Flexible Active Region Over Projections for Reduced Inactive Area
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electronic devices with user interface portions often have inactive regions that do not contribute to user interaction, leading to a less efficient use of the device's surface area for display and input functions.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus with an active region containing user interface portions and inactive regions with conductive traces that connect these portions to electronic components, where the inactive regions are positioned on projections at the edge of the active region, allowing the active region to extend over these projections and reduce the inactive casing area, enabling a flexible and efficient user interface configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If inactive regions are positioned on projections at the edge of the active region, then the active region can extend over the projections and reduce the inactive casing area, but the device structure becomes more complex with additional projections
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions inactive regions on projections that extend in a third dimension (vertical/protruding direction) rather than occupying horizontal space. This dimensional transition allows the active region to wrap around or extend over the projections, effectively reducing the inactive casing area while maintaining the necessary electrical connections through the projections.
Solution Approach 2:
The inactive regions containing conductive traces are nested within or on the projections, which are integrated into the active region structure. This nesting allows the inactive functionality to be contained within the active region's geometric envelope, reducing overall device footprint and minimizing inactive areas visible from the exterior.
2Volume of moving object
If the active region extends over projections, then the device thickness is reduced and surface area is optimized, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into distinct active regions and inactive regions positioned on projections. This segmentation allows each region to be manufactured and assembled separately with controlled precision requirements, rather than requiring monolithic precision across the entire device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs flexible substrates and thin film structures for the active region that can conform to or wrap around the projections. This flexibility accommodates manufacturing tolerances and projection variations, reducing the stringency of precision requirements while still achieving the desired thin-profile, extended-active-region configuration.
Data Source
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AI summary
An apparatus comprising;an active region comprising a plurality of user interface portions;at least one inactive region comprising a plurality of traces configured to connect the user interface portions to electronic components; wherein the at least one inactive region is provided on at least one projection at an edge of the active region wherein the at least one active region is configured to extend over at least one projection.