Grip-Sensed UI Display for Accidental Input Prevention
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
As electronic devices become smaller, it is challenging to accommodate physical keys and sensors, leading to reduced display area efficiency and difficulties in determining user inputs, which can result in abnormal operations due to non-user factors.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a grip sensor and a processor connected to a display, which senses user grip and hand proximity to control the display of user interfaces and inputs, allowing for efficient use of display area and preventing non-user initiated operations by determining the validity of inputs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If physical keys are disposed in the display area or soft keys are always displayed, then user input functionality is provided, but the effective display area is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the soft key display dynamic rather than static. The soft keys are displayed only when needed (when the grip sensor detects user grip) and hidden when not needed, allowing the display area to be fully utilized for content when keys are not required, while still providing easy access to control functions when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the key functionality from the permanent display structure and makes it conditional. By using the grip sensor to detect when the user is holding the device, the system extracts and displays only the necessary control keys at that moment, rather than having them permanently occupy display space.
2Measurement precision
If sensors are built in a small-sized electronic device, then user grip detection capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The grip sensor serves multiple functions: it detects user grip to control soft key display, determines whether to register touch inputs as valid user inputs, and can distinguish between user-operated and non-user-operated states. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate sensors for each function, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The grip sensor enables the device to automatically determine its operational state without requiring additional user input or complex processing. The sensor's detection of grip presence automatically triggers appropriate system responses (displaying/hiding keys, enabling/disabling input registration), making the system self-regulating.
3Ease of operation
If soft keys are always displayed to provide user input options, then ease of operation is improved, but display area efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The soft key display is made dynamic based on grip detection. When the grip sensor detects that the user is holding the device, the soft keys are displayed to provide easy access to control functions. When the device is not gripped, the keys are hidden, maximizing display area efficiency for content presentation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system periodically checks the grip sensor state to determine whether to display or hide soft keys. This periodic detection and conditional display ensures that control functions are accessible when needed while maintaining display efficiency during periods when controls are not required.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an electronic device. The electronic device includes a sensor that senses at least one of whether the electronic device is gripped by a user or whether a hand of the user is close to a specific area of the electronic device, a display, and a processor that is electrically connected with the sensor and the display. If that the electronic device is gripped by the user is sensed and that the user's hand is close to the specific area is sensed, the processor displays a preset user interface in the display.