Pivoting Touchscreen with Curved Frame and Mechanical Switch
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Solution Overview
Problem
Touchscreen input/output devices for portable electronic devices lack user-desirable tactile quality, leading to potential damage when pressed at corners, as they pivot at opposing corners, causing stress on the screen.
Innovation Solution
A portable electronic device design featuring a touchscreen display with a single mechanical switch and biasing elements that allow the touchscreen to pivot relative to the housing, with outwardly curved corners on the frame to distribute force and prevent corner contact with the frame, providing a tactile feedback mechanism through the actuation of the mechanical switch.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a touchscreen display is pressed at one corner, then tactile feedback is provided through mechanical switch actuation, but the touchscreen display pivots at the opposing corner causing damage to the corner
Solution Approach 1:
A mechanical switch is introduced as an intermediary component between the touchscreen display and the housing base. The mechanical switch acts as a mediator that receives the pivoting motion generated when the touchscreen is pressed at a corner and converts it into a controlled actuation event, protecting the touchscreen corner from direct contact and damage with the frame while still providing tactile feedback to the user.
2Manufacturing precision
If the touchscreen display is made rigid for structural stability, then manufacturing precision is improved, but the touchscreen cannot pivot without causing corner damage
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful pivoting motion that causes corner damage is converted into a beneficial mechanism for providing tactile feedback. The mechanical switch is positioned to be actuated by the natural pivoting motion of the rigid touchscreen display, transforming the potentially damaging corner contact into a controlled switch actuation event that provides user feedback while protecting the screen corner.
3Manufacturing precision
If the frame corners are sharp for precise manufacturing, then manufacturing precision is improved, but the frame corners contact and damage the touchscreen display during pivoting
Solution Approach 1:
The frame corners are designed with a curved or rounded profile instead of sharp angles. This curvature modification allows the touchscreen display to pivot along a smooth arc without the sharp corner making contact with the display edge, eliminating the point-contact stress that causes damage while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through standard molding or machining processes.
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
The design enhances user interaction by providing a positive tactile experience while reducing the risk of screen damage by distributing force and preventing corner contact, thus improving the durability and usability of touchscreen devices.
Implementation Method 1
a mechanical switch disposed between a back surface of the touchscreen display and a base of the housing; and operational components comprising a processor within the housing and connected to the touchscreen display, whereby the touchscreen display is moveable relative to the base resulting in actuation of the mechanical switch in response to application of sufficient force to the touchscreen display
Implementation Method 2
The device may further comprise biasing elements disposed between the touchscreen display and the base of the housing
Data Source
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Figure 3
Figure 4~6
AI summary
A portable electronic device includes a housing with a front frame; a moveable touch-screen display framed by the front frame of the housing, the moveable touch-screen display including a touch-sensitive input surface overlying a display device, the front frame including corners curved outwardly away from the surface of the touchscreen display; a mechanical switch disposed between a back surface of the touchscreen display and a base of the housing; and operational components including a processor within the housing and connected to the touchscreen display. The touchscreen display moves or pivots relative to the housing about a pivot axis in response to application of sufficient force on the touchscreen. This movement or pivoting results in the actuation of the single mechanical switch and the pivot axis depending on the location of application of the force