Dial Device Electrode Pattern Directional Mapping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Dial devices connected to electronic products face inaccuracies in relative location and directional mapping, limiting their operational effectiveness as pointing input devices due to insufficient sensing of relative movement and rotation between the upper case and bottom base.

Innovation Solution

A dial device with a bottom base featuring an electrode pattern and sensing elements that generate moving and rotating signals, transmitted via communication circuits to an interactive display device, allowing precise directional control of image objects on the display.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a dial device is designed with simple structure (upper case and bottom base), then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision of relative location and rotation is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructure complexityVSAvoidrelative location accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The dial device is segmented into functional modules: upper case with pressing mechanism, bottom base with electrode pattern, and sensing elements. This segmentation allows each module to perform its specific function while maintaining overall simplicity, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Sensing elements are introduced as intermediaries between the upper case and bottom base to detect relative movement and rotation. These sensing elements convert mechanical movements into electrical signals, enabling precise measurement without adding complex mechanical structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If the dial device lacks directional sensing capability, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability as a pointing input device is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensing system complexityVSAvoidpointing input functionality

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The dial device is designed to perform multiple functions: pressing for confirmation, rotating for selection, and moving for pointing direction control. The electrode pattern and sensing elements work together to provide both rotational and directional sensing, making the device universally applicable as a pointing input device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex mechanical directional sensing mechanisms with an electrical field-based system using electrode patterns and sensing elements. This substitution enables directional detection through electrical signal analysis rather than mechanical linkages, reducing structural complexity while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS10884521B2Dial device and related interactive display device capable of determining a rotation angle

Publication Date: 2021.01.05 ACER INC

AI summary

A dial device including an upper case and a bottom base disposed with an electrode pattern having a directional pattern corresponding to a direction, wherein an interactive display device utilizes the dial device as an input device (such as a mouse or a rocker capable of instructing an index displayed by a screen to move toward the direction) according to moving signals transmitted by the dial device and sensing signals generated by a touch circuit of the interactive display device. Thus, the interactive display device is capable of mapping a direction caused by relative motions between the upper case and the bottom base to a moving direction of an object displayed by the interactive display device, so as to increase an operation of the dial device.