Digital Bezel Force Threshold Interaction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The reduced size of mobile devices diminishes display real estate due to the presence of bezels, which limits user interaction and viewing experience, especially when bezels are not needed, such as during movie viewing or when the device is idle.
Innovation Solution
An active digital bezel area on a display that dynamically adjusts its configuration based on user interaction and content type, allowing touch input to enable interaction with content within the bezel area by determining if the force component of the touch input exceeds a predetermined threshold, and providing visual or haptic indications of enablement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a bezel is provided around the display perimeter to allow user handling, then device handling convenience is improved, but display real estate and usable area are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The bezel area is transformed from a static non-interactive region to a dynamic interactive zone. The system dynamically determines whether to enable interaction based on grip detection, content type, and bezel necessity assessments. When interaction is enabled, the bezel area becomes part of the usable display space; when disabled, it maintains its protective function. This dynamic switching resolves the contradiction by allowing the same physical space to serve different purposes under different conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the bezel area are assigned different interaction capabilities based on local conditions. The system evaluates each bezel region independently to determine if it should be interactive or protective. Additionally, different portions of the bezel may have different interaction states simultaneously, allowing content in some areas to be accessible while other areas remain protected for grip purposes.
2Area of stationary object
If the bezel area is made interactive to increase display space utilization, then display real estate is improved, but unintended touch inputs during device handling may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary assessments before enabling bezel interaction. It evaluates grip patterns, detects whether the bezel is actually needed for handling, and determines content suitability for bezel display. Only after these preliminary checks confirm that interaction is appropriate does the system enable the bezel area, preventing unintended inputs from occurring in the first place.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors touch patterns and provides feedback to adjust bezel interaction states. When unintended touches are detected or grip patterns change, the system feedbacks by disabling bezel interaction or adjusting the interactive boundaries. This real-time feedback mechanism ensures that reliability is maintained while maximizing display space utilization.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the bezel area is dynamically adjusted based on usage context, then adaptability is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The existing bezel structure is made multi-functional, serving both as a protective grip area and as a potential interactive display space. The same physical bezel region can switch between these functions based on contextual needs, eliminating the requirement for separate hardware components for each function and thereby limiting the increase in system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the device's existing sensors (touch sensors, grip detection mechanisms) to automatically determine when bezel interaction should be enabled or disabled. Rather than requiring complex external control systems, the device self-evaluates its handling state and content requirements to make intelligent decisions about bezel functionality, reducing the need for additional complex control infrastructure.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus, method, and computer program product are described that provide for an active digital bezel area on a display of a device. Touch input may be received in a bezel area provided on the display, where user interaction with content presented within the bezel area at a location corresponding to the location of the touch input is initially disabled. A force component of the touch input may be detected and compared to a predetermined force threshold. In cases in which the force component of the touch input exceeds the predetermined force threshold, user interaction with the content at that location may be enabled. In this way, the force exerted by the user in applying a touch input in the bezel area may be considered an indication of the user's intent to interact with corresponding content within the bezel, and such interactions may be provided for accordingly.