LED Status Indicator Under Trackball

Solution Overview

Problem

Users of mobile electronic devices face frustration due to the difficulty in determining the device's status without diverting attention from their tasks, as the status information is not readily available and requires focusing on the small display screen.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus using a set of LEDs, preferably red, yellow, and green, located underneath the trackball of a mobile device to provide a visual indication of the device's status, with the processor monitoring the device's state and communicating with the LEDs to illuminate the trackball based on stored information, allowing users to quickly glance at the color to determine the device's mode or status.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If users look at the display screen to determine device status, then status information is available, but user attention is diverted from other tasks and time is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice status informationVSAvoidtime to check status

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the device status indication function from the display screen and implements it through separate LED indicators located on the device housing. This allows status information to be displayed independently of the main screen, enabling users to check device status through peripheral visual cues without diverting attention from their primary tasks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different colored LEDs at different locations around the device to indicate various status conditions. Each LED position and color combination provides localized visual information about specific device states, allowing users to quickly comprehend overall device status through distributed visual cues rather than centralized screen display.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Loss of information

If users focus on the display screen to check device status, then status is determined, but ease of operation deteriorates due to attention diversion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice status informationVSAvoidease of use

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the device status indication function from the display screen and implements it through separate LED indicators located on the device housing. This allows status information to be displayed independently of the main screen, enabling users to check device status through peripheral visual cues without diverting attention from their primary tasks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides device status information automatically through externally visible LED indicators without requiring user intervention to access the display screen. The status indication serves itself by being continuously visible through the LED lights, eliminating the need for users to actively check the screen for status information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Loss of information

If the device provides detailed status information on the screen, then information completeness is improved, but screen size limitations make information immediately unavailable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice status informationVSAvoidspeed of status recognition

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the device status indication function from the display screen and implements it through separate LED indicators located on the device housing. This allows status information to be displayed independently of the main screen, enabling users to check device status through peripheral visual cues without diverting attention from their primary tasks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses different colored LEDs to represent different device status conditions. This color-coding system allows users to immediately recognize device status at a glance without needing to read detailed information, significantly improving the speed of status recognition while maintaining information completeness through the color semantics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

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 users to quickly and easily determine the device's status without needing to focus on the screen, enhancing usability by providing a visual, audible, or tactile indication of the device's mode, profile, or other statuses, thus improving user experience and efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

A method and apparatus using a set of LEDs, preferably red, yellow, and green, located underneath the trackball of a mobile device to provide a visual indication of the device's status

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight Emitting Diode: Light Emitting Diode

Data Source

PatentUS7673256B2Method and apparatus for indicating mobile electronic device status or state

Publication Date: 2010.03.02 MALIKIE INNOVATIONS LTD

AI summary

Apparatus for indicating mobile electronic device status comprising a database for storing mobile electronic device status information and associated color information; a set of light emitting diodes (LEDs); a processor for retrieving the color information based on the mobile electronic device status and transmitting a signal based on the color information to the set of LEDs; wherein the set of LEDs provide a light corresponding to the color information to illuminate an area of the mobile communication device to indicate the mobile electronic device status.