Rear Input Unit for Mobile Terminal Screen Obstruction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile terminals face challenges in providing an unobstructed touch screen interface while maintaining a slim and simple design, as existing user input methods often require additional buttons or controls that obscure the screen or compromise aesthetics.
Innovation Solution
A mobile terminal design featuring a rear input unit that allows for both touch and push inputs, integrated into the rear surface, which can function as a home key and touch sensor, minimizing external manipulation units and preventing screen obstruction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a separate manipulation unit is disposed on the front surface, then user input capability is improved, but the touch screen is obscured and design simplicity is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The manipulation unit is relocated from the front surface (2D plane of the screen) to the rear surface of the terminal, utilizing a different spatial dimension. This allows the input unit to be positioned at a location that does not interfere with the front touch screen display area, effectively resolving the contradiction between providing user input capability and maintaining full screen visibility.
2Ease of operation
If a separate manipulation unit is disposed on the terminal, then user input capability is improved, but the slim and simple design is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The rear manipulation unit is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as a physical input device for user commands, acts as a home key for returning to the main screen, and functions as a touch-sensitive area. By consolidating these functions into a single integrated component on the rear surface, the design maintains simplicity while providing comprehensive user input capability without requiring multiple separate elements.
3Area of stationary object
If the display area is increased, then visual output quality is improved, but user input capability may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal surface is segmented into distinct functional zones: the front surface is dedicated entirely to the large display area for visual output, while the rear surface contains the manipulation unit for user input. This spatial segmentation allows both the display area and input capability to be optimized independently without compromising either function, as they occupy separate physical spaces on the terminal.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 2C
AI summary
The invention provides a mobile terminal comprising: a terminal body having a front side and a rear side; a touch screen disposed at the front side; a battery; a battery cover (204) disposed at the rear side, the battery cover (204) having a first through hole and a second through hole; a camera (221') exposed to an outside of the terminal body at the first through hole of the battery cover (204); an rear input unit (232) provided at the rear side of the terminal body and configured to receive an input, the rear input unit (232) being located below the camera (221') and being exposed to an outside of the terminal body at the second through hole of the battery cover (204); and a controller configured to process the input of the rear input unit (232) as control commands for different functions according to operating states of the mobile terminal, wherein a first function to release a locked state of the mobile terminal is performed based on a first input applied to the rear input unit (232) in a locked state of the mobile terminal, and wherein a second function to capture an image through the camera (221') is performed based on a second input applied to the rear input unit (232) in a state that a camera preview screen is displayed on the touch screen.