Notch Sensor Touch Input for Electronic Device Display Area
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge is to increase the effective display area of electronic devices while maintaining button functionality without reducing user experience, as physical buttons at the bottom of devices occupy valuable screen space.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a notch area with a sensor that enables touch input and functions as a button, allowing the sensor to process inputs differently based on location, thereby providing a touch function in the notch area and maintaining display functionality elsewhere.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If physical buttons are arranged at the bottom of the electronic device, then button functionality is maintained, but the effective display area is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces physical mechanical buttons with a touch-sensitive sensor system located in the notch area. The sensor detects touch inputs through electrical or capacitive changes rather than mechanical pressure, eliminating the need for physical button structures while maintaining input functionality. This substitution allows the display area to extend to the edges of the device without being interrupted by physical buttons.
2Area of stationary object
If no buttons are arranged at the bottom of the electronic device, then the effective display area is increased, but user experience is affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary notch structure that houses the touch sensor, serving as a mediator between the need for full display coverage and the need for button functionality. The notch acts as a dedicated zone that accommodates the sensor while allowing the rest of the display to remain uninterrupted, thus maintaining both aesthetic continuity and operational capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent moves the button functionality from the traditional horizontal bottom edge to a vertical notch position, typically at the top or side of the display. This dimensional relocation allows the display area to extend to the bottom edge while preserving input functionality in a different spatial dimension, effectively resolving the conflict between display area and button placement.
3Area of stationary object
If a notch area with sensor is used for touch input, then the effective display area is enhanced, but the sensor must perform multiple functions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a multi-functional sensor system within the notch area that can detect various touch input types (clicks, swipes, presses) and respond with different functions (home button, back button, app switching). The single sensor structure serves multiple operational roles, replacing what would traditionally require multiple physical buttons, thereby enhancing display area while maintaining operational versatility.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device includes a body, a display screen and a notch defining a notch area fixedly arranged at the body, and a sensor. The sensor is configured to obtain a touch input of an operating entity at the notch area.