Dual Side Input Devices for Small Screen Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The decreasing size of electronic device display screens, combined with their use as touch-sensitive input devices, makes it difficult for users to accurately select items due to finger occlusion and overlap, necessitating alternative input methods.
Innovation Solution
Implementing dual side input devices, where the front and back of the electronic device are both touch-sensitive or use cameras and optical sensors, allowing users to control the device by simulating bending or twisting motions to adjust parameters like zoom and skew, or by touching the back to magnify regions, and simulating grabbing and rolling to rotate graphical items.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the display screen size is decreased, then the electronic device size is reduced, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to finger occlusion and overlap on small items
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a second touch-sensitive surface on the back of the device, transforming the input interface from a single-plane to a multi-plane configuration. This allows users to interact with the device using both hands simultaneously, with the front surface accommodating one hand and the back surface accommodating the other hand, effectively adding a spatial dimension to the input interaction and eliminating finger occlusion issues on small screens
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the input interface into two separate touch-sensitive surfaces located on opposite sides of the device. Each surface can be independently operated, allowing segmentation of input tasks between hands. This segmentation enables each hand to work on different functions or controls without interfering with the other, maintaining operational ease despite reduced device size
2Ease of operation
If dual side input devices are added, then the ease of operation is improved through alternative input methods, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements the same touch-sensitive technology on both the front and back surfaces of the device, creating a universal input interface that can perform multiple functions. Both surfaces respond to similar touch gestures and can execute comparable operations, allowing the device to handle diverse input requirements using a consistent, familiar interaction model across both surfaces, thereby managing complexity through standardization
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines two touch-sensitive surfaces into a unified input system that operates as an integrated whole. The front and back surfaces work together to provide comprehensive control capabilities, merging their individual functions into a cohesive user experience where both surfaces contribute to overall device control, managing complexity through functional integration
Data Source
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Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
An apparatus, method and computer program product are provided for using dual side input devices for controlling an electronic device and applications running thereon. According to one technique, a user take some action with respect to an adjustable feature associated with the electronic device (e.g., zoom and/or skew an image on a display screen) by simulating (or actually) bending or twisting the electronic device. According to another technique, the user may cause a region of an image displayed on the front of the device to be magnified by touching the back of the device at a location that corresponds to the region. According to yet another technique, the user may cause a graphical item displayed on the front of the electronic device to be rotated by essentially simulating the grabbing of the item with two or more fingers on either side of the electronic device and rolling the item.