Rear Trackpad Input for Unobstructed Touchscreen Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing touchscreen devices require users to physically interact with the screen, obstructing the view of displayed content and limiting multitasking capabilities, and peripheral input devices introduce complexity and resource conflicts.
Innovation Solution
A touchpad component is integrated on the back of the touchscreen device, allowing users to control the touchscreen remotely without obstructing the view and consuming additional resources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users physically interact with the touchscreen to input commands, then input control is achieved, but the view of displayed content is obstructed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a back touchscreen that operates in a different spatial dimension (the back surface of the device) from the front touchscreen. This allows users to input commands on the back surface while viewing content on the front surface simultaneously, eliminating the obstruction problem by separating input and display functions into different spatial dimensions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If peripheral input devices are connected to the touchscreen device, then input capabilities are enhanced, but device complexity and resource conflicts increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functionality of peripheral input devices with the device itself by integrating a back touchscreen into the device structure. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate peripheral devices and their associated connection resources, thereby reducing device complexity and resource conflicts while maintaining enhanced input capabilities.
3Ease of operation
If a trackpad is integrated on the back of the device, then one-handed operation is enabled, but additional manufacturing complexity is introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The back touchscreen serves multiple functions: it acts as a trackpad for one-handed operation, provides additional display real estate, and can function as an independent input surface. This multi-functionality justifies the additional manufacturing complexity by delivering diverse operational benefits from a single integrated component.
Data Source
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AI summary
Aspects of the present disclosure involve a system and a method for performing operations comprising: detecting physical touch of a touch-sensitive component on a back portion of a client device, the client device displaying a graphical user interface on a touch-sensitive display screen of a front portion of the client device; in response to detecting the physical touch, transmitting an electrical signal representing the physical touch of the touch-sensitive component on the back portion of the client device to the touch-sensitive display screen of the front portion of the client device; and causing an operation associated with the graphical user interface to be executed in response to the touch-sensitive display screen receiving the electrical signal representing the physical touch of the touch-sensitive component on the back portion of the client device.