Portable Display Audio Component Orientation Handling

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Portable devices with touch-sensitive displays face issues with audio transducers, such as contamination leading to distortion and reduced lifespan, due to their large size and specific signal processing requirements, as well as the need for separate components for earpiece and speaker functions.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that dynamically determine the location of display and audio components based on the device's orientation, allowing for integrated touch screen and audio functionality, eliminating the need for separate transducers and reducing contamination risks by using the display as both a touch interface and an acoustic wave generator.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If separate audio transducers are used for earpiece and speaker functions, then audio functionality is achieved, but device complexity and component count increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaudio functionalityVSAvoidcomponent count

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The display assembly is designed to serve multiple functions: it acts as both the visual display and the acoustic transducer for earpiece, speaker, and alert tone functions. The display assembly includes a front surface, edge surface, and back surface that can generate acoustic waves, eliminating the need for separate audio transducers while maintaining all required audio capabilities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines the audio transducer function with the display assembly by integrating acoustic wave generation capabilities into the display structure itself. The display assembly is merged with audio components such that the same physical structure performs both visual display and audio output functions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If moving coil transducers are used for audio output, then acoustic frequency response is acceptable, but contaminants are attracted leading to distortion and reduced lifetime

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveacoustic frequency responseVSAvoidcontamination

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the magnetic components from the audio transducer system by using a non-magnetic acoustic wave generation mechanism. This eliminates the magnetic field that would otherwise attract iron particles and contaminants, while still achieving acceptable acoustic frequency response through alternative means

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the potential harm of having no separate audio components (which might compromise audio quality) into a benefit by using the display assembly itself as the transducer. This approach simultaneously eliminates contamination risks while maintaining audio functionality, as the display assembly can generate acoustic waves without attracting contaminants

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentUS9836270B2Method and apparatus for handling the display and audio component based on the orientation of the display for a portable device

Publication Date: 2017.12.05 NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY

AI summary

An apparatus comprising: a visual component generator configured to determine at least one display component and an audio component with an associated location relative to an apparatus display; an orientation determiner configured to determine an orientation of the display; and a component locator configured to determine the location of the at least one display component and audio component on the display dependent on the orientation of the display.