# Adjusting Touchscreen Sensitivity Based on Device Tilt Angle > This patent describes how a computing device can decide if a touch on its screen is intentional or accidental by changing its sensitivity settings based on how much the device is tilted. - **Patent:** US 20160291760 - **Original title:** Contact discrimination using a tilt angle of a touch-sensitive surface - **Owner:** Wacom Co - **Status:** Active - **Times cited:** 5 - **Field:** consumer_electronics, software, telecommunications ## What it does This patent describes a method for a computing device to intelligently handle touches on its screen. It works by first receiving electronic data from a touch-sensitive surface, like a tablet screen (Claim 1). At the same time, a tilt sensor detects the angle at which the device is held, comparing its current position to a flat, reference position (Claim 1). This detected tilt angle is then used to modify a setting, called a 'parameter,' within an automated process that decides if the touch was on purpose or not (Claim 1). For example, this parameter could be a minimum amount of time a touch must last (Claim 6) or a minimum number of data points it generates (Claim 3). If the device is held at an angle between horizontal and vertical, the patent suggests making the threshold higher, meaning a touch has to last longer or generate more data to be considered intentional (Claim 4, Claim 7). If the touch is deemed intentional, the device accepts it as valid input; otherwise, it rejects the touch (Claim 1). ## What it does NOT cover - Does not cover systems that determine intentionality without using a tilt sensor to detect the device's angle. - Does not cover systems that use a tilt sensor but do not modify a parameter of the contact discriminating process based on that tilt angle. - Does not cover systems that only use a fixed threshold for touch duration or data records, regardless of the device's orientation. - Does not cover methods that accept all touch input without attempting to discriminate between intentional and unintentional contacts. - Does not cover systems that only use touch pressure or contact area to discriminate touches, without considering device tilt. ## The clever bit The clever part is dynamically adjusting the criteria for what counts as an intentional touch based on the device's tilt angle. Instead of using a one-size-fits-all setting, the system intelligently adapts its sensitivity, making it smarter about ignoring accidental touches when the device is held in common working positions. ## Real-world examples 1. Wacom Cintiq drawing displays 2. Wacom Intuos Pro tablets 3. Microsoft Surface Pro devices with pen input 4. iPad Pro with Apple Pencil 5. Other pen-enabled convertible laptops and tablets ## Why it matters This technology is especially important for devices where users frequently rest their hands on the screen while interacting, such as drawing tablets or convertible laptops. By dynamically adjusting how it recognizes touches, the device can prevent accidental inputs, like a palm resting on the screen, while still accurately capturing intentional inputs, like a pen stroke. This significantly improves the user experience for digital artists and note-takers, making their tools more precise and less frustrating. ## Frequently asked questions ### What does Adjusting Touchscreen Sensitivity Based on Device Tilt Angle cover? This patent describes how a computing device can decide if a touch on its screen is intentional or accidental by changing its sensitivity settings based on how much the device is tilted. ### Who owns patent US 20160291760? This patent is owned by Wacom Co. ### When does this patent expire? This patent is expected to expire on March 30, 2035, when the invention enters the public domain. ### What is patent US 20160291760 cited by? This patent has been cited by 5 later patents that build on its ideas. ### What problem does this patent solve? This technology is especially important for devices where users frequently rest their hands on the screen while interacting, such as drawing tablets or convertible laptops. By dynamically adjusting how it recognizes touches, the device can prevent accidental inputs, like a palm resting on the screen, while still accurately capturing intentional inputs, like a pen stroke. This significantly improves the user experience for digital artists and note-takers, making their tools more precise and less frustrating. ### What does this patent NOT cover? Does not cover systems that determine intentionality without using a tilt sensor to detect the device's angle. **Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/20160291760/contact-discrimination-using-a-tilt-angle-of-a-touch-sensitive-surface **Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US20160291760 --- _Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._ ## Related patents Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus: - [How Touchscreens Understand Your Finger Swipes and Scrolls](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7479949/iphone-multi-touch) — This patent describes how touchscreens use smart rules, called heuristics, to figure out if your finger movement means scrolling up, moving around a map, or flipping to the next photo, especially by looking at how you start your swipe. - [How a Multi-Touch Screen Detects Multiple Fingers and Palms](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/6323846/aqua-user-interface) — This patent describes the underlying electronic circuits and methods for a multi-touch surface that can track multiple fingers and palms simultaneously, even before they fully touch the screen. - [How Touchscreens Use Math to Recognize Your Fingers](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7812828/ellipse-fitting-for-multi-touch-surfaces) — Apple's patent on using mathematical ellipses to track and identify individual fingers and palms on a touch-sensitive surface. - [How Devices Give Haptic Feedback While You Hover Your Finger](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8898564/siri-intelligent-automated-assistant) — This patent describes a system that triggers physical vibrations or sensations on a device when your finger hovers near the screen without actually touching it. - [How Phones Sense Your Finger Hovering Without Touching the Screen](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7653883/multi-touch-trackpad-gestures) — This patent describes a system for electronic devices, like phones, to detect a finger hovering just above the screen, display a specific interactive element below it, and then let you control that element with gestures without ever making contact.