Portable Device Back-Face Photon Sensor Interface
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Solution Overview
Problem
Touch screens on portable devices tend to get dirty quickly and obstruct the user's view, making them difficult to use, especially in dirty environments, and require frequent cleaning.
Innovation Solution
A portable device with a display screen and a user interface device featuring an array of photon sensors on a separate face, capable of detecting variations in shadow or radiation to determine the position of an actuation member without direct contact, using a matrix of photodetectors and emitters, and a translucent protective layer, allowing for contactless operation and improved cleanliness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a touch screen is used as the user interface, then direct user interaction is enabled, but the screen gets dirty quickly and requires frequent cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the user interaction function from the display screen by placing a separate user interface device with photon sensors on the back of the device. This allows users to interact with the device using gestures detected by the sensors, eliminating the need for direct contact with the display screen and thus preventing contamination of the screen.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary user interface device with photon sensors that mediates between the user and the portable device. This intermediary detects user gestures through shadow detection or radiation reflection without requiring direct contact with the display screen, thereby protecting the screen from contamination while maintaining ease of operation.
2Reliability
If a protective layer covers the photon sensors, then the sensors are protected, but light detection precision may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a translucent protective layer that functions as a thin film allowing light to pass through while providing physical protection to the photon sensors. This thin film structure maintains the sensors' light detection precision while protecting them from damage and contamination.
3Illumination intensity
If the user interface device is on a separate face from the display screen, then the display remains unobstructed, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multi-functionality by using the back face of the portable device for both structural support and housing the user interface device with photon sensors. This approach maintains display visibility on the front face while integrating the user interface functionality on the back, avoiding excessive complexity through efficient space utilization.
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
Enhances the usability of portable devices by reducing the need for frequent cleaning, providing unobstructed views, and allowing for precise input without manual contact, while maintaining robust operation in varying lighting conditions.
Implementation Method 1
the device is suitable for detecting variations in the shadow of an actuation member
Implementation Method 2
detecting variations in the shadow of an actuation member and/or in the return of radiation by the actuation member
Implementation Method 3
a translucent protective layer covers the matrix of sensors
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~7
AI summary
A portable appliance has a display screen on a first surface and a user interface device on a second surface different from the first surface. The device includes a photon detector array.