Lock Screen Proximity Sensing to Prevent Accidental Commands
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Smartphones frequently enter lock screen mode unintentionally when placed in narrow storage spaces, leading to accidental actuations and potential blocking due to spurious inputs, which is a concern for both experienced and inexperienced users.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a proximity sensor that detects the presence of the device when it is being placed away, preventing accidental lock screen commands by inhibiting command execution and providing user feedback if the sensor indicates proximity, thus ensuring the device remains in lock screen mode until intentionally unlocked.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the smartphone enters lock screen mode after pressing the power button or home key, then the device can be secured and power can be saved, but accidental actuation may occur when the device is placed in narrow storage spaces causing unintended commands
Solution Approach 1:
A proximity sensor is introduced as an intermediary component to detect whether the user is near the device. The sensor acts as a mediator between the user and the touch display, enabling or disabling touch sensitivity based on detected proximity. This resolves the contradiction by allowing full functionality when the user is present while preventing accidental activation when the device is stored away.
Solution Approach 2:
The touch sensitivity parameter of the display is dynamically changed based on proximity sensor readings. When the sensor detects that the user is away (device in storage), the touch sensitivity is reduced or disabled to prevent accidental actuation. When the user returns, normal touch sensitivity is restored. This parameter change resolves the contradiction between security and ease of operation.
2Loss of information
If the touch display remains on in lock screen mode with reduced brightness, then the user can see status information and interact with limited functionality, but the device consumes more power than in inactive mode
Solution Approach 1:
The display brightness and touch sensitivity are made dynamic rather than static. The system continuously adjusts these parameters based on real-time proximity sensor data. When the user is detected as absent, the display transitions to a lower power state with reduced visibility and disabled touch input. When the user returns, full functionality is restored. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between information visibility and power consumption.
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 reduces accidental lock screen commands, enhancing user safety and reliability by preventing unintended inputs, especially when the device is stored in pockets or similar spaces, while maintaining user-friendliness through feedback mechanisms.
Implementation Method 1
a proximity sensor. The controller is operative, in the lock screen mode, to: detect actuation of the mobile communication terminal; identify the detected actuation as a user command; evaluate a sensor reading from the proximity sensor
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5C
AI summary
A mobile communication terminal (400) has a controller (410), a touch display (430)and a proximity sensor (420). The touch display has an inactive mode (610; Fig A) essentially without user interaction ability, a lock screen mode (620; Fig 5B) with 5 limited user interaction ability, and an operational mode (650; Fig 5C). The lock screen mode generally prevents a user from accessing functionality (560) provided by the mobile communication terminal in the operational mode. The controller is operative, in the lock screen mode, to detect actuation (622) of the mobile communication terminal; identify the detected actuation as a user command; evaluate a sensor reading (422) from the proximity sensor; if the sensor reading from the proximity sensor indicates (632) presence near the mobile communication terminal: prevent execution of the user command, provide user feedback (634) by the touch display and continue in the lock screen mode; and if the sensor reading from the proximity sensor does not indicate (638) presence near the mobile communication terminal: execute the user command (640).