Microsoft Patents A New Form Of Palm Rejection For Windows Tablets

The new form of palm rejection would allow Microsoft to use more narrow bezels for the Windows tablets. Microsoft’s researchers offered a glimpse of the new functionality by showing a hand holding a tablet which can also access menus. Another functionality demonstrated was a thumb that was available and mobile enough for manipulating controls.

Vice President of Microsoft Hardware Steven Bathiche is the creator of the idea, promoter of pen computing and one of Microsoft Surface’s original developer. The forthcoming upgrade for the Surface Pro will most likely offer changes that will bring about great improvements in the product line.

What the patent offers

Conventional mobile computing devices usually perform actions not desired by the user due to their inability to distinguish between intentional touch and accidental touch while the user is holding the device. The patent would add touch sensors to the bezel, the easiest solution with capacitive screens. Like this, the device would be able to compute the touch’s center. If the touch’s center is mostly located outside the screen then the screen portion is accidental, but if it’s located within the screen it is intentional.

According to the patent, at least one touch sensor from a bezel portion and a display portion of a device’s display detect a touch input. On the other hand, the display capabilities of a region of the bezel portion are not active. They will become active in response to detecting the touch input. As a result, a menu will be displayed in the region.

You can check out all the details from the original patent on uspto.gov.