Clam Shell Enclosure with Hard Buttons for Touch Screen Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Touch screen devices lack dedicated controls for remote device operations, leading to user discomfort and inefficiency, especially in controlling volume and repetitive functions, and they are not ergonomic for single-handed use with large displays.
Innovation Solution
A portable touch screen device integrated with a clam shell enclosure containing hard buttons and wireless communication capabilities, allowing for direct control of external devices via IR or wireless signals, independent of the touch screen's operational status.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If soft buttons are used via graphical user interface on the touch screen device, then remote device control capability is provided, but on-screen area available for other applications is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a separate remote control device that acts as an intermediary between the user and the touch screen device. This external controller contains the control buttons and communicates with the touch screen device via wireless communication, thereby providing remote control functionality without occupying any screen real estate of the original device.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the control functionality into a separate physical device from the display device. The remote control unit contains dedicated buttons for controlling the touch screen device, separating the control interface from the display interface, thus allowing full screen availability for applications while maintaining dedicated control capabilities.
2Adaptability or versatility
If touch screen interface is used for repetitive remote control functions, then graphic flexibility is maintained, but user comfort is reduced and repetitive stress injuries may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a physical remote control device as an intermediary that handles repetitive control functions. This external controller provides tactile feedback and ergonomic button design for frequent operations like volume control and channel surfing, reducing finger strain while the touch screen device maintains its graphic flexibility for display purposes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical actuation of touch screen gestures with physical button presses on the remote control device. This substitution provides tactile feedback and reduces the repetitive stress on fingers caused by continuous touch screen interactions, while maintaining the graphic display capabilities of the original device.
3Area of stationary object
If large touch screen is used in remote control, then display capability is improved, but ease of single-handed operation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the remote control system into two separate components: a display device (touch screen device) that can be large for excellent display capability, and a separate control unit with physical buttons that is compact and ergonomically designed for easy single-handed operation. The two components communicate wirelessly, allowing each to be optimized independently for its specific function.
Data Source
AI summary
Presented is a control system for augmenting a portable touch screen device having integral processing capability. The control system includes an enclosure configured for encasing the portable touch screen device, an internal docking connector configured for communicatively mating with the portable touch screen device, and hard buttons. At least one of the hard buttons is functionally configured for use with an application program running on the portable touch screen device. The control system includes further includes a processor configured for converting button actuations into a digital format, and a first facility for communicating the digital format to the portable touch screen device via the internal docking connector. The application program is configured such that, during operation, the application program communicates the status of the one hard button to at least one external device.