Infrared-Neutral Holder Inner Surface for Handheld Device

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional holders for handheld electronic devices can inadvertently activate infrared-sensitive components due to interaction with the holder's inner surface, leading to undesirable activation of navigation functions or rendering the device passive, as they often fail to effectively neutralize infrared signals.

Innovation Solution

The holder incorporates an infrared-neutral material or coating on its inner surface, which absorbs or reflects infrared light to prevent activation of the device's infrared-sensitive components, ensuring the device remains inactive when stored.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a fabric inner surface is used in the holder to avoid damage to the device, then the device is protected from scratches, but the fabric surface interacts with and activates infrared-sensitive components of the device

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescratch damageVSAvoidinfrared signal activation
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The holder inner surface is divided into different zones with different properties: a soft protective layer (fabric, rubber, or plastic) that contacts the device to prevent scratches, and an infrared-neutral layer (metallic or non-metallic coating) that prevents infrared activation. This local differentiation allows each zone to fulfill its specific function without interfering with the other.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The holder inner surface uses a composite structure combining materials with different properties: a soft protective material (such as fabric, rubber, or plastic) layered with or combined to an infrared-neutral material (such as metallic coating, non-metallic coating, or foam). This composite approach simultaneously achieves scratch protection and infrared signal neutralization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If the device is rendered passive or placed into sleep mode when placed inside a holder, then activation is prevented, but there is a short period of time before sleep mode activation during which unintentional activation may occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveactivation preventionVSAvoiddelayed sleep mode activation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The holder's infrared-neutral inner surface proactively prevents infrared signal reflection before the device can be activated, eliminating the need to wait for sleep mode to engage. This preliminary protective action occurs immediately upon insertion, blocking the harmful infrared interaction at its source rather than reacting to activation after it begins.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-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

This solution effectively prevents unintended activation of infrared-sensitive components by ensuring that the reflected infrared signal is outside the operative range, maintaining the device in an inactive state while stored, thus reducing accidental navigation or function activation.

Implementation Method 1

The holder incorporates an infrared-neutral material or coating on its inner surface, which absorbs or reflects infrared light to prevent activation of the device's infrared-sensitive components

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbsorption (EM radiation): Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

The holder incorporates an infrared-neutral material or coating on its inner surface, which absorbs or reflects infrared light to prevent activation of the device's infrared-sensitive components

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP2478792B1A system comprising a handheld electronic device and a holder
Publication Date: 2016.12.21 BLACKBERRY LTD
  • EP2478792B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2478792B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2478792B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A holder for a handheld electronic device, the holder including a container defining a space for receiving the handheld electronic device and an inner surface facing inwardly towards the space. At least a portion of the inner surface includes an infrared-neutral material or coating operative for interacting with infrared light emitted from the handheld electronic device and received by the infrared-neutral material. The interaction is such that, while the handheld electronic device is being received by the container, any reflected infrared signal effected by the interaction is inoperative for effecting activation of a functionality of the handheld electronic device when the reflected infrared signal is sensed by the handheld electronic device.