Rear Optical Touch Pad for Portable Terminal Miniaturization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional portable terminals face challenges in miniaturization due to the need for enlarged display devices, which is hindered by the presence of physical keys required for input and navigation, especially when implementing touch screens.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating an optical touch pad on the rear side of the portable terminal's housing, allowing for input actions without side keys, enabling the use of the thumb for the touch screen and index finger or another finger for the touch pad, thus eliminating the need for side keys and allowing for one-handed operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If a touch screen is implemented to enlarge the display device, then the display area is increased, but the terminal size cannot be minimized due to the need for side keys

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay areaVSAvoidterminal size

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent moves the input device from the traditional side position (2D plane arrangement) to the rear surface of the terminal (3D spatial arrangement). By placing the optical touch pad on the rear side, the display device can be enlarged on the front without requiring side keys, thus resolving the contradiction between display area and terminal size.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of placing the input device on the side of the terminal as conventional design dictates, the patent inverts this arrangement by positioning the optical touch pad on the rear surface. This inversion allows the side space to be eliminated, enabling terminal miniaturization while maintaining full input functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Ease of operation

If physical keys are arranged at the side of the display device for navigation, then input functionality is provided, but the terminal size increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinput functionalityVSAvoidterminal size

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical side keys with an optical touch pad system. The optical sensor detects finger movements on the rear surface and converts them into navigation commands, eliminating the need for physical mechanical keys while maintaining input functionality. This substitution reduces terminal size while preserving ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The input interface is relocated from the side dimension to the rear surface dimension. Users can operate the optical touch pad on the rear surface with their fingers, providing full navigation capability without requiring side space for physical keys.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS9134768B2Portable terminal with optical touch pad and method for controlling data in the same

Publication Date: 2015.09.15 ADEIA GUIDES INC

AI summary

Disclosed is a portable terminal having a display device arranged on the front side of the housing of the portable terminal, and an optical touch pad arranged on the rear side of the housing, wherein a user can operate the touch screen with the thumb and operate the touch pad on the rear side of the housing with the index finger or another finger in a state in which the user grasps the portable terminal.