Deformable Electronic Device Geometry Mode Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional electronic devices lack flexible control over operating modes, limiting their adaptability to different environments and applications, and require physical docking stations for enhanced functionality, which is not always convenient.
Innovation Solution
A physically deformable electronic device with a flexible housing and display that detects bending operations and gravity direction, allowing users to change operating modes by altering its geometry, enabling features like a docked mode without physical docking hardware.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If physical docking hardware is used to enhance device functionality, then device adaptability is improved, but device complexity and portability are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the physical docking station hardware and extracts only the essential functionality into software-based docked mode operations. The device uses its existing display, processors, and sensors to simulate docking functions, eliminating the need for external hardware while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the docking station functionality through software emulation. The docked mode interface replicates the functions of a physical docking station using the device's own display and processing capabilities, allowing the device to function as if docked without actual physical connection.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple operating modes are added to adapt to different environments, then device versatility is improved, but control complexity is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the device geometry dynamic and deformable, allowing it to physically change shape between folded and unfolded states. This dynamic geometric transformation serves as the control mechanism for switching between operating modes, replacing complex software controls with intuitive physical form changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The device automatically determines its operating mode based on its own geometric state and orientation sensors. The system self-configures without user intervention by detecting whether the device is folded or unfolded and its orientation relative to gravity, eliminating the need for manual mode selection.
3Ease of operation
If the device geometry is changed to control operating modes, then ease of operation is improved, but device reliability is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic geometric transformation where the device transitions between folded and unfolded states to control operating modes. This mechanical dynamic approach provides intuitive ease of operation while the system integrates sensors and processors to reliably detect and respond to geometric changes, maintaining device reliability through robust state detection.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device (100) includes a housing (101), one or more processors (116), and a display (102). The display, housing, and other components are flexible, stretchable, squeezable, or otherwise deformable in one or more embodiments. One or more flex sensors (156) are operable with the one or more processors, as is a gravity sensor such as an accelerometer (152). The one or more processors can detect (303) a bending operation (301) with the one or more flex sensors that deforms one or more of the housing or the display into a deformed geometry (402). The one or more sensors can then determine a gravity direction (503) with the gravity sensor, after the bending operation and operate (602) the electronic device in a predefined mode of operation (705) as a function of both the deformed geometry and the gravity direction.