Terminal Key Backlight Color Change for Press Duration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobile terminal apparatuses, such as mobile phones, lack clear differentiation between short-time and long-time key presses, leading to user confusion due to the inability to explicitly indicate the duration of long-time presses using key backlights.
Innovation Solution
A terminal apparatus with input keys and backlights that emit multiple colors, controlled by a backlight controller to change colors from a first to a second color when a key is pressed for a predetermined time, distinguishing between short-time and long-time presses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the key backlight emits light to indicate key pressing, then key input usability is improved, but the ability to distinguish between short-time and long-time presses is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color changes to the key backlight to convey different pressing duration information. When a long-time press is detected, the backlight changes from a first color to a second color, providing visual feedback that distinguishes long-time presses from short-time presses. This resolves the information loss by using color as an additional communication channel.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the emission parameter (color) of the key backlight based on the pressing duration. By varying the color parameter according to whether a short-time or long-time press is detected, the system provides differentiated feedback without adding complex hardware, thus improving information transmission while maintaining ease of operation.
2Device complexity
If the key backlight uses a single color for illumination, then device complexity is reduced, but user confusion occurs due to inability to indicate pressing duration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces color changes in the existing key backlight system to convey pressing duration information. This approach adds minimal complexity since it utilizes the existing backlight hardware with enhanced control logic, rather than requiring separate indicators for different press durations.
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
Enhances operability by clearly indicating long-time presses through color changes, improving usability and providing an entertaining user experience by varying key backlight colors based on operations.
Implementation Method 1
key backlights each of which emits a plurality of colors of light to shine corresponding one of the input keys
Data Source
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AI summary
By helping key input using a key backlight of a terminal apparatus to improve operability of the terminal apparatus. The terminal apparatus comprises input keys configured to detect pressing conducted thereon respectively, key backlights each of which emits a plurality of colors of light to shine corresponding one of the input keys, and a backlight controller configured to control the plurality of colors of light independently for each of the key backlights, wherein the backlight controller causes the key backlights to emit light of a first color in a case where an input key out of the input keys detects pressing thereon, and changes an emission color of a key backlight corresponding to the input key detecting the pressing from the first color to a second color when a state of the pressing becomes a predetermined state.