Foldable Mobile Terminal Case With Integrated Input Unit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional mobile terminals face challenges in providing sufficient space for user input units and displaying units while maintaining a compact size, protecting exposed components, and ensuring convenient operation and data input.
Innovation Solution
A mobile terminal design featuring a detachable case with a foldable configuration that houses a user input unit, which can transmit signals to a controller, and includes interfaces for signal transmission and power supply, allowing for flexible input methods and protection of the device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the mobile terminal size is reduced, then portability is improved, but the space for user input unit and displaying unit becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The case is designed with a foldable structure that utilizes three-dimensional space. When folded, it provides a large surface area for the user input unit; when unfolded, it maintains a compact profile. This dimensional transformation allows sufficient input area without increasing the terminal's carried volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The case transitions from a static protective cover to a dynamic input device. By incorporating a foldable mechanism with hinges, the case can change its configuration between protection mode (closed) and input mode (open), allowing the user input unit to be positioned at optimal locations for different operating states.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the case is made foldable to provide protection, then device protection is improved, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The protective case and user input unit are merged into a single integrated structure. The case body itself contains the input keys, and the foldable mechanism serves both protection and input access purposes, eliminating the need for separate protective covers and input devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The foldable case serves multiple functions: it protects the mobile terminal from external damage, provides a user input interface through integrated keys, and can be configured in different positions (closed, partially open, fully open) for different usage scenarios. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components.
3Ease of operation
If the user input unit is placed on the case, then input accessibility is improved, but the signal transmission reliability may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
A controller is introduced as an intermediary component that receives signals from the user input unit on the case and processes them before transmitting to the main terminal body. This intermediary handles signal conditioning and protocol conversion, ensuring reliable communication despite the distributed architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is segmented into distinct functional modules: the case with user input unit, the controller for signal processing, and the main terminal body. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while maintaining reliable through-signal transmission via defined interfaces and protocols.
Data Source
AI summary
A case of a mobile terminal includes a user input unit, a controller for manipulating an input signal, an interface for transmitting the manipulated input signal and protects a mobile terminal. As the case of the mobile terminal provides an additional user input, this allows a user to control each function of the mobile terminal with user friendly manner, or to input data efficiently, and to improve a design quality of the mobile terminal.