Multi-Stage Touch Unlock Gesture for Accidental Activation Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Touch-sensitive displays on electronic devices often unintentionally activate or deactivate applications due to unintentional contact, leading to a need for improved unlocking mechanisms that prevent accidental interactions while allowing intuitive access to specific functions.
Innovation Solution
A multi-stage unlock gesture involving selection of initial, intermediate, and action images on the touch screen, where the user progresses through regions to unlock the device and potentially launch a specific application, using a combination of tap and slide gestures with visual cues to guide the user.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a touch-sensitive display is used to allow user interaction, then ease of operation is improved, but unintentional contact may cause accidental activation or deactivation of applications
Solution Approach 1:
The touch-sensitive display is divided into multiple distinct regions (first region, second region, third region) with different functions. The first region is for unlocking, the second region is for launching applications, and the third region is for other interactions. This segmentation allows the system to distinguish between intentional unlock gestures and accidental touches, resolving the contradiction by making the unlock function more reliable while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system displays visual cues (images) in different regions before the user makes contact, indicating what function each region will perform. This preliminary visual guidance helps users intentionally select the correct region for their desired action, reducing accidental activations while maintaining ease of use.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple regions are used for different functions, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The touch-sensitive display serves multiple functions through its different regions: the first region handles unlocking, the second region launches applications, and the third region provides additional interactions. This multi-functionality approach allows a single unified interface to replace what would otherwise require separate mechanisms for each function, resolving the contradiction by making the device more adaptable without significantly increasing complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for unlocking an electronic device includes displaying (110) a lockscreen with an initial image in an initial region on a touch screen of the electronic device when it is in a locked state (100). Responsive to detecting (120) a first touch contact in the initial region, the electronic device displays (130) an intermediate image in a secondary region of the touch screen. Responsive to detecting (140) a second touch contact in the secondary region, the electronic device displays (150) an action image in a tertiary region of the touch screen. Responsive to detecting (160) a third touch contact in the tertiary region, the electronic device executes (180) an action associated with the action image and transitions the electronic device to an unlocked state (190).