US-12619333-B2 - Grip rejection host processing

Abstract

An example grip rejection method includes detecting a touch on a touch screen, where the touch covers an area of the touch screen. The grip rejection method includes in response to detecting a touch, determining touch coordinates representing the touch area with a touch controller. The grip rejection method includes in response to determining the touch coordinates with the touch controller, determining grip rejection information with the touch controller, where the grip rejection information includes signal strength information of the touch. The grip rejection method includes transmitting the touch coordinates and the grip rejection information of the touch.

Inventors

• BoWei Chen
• Pan Wang

Assignees

• STMICROELECTRONICS INTERNATIONAL N.V.

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20230908

Claims (18)

1. 1 . A method for grip rejection, the method comprising: detecting a touch on a touch screen, the touch covering an area of the touch screen; in response to detecting the touch, determining touch coordinates representing a touch area with a touch controller; in response to determining the touch coordinates with the touch controller, determining grip rejection information with the touch controller, the grip rejection information comprising signal strength information of the touch; and transmitting the touch coordinates and the signal strength information of the touch from the touch controller to an application processor, wherein the signal strength information is transmitted in a second event comprising a plurality of Bytes, the plurality of Bytes comprising a Touch ID of the touch in one Byte, an edge signal strength ratio of the touch in one Byte, and a maximum signal strength value of the touch in two Bytes.
2. 2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: receiving the touch coordinates and the signal strength information transmitted from the touch controller at the application processor; and based on the touch coordinates, the signal strength information, and application information available at the application processor of a device, determining a grip classification of the touch by executing a grip rejection algorithm with the application processor.
3. 3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the application information available at the application processor comprises an orientation status of the device, the orientation status comprising whether the device is in a horizontal or a vertical orientation.
4. 4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the application information available at the application processor comprises a dynamic area of the touch screen that touch events that occur within the dynamic area will be rejected while an application is active on the device.
5. 5 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the application information available at the application processor comprises: an orientation status of the device, the orientation status comprising whether the device is in a horizontal or a vertical orientation; a dynamic area of the touch screen that touch events that occur within the dynamic area will be rejected while an application is active on the device; and applications active on the device.
6. 6 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the grip rejection algorithm comprises proximity rejection, palm rejection, pressure rejection, finger shape analysis, gesture recognition, and multitouch analysis, in combination with the application information available at the application processor.
7. 7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the signal strength information comprises: a minor width of the touch that corresponds to a small width side of the touch screen; a major width of the touch that corresponds to a large width side of the touch screen; the maximum signal strength value that corresponds to a maximum value reported to the touch controller by a touch sensor of the touch screen for the touch; a node count of the touch that corresponds to a number of nodes of the touch controller occupied by the touch; and the edge signal strength ratio that corresponds to a sum of outer edge signal strengths of the touch compared to a sum of inner edge signal strengths of the touch.
8. 8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the second event comprises 8 Bytes numbered 0-7, wherein: Byte 0 comprises the Touch ID of the touch; Byte 1 comprises the minor width of the touch; Byte 2 comprises the major width of the touch; Byte 3 comprises the edge signal strength ratio of the touch; Byte 4 comprises the node count of the touch; Byte 5 comprises a first 8 bits of the maximum signal strength value of the touch; Byte 6 comprises a second 8 bits of the maximum signal strength value of the touch; and Byte 7 comprises an event left count.
9. 9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the touch coordinates are transmitted in a first event.
10. 10 . A device comprising: a touch screen; a touch controller coupled to an application processor and a memory storing instructions to be executed in the touch controller, the instructions when executed cause the touch controller to: detect a touch on the touch screen, the touch covering an area of the touch screen; in response to detecting the touch, determine touch coordinates representing a touch area with the touch controller; in response to determining the touch coordinates with the touch controller, determine grip rejection information with the touch controller, the grip rejection information comprising signal strength information of the touch; and transmit the touch coordinates and the signal strength information of the touch from the touch controller to the application processor, wherein the touch coordinates are transmitted in a first event and the signal strength information is transmitted in a second event comprising a plurality of Bytes, the plurality of Bytes comprising a Touch ID of the touch in one Byte, an edge signal strength ratio of the touch in one Byte, and a maximum signal strength value of the touch in two Bytes.
11. 11 . The device of claim 10 , further comprising: a second memory storing a second set of instructions to be executed in the application processor, the second memory coupled to the application processor, the second set of instructions when executed cause the application processor to: receive the touch coordinates and the signal strength information transmitted from the touch controller; and based on the touch coordinates and the signal strength information and application information available at the application processor of the device, determine a grip classification of the touch by executing a grip rejection algorithm with the application processor.
12. 12 . The device of claim 11 , wherein the application information available at the application processor comprises an orientation status of the device, the orientation status comprising whether the device is in a horizontal or a vertical orientation.
13. 13 . The device of claim 11 , wherein the application information available at the application processor comprises a dynamic area of the touch screen that touch events that occur within the dynamic area will be rejected while an application is active on the device.
14. 14 . The device of claim 11 , wherein the application information available at the application processor comprises: an orientation status of the device, the orientation status comprising whether the device is in a horizontal or a vertical orientation; a dynamic area of the touch screen that touch events that occur within the dynamic area will be rejected while an application is active on the device; and applications active on the device.
15. 15 . The device of claim 11 , wherein the grip rejection algorithm comprises proximity rejection, palm rejection, pressure rejection, finger shape analysis, gesture recognition, and multitouch analysis, in combination with the application information known by the application processor.
16. 16 . The device of claim 10 , wherein to determine the signal strength information, the touch controller is programmed to: determine a minor width of the touch that corresponds to a small width side of the touch screen; determine a major width of the touch that corresponds to a large width side of the touch screen; determine the maximum signal strength value that corresponds to a maximum value reported to the touch controller by a touch sensor of the touch screen for the touch; determine a node count of the touch that corresponds to a number of nodes of the touch controller occupied by the touch; and determine the edge signal strength ratio that corresponds to a sum of outer edge signal strengths of the touch compared to a sum of inner edge signal strengths of the touch.
17. 17 . The device of claim 16 , wherein the second event comprises 8 Bytes numbered 0-7, wherein: Byte 0 comprises the Touch ID of the touch; Byte 1 comprises the minor width of the touch; Byte 2 comprises the major width of the touch; Byte 3 comprises the edge signal strength ratio of the touch; Byte 4 comprises the node count of the touch; Byte 5 comprises a first 8 bits of the maximum signal strength value of the touch; Byte 6 comprises a second 8 bits of the maximum signal strength value of the touch; and Byte 7 comprises an event left count.
18. 18 . A method for grip rejection, the method comprising: detecting a touch on a touch screen, the touch covering an area of the touch screen; in response to detecting the touch, determining touch coordinates representing a touch area with a touch controller; in response to determining the touch coordinates with the touch controller, determining grip rejection information with the touch controller, the grip rejection information comprising signal strength information of the touch; and transmitting the touch coordinates and the signal strength information of the touch from the touch controller to an application processor, the touch coordinates being transmitted in a first event, the signal strength information being transmitted in a second event, the second event comprising 8 Bytes, wherein one Byte comprises a Touch ID of the touch, and wherein two Bytes comprise a maximum signal strength value of the touch.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to the field of computer interaction, specifically to a grip rejection method for input devices. BACKGROUND In various human-computer interaction scenarios, touch-based input devices (such as touch screens) have become prevalent due to their intuitive and natural user interface. However, a common challenge associated with touch-based input devices is the occurrence of unintentional or false touches, which can lead to erroneous input and degrade the user experience. This problem is particularly significant in applications where the user's fingers or palm are expected to hover or rest near the touch-sensitive surface without triggering input events. To address this issue, existing solutions typically rely on software-based algorithms executed by a touch controller that attempt to differentiate between intentional touch gestures and accidental touches. These algorithms often involve complex signal processing techniques and heuristic rules to interpret touch patterns and determine the user's intention accurately. However, these approaches are prone to false positives or false negatives, resulting in either missed inputs or unwanted activations. SUMMARY In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a grip rejection method includes detecting a touch on a touch screen, where the touch covers an area of the touch screen. The grip rejection method includes in response to detecting a touch, determining touch coordinates representing the touch area with a touch controller. The grip rejection method includes in response to determining the touch coordinates with the touch controller, determining grip rejection information with the touch controller, where the grip rejection information includes signal strength information of the touch. The grip rejection method includes transmitting the touch coordinates and the grip rejection information of the touch. In an embodiment, an electronic device includes a touch screen, and a touch controller coupled to a memory storing instructions to be executed in the touch controller. The instructions when executed cause the touch controller to detect a touch on a touch screen, the touch covering an area of the touch screen. The instructions when executed further and in response to detecting a touch, determine touch coordinates representing the touch area with the touch controller. The instructions when executed further and in response to determining the touch coordinates with the touch controller, determine grip rejection information with the touch controller, where the grip rejection information includes signal strength information of the touch. The instructions when executed further transmit the touch coordinates and the grip rejection information of the touch. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary only and are not restrictive of the disclosure as claimed. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a component schematic diagram of an electronic device that performs grip rejection in an application processor used in accordance with some embodiments; FIG. 2 is a component schematic diagram of a touch screen used in accordance with some embodiments; FIG. 3 is a component schematic diagram of a capacitive touch array in accordance with some embodiments; FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a grip rejection method in accordance with some embodiments; FIG. 5 is an illustration of a touch on an electronic device with a touch screen in accordance with some embodiments; FIG. 6 is an illustration of a touch on an electronic device with a touch screen in accordance with some embodiments; FIG. 7 is a table illustrating the storing of touch event information in memory in accordance with some embodiments; and FIG. 8 illustrates a flow chart illustrating a gesture rejection method in accordance with some embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of this application pertain to systems and methods for detecting and rejecting unintentional or unwanted grips on input devices, such as touch screens, touch pads, or other interactive surfaces. Grip rejection algorithms differentiate between intentional touch inputs and unintended touches caused by a user's grip or accidental contact with an electronic device's touch screen. These algorithms utilize the touch screen's ability to sense multiple touch points simultaneously. Typically, to implement a grip rejection algorithm, a touch controller analyzes various factors such as touch pressure, duration, and the number and distribution of touch points. By considering these parameters, the grip rejection algorithm distinguishes deliberate touches from inadvertent touches resulting from the user ho