FIELD

The following description relates to electronic devices with touch input displays. In particular, the following description relates to portable electronic devices and wearable electronic devices with enhanced accuracy of touch input detection when the touch input display (or a transparent layer covering the touch input display) is wet.

BACKGROUND

Current electronic devices are known to include displays with touch input capability. Touch input technology may include multiple electrodes that form several capacitors that define an electrostatic field. When a user touches a region of the touch input display, the electrostatic field is altered, as determined by a change in capacitance, in that region. The electronic device can determine the location of the user's touch input based on the capacitance change.

The touch input display provides a dynamic user input that can alter the display. However, the performance of the display decreases when water is present. For instance, water can alter the electrostatic field by providing an electrical ground to the display. Some electronic devices deactivate the touch input component under these circumstances. Other electronic devices generate a false positive by inaccurately determining a touch input. Alternatively, ungrounded water on the display may cause the touch input display to be non-responsive to a touch input from a user. In either event, the touch input capability of the electronic device is limited to other input mechanisms, such as buttons.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, a wearable electronic device is described. The wearable electronic device may include a transparent layer. The wearable electronic device may further include a display assembly covered by the transparent layer. The display assembly may include a touch input component configured to receive a touch input at the transparent layer. The touch input component is capable of determining whether a liquid is in contact with the transparent layer. The wearable electronic device may further include a force detection assembly configured to determine an amount of force applied to the transparent layer from the touch input. The force detection assembly is capable of determining a first location of the touch input. The wearable electronic device may further include a memory circuit. The wearable electronic device may further include a confidence interval algorithm stored on the memory circuit and configured to generate a confidence interval around the first location. In some instances, when the liquid is at least partially within the confidence interval, a second location is determined based upon the first location, the second location being closer an actual location of the touch input than the first location.

In another aspect, a wearable electronic device is described. The wearable electronic device may include an enclosure. The wearable electronic device may further include a band coupled to the enclosure, the band configured to secure the enclosure with a user. The wearable electronic device may further include a display assembly i) a display layer configured to present icons that represent software applications, and ii) a touch input component that detects a user input to select an icon from the icons. The wearable electronic device may further include a confidence interval algorithm configured to build a confidence interval around a first location, determined by the touch input component, and evaluate a location of a liquid that covers the display assembly, the location of the liquid determined by the touch input component. In some instances, when the liquid is at least partially within the confidence interval algorithm, the location of the liquid is used as a second location of the user input. The wearable electronic device may further include a machine learning algorithm stored on a memory circuit carried by the enclosure. The machine learning algorithm is configured to predict a software application selected by a user from the software applications. Also, the machine learning algorithm capable of confirming that the second location provides an input to select the icon from the user input.

In another aspect, a method for selecting an icon on a display assembly of a wearable electronic device when a liquid is present on the display assembly is described. The method may include determining, by a force detection assembly, a first location of a touch input to the icon, the force detection assembly configured to detect an amount of applied force by the touch input. The method may further include determining, by a touch input component of the display assembly, whether the liquid is present on a transparent layer that covers the display assembly. The method may further include determining, by a confidence interval algorithm, a second location of the touch input, wherein the confidence interval algorithm uses the first location and a determination of the presence the liquid to determine the second location.

Other systems, methods, features and advantages of the embodiments will be, or will become, apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and advantages be included within this description and this summary, be within the scope of the embodiments, and be protected by the following claims.

