Grip Detection Controller for Smartphone Peripheral Surface

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electronic apparatuses like smartphones face difficulties in manipulation performance, leading to malfunctions, especially in varying usage environments, which complicates obtaining desired functions.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a pressure detector on the peripheral surface of the apparatus body to detect holding force, allowing for grip manipulation to control the device, with a controller determining and checking the grip pattern against stored patterns to perform specific operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional input manipulation surfaces (display section or physical switch) are used, then the device can perform basic operations, but manipulation performance deteriorates in varying usage environments leading to malfunctions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanipulation performanceVSAvoidoperation simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a pressure detector as an intermediary sensing mechanism between the user's hand and the device. This mediator detects holding force and temporal patterns of grip manipulation, enabling reliable operation across various usage environments without requiring complex touch input on the display section.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the pressure detector is arranged on the peripheral surface to detect holding force, then grip manipulation can control the device with simpler operations, but the device complexity increases due to additional sensors and control logic

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperation simplicityVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pressure detector on the peripheral surface serves multiple functions: detecting holding force magnitude, determining grip patterns through temporal changes, and enabling various operations (power on/off, volume control, camera operation). This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by eliminating the need for separate physical buttons and switches.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically interprets different grip manipulation patterns (temporal changes in holding force) to determine user intent. By analyzing the dynamics of grip strength variations over time, the device can distinguish between different operations without requiring static physical controls for each function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple patterns of temporal change in holding force are stored for different operations, then more functions can be accessed through grip manipulation, but the information processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunction accessibilityVSAvoidinformation processing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The device pre-stores multiple patterns of temporal change in holding force that correspond to different grip manipulation operations. By having these patterns prepared in advance, the device can quickly match detected grip patterns against stored templates to determine user intent, reducing real-time processing complexity while maintaining high versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables simpler and accurate manipulation of electronic devices by using grip patterns to activate functions without requiring touch input on the display, enhancing usability and reducing the risk of malfunctions.

Implementation Method 1

a pressure detector that is arranged on the peripheral surface, and detects a holding force that acts on the peripheral surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure detection:

Implementation Method 2

The pressure detector may include an electrostatic pressure-sensitive sensor that includes a plurality of capacitive elements arranged along the peripheral surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapacitance: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentUS11301046B2Electronic apparatus, information processing device, and information processing method

Publication Date: 2022.04.12 SONY GROUP CORP

AI summary

An electronic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present technology includes an apparatus body, a pressure detector, and a controller. The apparatus body includes a principal surface, and a peripheral surface that is held by a user. The pressure detector is arranged on the peripheral surface, and detects a holding force that acts on the peripheral surface. The controller controls an operation of the apparatus body according to a temporal change in the holding force detected by the pressure detector.