the touch region.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the change in colour comprises a partially transparent representation of the display or a representation of the display with lighter colours, in grey tones or black.

11. The method according to claims 1, further comprising:

repeating the steps of detecting, differentiating and rejecting, so long as a touch is detected.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for carrying out, when the computer program is run on a computer device, a method for processing signals of a touch-operable touchscreen of the computer device, wherein the method comprises:

detecting a first touch signal indicating a first touch on the touchscreen;

identifying a touch region of the touchscreen corresponding to an area of the first touch on the touchscreen;

differentiating, on the basis of the detected first touch signal, between an input touch for at least one of inputting information and controlling the portable device and a gripping touch as a result of the computer device being gripped in the touch region of the touchscreen, wherein differentiating comprises determining a first touch parameter from the detected first touch signal, and comparing the determined first touch parameter with a corresponding first comparative parameter;

rejecting the detected first touch signal as an input touch when the first touch signal is attributed to a gripping touch;

altering the display of the touchscreen, wherein altering comprises reducing one of the display around a region of the touch on the touchscreen and the entire display;

increasing the touch region;

detecting a second touch signal associated with a second touch on the touchscreen, wherein the second touch takes place within the increased touch region;

differentiating, on the basis of the detected second touch signal, between an input touch and a gripping touch, wherein differentiating comprises determining a second touch parameter from the detected second touch signal, and comparing the determined second touch parameter with a corresponding second comparative parameter, the second comparative parameter being more restrictive than the first comparative parameter; and

rejecting the second touch signal as an input touch when the second touch signal is attributed to a gripping touch.

13. An apparatus for displaying content, comprising:

a touchscreen for displaying content and for use by means of touch within an input region; and

a processor system which is designed to carry out a method for processing signals of the touchscreen, wherein the method comprises;

detecting a first touch signal indicating a first touch on the touchscreen;

identifying a touch region of the touchscreen corresponding to an area of the first touch on the touchscreen;

differentiating, on the basis of the detected first touch signal, between an input touch for at least one of inputting information and controlling the portable device and a gripping touch as a result of the apparatus being gripped in the touch region of the touchscreen, wherein differentiating comprises determining a first touch parameter from the detected first touch signal, and comparing the determined first touch parameter with a corresponding first comparative parameter;

rejecting the detected first touch signal as an input touch when the first touch signal is attributed to a gripping touch;

altering the display of the touchscreen, wherein altering comprises reducing one of the display around a region of the touch on the touchscreen and the entire display;

increasing the touch region;

detecting a second touch signal associated with a second touch on the touchscreen, wherein the further second touch takes place within the increased touch region;

differentiating, on the basis of the detected second touch signal, be-tween an input touch and a gripping touch, wherein differentiating comprises determining a second touch parameter from the detected second touch signal, and comparing the determined second touch parameter with a corresponding second comparative parameter, the second comparative parameter being more restrictive than the first comparative parameter; and

rejecting the second touch signal as an input touch when the second touch signal is attributed to a gripping touch.

14. A portable device comprising the apparatus according to claim 13.

15. The portable device according to claim 14, which is constructed as a tablet computer, in particular for use in a motor vehicle.