Light Guide Housing for Optical Touch Input
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional mobile phones and handheld game consoles have a limited number and type of user interface elements, making mobile gaming inconvenient and sometimes impossible, as they lack additional interface options that can be easily integrated into existing devices.
Innovation Solution
The integration of a light guide system with optical fibres and a light sensor into the device's housing, where the light guide conveys light from a backlight source to a sensor, allowing user input through obstructing slits on the rear face, which outputs electrical signals for input commands based on light reflection changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional user interface elements (touch screen, buttons, knobs) are used in electronic devices, then the device structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the number and type of input options are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single housing structure. The housing simultaneously serves as the device enclosure, the user interface element support, and the optical path structure for light guidance. This merging approach enables additional input options without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing is designed to perform multiple functions: it provides structural enclosure, supports user interface elements, guides light paths, and enables touch input detection. This multi-functionality allows the device to gain additional input capabilities while avoiding the need for separate dedicated components for each function.
2Adaptability or versatility
If additional user interface elements are added to enhance input options, then adaptability and versatility improve, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the user interface elements and optical structures into the existing housing, the patent avoids the need for separate assembly steps for additional components. The housing itself becomes the integration vehicle, simplifying the manufacturing process while still providing enhanced input capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing is designed as a universal component that can accommodate multiple types of user interface elements and optical paths within its structure. This universality allows existing housing designs to be adapted for enhanced input options with minimal manufacturing process changes.
3Adaptability or versatility
If optical fibres and light guides are integrated into the housing, then touch input capability is enhanced, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The optical fibres and light guides are merged into the housing structure rather than being separate components. The housing walls themselves serve as light guides in some portions, eliminating the need for discrete optical components and reducing overall structural complexity despite enhanced touch input capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing is designed to serve as both a structural enclosure and an optical transmission medium. By making the housing itself capable of guiding light, the patent eliminates the need for separate light guide components, thereby enhancing touch input capability while minimizing increases in device complexity.
4Device complexity
If the housing serves as both structural enclosure and user interface support, then device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the structural enclosure and user interface support functions into a single housing component, the patent reduces the number of parts and assembly steps. This merging approach actually simplifies manufacturing precision requirements by eliminating the need for precise alignment between separate housing and interface components.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing is designed as a universal component that integrates multiple functions within its structure. This integration allows for standardized manufacturing processes and reduces the need for complex precision alignment procedures that would be required if separate components were used for each function.
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 enhanced user interaction by providing additional input options that can be easily integrated into existing devices, improving gaming convenience and functionality by converting light reflection changes into actionable input commands.
Implementation Method 1
The light guide comprises an optical fibre and is configured to convey light from the backlight source to the sensor
Implementation Method 2
allowing user input through obstructing slits on the rear face, which outputs electrical signals for input commands based on light reflection changes
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
An electronic device (2) comprises a light source (14), a light sensor (18) and a light conveyor (16) configured to convey light from the light source to the light sensor and to allow an amount of light conveyed from the light source (14) to the light sensor (18) to be adjusted in response to a user input. The electronic device (2) further comprises an input command unit (20) configured to output an input command based on an amount of light sensed by the light sensor (18).