Moveable Display Keyboard Position Detection Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Portable electronic devices with moveable displays and keyboards face challenges in efficiently controlling user interactions, particularly in transitioning between hidden and exposed keyboard positions, which affects user input and output functionality.

Innovation Solution

The electronic device employs a method to detect the movement of a touch-sensitive display relative to a physical keyboard, identifying intermediate positions and associated actions, allowing for the partial exposure of the keyboard and enabling user interactions through touch sensors and a processor that determines the location and attributes of touches and gestures, thereby controlling the device's functionality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of moving object

If the keyboard is fully hidden to maximize display area, then portability and screen visibility are improved, but user input functionality is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay areaVSAvoiduser input functionality
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The keyboard is designed to be dynamically reconfigurable, transitioning between fully hidden, partially exposed, and fully exposed states. This dynamic structure allows the device to adapt between maximizing display area and providing adequate user input functionality based on operational needs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The keyboard exposure is segmented into multiple positions (fully hidden, partially exposed, fully exposed), allowing selective access to different portions of the keyboard. This segmentation enables the system to balance display area and input functionality by exposing only the necessary portion

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If the keyboard is partially exposed to enable user input, then user input functionality is improved, but the number of steps to select actions increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser input functionalityVSAvoidsteps to select actions
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system proactively detects intermediate keyboard positions and automatically presents relevant application views before the user completes the keyboard exposure action. This preliminary action reduces the number of steps by anticipating user intent and pre-configuring the appropriate interface

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The processing unit continuously monitors keyboard position and provides feedback by automatically switching between application views based on detected intermediate positions. This feedback loop enables the system to adapt the interface dynamically, reducing manual navigation steps

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If intermediate positions are detected to enable automatic view switching, then user interaction efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser interaction efficiencyVSAvoidcontrol mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-service by automatically detecting intermediate keyboard positions and autonomously switching between application views without requiring additional user input. This self-service capability improves interaction efficiency while keeping the control mechanism relatively simple

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3287885B1Control of an electronic device including display and keyboard moveable relative to the display
Publication Date: 2020.03.25 BLACKBERRY LTD
  • EP3287885B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3287885B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3287885B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A method of controlling an electronic device having a display moveable relative to a keyboard, between a first position in which the keyboard is not exposed and a second position in which the keyboard is exposed. The method includes, detecting movement of the display relative to the keyboard, to a third position, between the first position and the second position, in which the keyboard is partially exposed, determining a location of the display relative to the keyboard when the display is in the third position relative to the keyboard, identifying an action associated with the third position, and performing the action associated with the third position.