Cover with Segmented Transparent Areas for Protected Touch Input
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional protection covers for electronic devices compromise ease of use by obstructing fast manipulation and access to the display screen, failing to meet user demands for various functionalities.
Innovation Solution
A UI method and cover design that includes a touch screen controller determining whether a cover is in place, defining areas for a window and keyboard, and projecting a keypad onto a transparent or semi-transparent keyboard area, allowing users to input and manipulate applications even when the cover is closed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a conventional protection cover is used to cover the entire display, then the device is protected against external impact, but the ease of operation deteriorates because the user cannot access or manipulate the display screen
Solution Approach 1:
The cover is divided into multiple functional areas: a transparent window area for viewing display content, a transparent keyboard area for input, and an opaque protective area. This segmentation allows different portions of the cover to serve different purposes, maintaining protection while enabling interaction with the display.
Solution Approach 2:
The transparent keyboard area acts as an intermediary between the user and the touch screen. Users can press keys on the cover's keyboard area, and these inputs are transmitted to the touch screen below, enabling manipulation of applications without removing the cover.
2Strength
If a conventional protection cover is used, then the device is protected, but the productivity deteriorates because fast manipulation of the electronic device is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The keyboard area is pre-configured with virtual keys that correspond to common input needs. Users can perform common operations like dialing numbers or entering text by pressing these pre-arranged keys on the cover, eliminating the need to remove the cover for frequent tasks and thus maintaining productivity.
3Ease of operation
If the cover is made transparent to allow viewing, then the ease of operation improves, but the protection capability deteriorates because transparency may compromise structural integrity
Solution Approach 1:
Different portions of the cover have different optical properties: the window area and keyboard area are made transparent to allow viewing and input, while other protective portions remain opaque. This local differentiation of material properties allows the cover to provide both viewing capability and structural protection where needed.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are an electronic device, a User Interface (UI) method in the electronic device, and a cover of the electronic device. The electronic device includes a touch screen, and a controller configured to determine whether a cover covers the touch screen, to define a first area and a second area on the touch screen respectively in correspondence with a window area and a keyboard area of the cover, when the cover covers the touch screen, and to control display of a keypad related to contents displayed in the first area in the second area.