Curved Display Pressure Sensing for Accidental Touch Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable electronic devices with curved displays can cause unintentional user interactions and inconvenience due to accidental touches on curved regions, and the relocation or removal of hardware buttons on the side surface alters the user's experience.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device with a display featuring both flat and curved regions, equipped with pressure sensors and a processor that differentiates between intentional and unintentional user inputs on the curved areas, allowing for appropriate operations based on sensed pressure, thereby preventing malfunctions and replacing the need for relocated hardware buttons.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a curved region is added to the display, then the display area is increased, but unintentional touch manipulation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The display surface is divided into different regions with different properties: a flat region where touch input is always valid, and a curved region where touch input is conditional. The curved region maintains its display area advantage while the flat region provides a reliable touch zone, allowing the system to leverage both benefits simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
A pressure sensor acts as an intermediary between the user's finger and the display. It detects the pressure applied during touch and provides this information to the processor, which uses it to determine whether to recognize the touch as intentional or unintentional, thereby resolving the ambiguity caused by the curved surface.
2Device complexity
If hardware buttons are relocated or removed, then the device design is simplified, but user convenience deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Physical hardware buttons are replaced with a software-based touch interface on the flat region of the display. This eliminates the need for mechanical button components while maintaining the same user functions, achieving design simplification without sacrificing operational convenience.
Solution Approach 2:
The functionality previously confined to three-dimensional physical buttons on the side surface is migrated to a two-dimensional touch interface on the flat display region. This dimensional transition allows users to access the same functions through a more versatile and space-efficient interface.
3Ease of operation
If the flat region is enlarged to accommodate button functions, then ease of operation is improved, but the curved region area is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The flat region serves multiple functions: it acts as both a reliable touch input zone for preventing accidental touches and as a virtual button interface for user interactions. This multi-functionality eliminates the need to sacrifice curved region area to accommodate separate button areas, as the flat region handles both roles efficiently.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution provides a user-friendly environment by preventing unintentional interactions and allowing for intuitive operation on devices with curved displays, maintaining a consistent user experience by accurately interpreting user inputs and managing hardware button functions on the electronic device.
Implementation Method 1
at least one pressure sensor that senses a pressure applied to the electronic device
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device and method of controlling the electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a display that includes a flat region and at least one curved region, an input device that receives a user manipulation, at least one pressure sensor that senses a pressure applied to the electronic device. The electronic device also includes a processor that performs an operation corresponding to the user manipulation based on the result of the sensed pressure caused by the user manipulation inputted on the curved region.