Adaptive Button Mapping for Hand-Held Device Orientation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face difficulties in determining which user input elements to use on hand-held electronic devices when the device's physical orientation changes, as existing interfaces do not effectively adapt to different orientations.
Innovation Solution
A hand-held device with physical and virtual buttons that adapt their functions based on the device's orientation, with physical buttons performing different functions when upside down and virtual buttons being displayed in tilt orientations, corresponding to the positions of physical buttons in the normal orientation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If physical buttons are designed for use in normal orientation only, then the device structure remains simple, but users cannot determine which buttons to use when the device is re-oriented
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic button mapping where the system automatically detects device orientation through sensors (accelerometer, gyroscope) and remaps button functions in real-time based on the current orientation. Physical buttons dynamically switch between different functional assignments depending on whether the device is held in normal, upside-down, left tilt, or right tilt orientation, allowing the same physical buttons to serve multiple purposes across different orientations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the functional parameters of physical buttons based on detected orientation parameters. When orientation sensors detect a change in device posture, the system modifies which functions are assigned to which physical buttons, effectively changing the operational parameters of the interface to match the new orientation context.
2Ease of operation
If virtual buttons are displayed in tilt orientations, then users can access functions easily, but the interface complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal button system where physical buttons serve multiple functions across different orientations, and virtual buttons provide supplementary control options. The same physical buttons can trigger different functions depending on orientation, while virtual buttons offer additional control methods, creating a multi-functional interface that adapts to various usage scenarios without requiring separate physical controls for each orientation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces virtual buttons as an intermediary layer between the user and device functions. These software-based buttons are displayed on the screen and can be activated through touch or other input methods, providing an additional layer of interaction that complements the physical buttons and enables flexible function access regardless of physical button positioning in different orientations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If physical buttons swap functions when upside down, then the device becomes more adaptable to different orientations, but users may be confused about which button performs which function
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements visual feedback mechanisms that display on-screen indicators showing which physical button corresponds to which function in the current orientation. When the device orientation changes and button functions are remapped, the interface provides visual cues (such as highlighted buttons, function labels, or orientation indicators) to inform users of the current button-to-function mappings, preventing confusion despite the dynamic reassignment.
Data Source
AI summary
User interfaces for hand-held electronic devices, such as mobile telephone devices, touch tablets, personal computers (PC), remote control devices, and/or other devices, assist users with, among other things, knowing which user input elements of a device to use when the device's physical orientation changes. According to an exemplary embodiment, a hand-held device is operative to be held in normal, upside down, left tilt, and right tilt orientations. The hand-held device changes the functions corresponding to ones of a plurality of physical buttons and ones of a plurality of virtual buttons based on the device orientation.