Rotary-Disk Wearable Controls for Small-Screen Accessibility

Solution Overview

Problem

Wearable devices have small screens, making it difficult for the elderly and those with poor eyesight or limited technical skills to perform operations, and excessive shortcut buttons complicate the design and increase size.

Innovation Solution

A wearable device with a rotary disk connected to a housing, equipped with a position detecting unit and processor, allowing multiple positions on the housing to correspond to shortcut functions, enabling the processor to detect and execute these functions based on the target position of the rotary disk's rotation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple shortcut buttons are added to implement multiple operation functions, then the functionality and versatility of the wearable device are improved, but the device complexity and size increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperation functionsVSAvoiddesign complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The rotary disk serves multiple functions: it can be rotated to select different shortcut functions, pressed to confirm selections, and different rotation directions or speeds can trigger different operations. This single component replaces what would traditionally require multiple separate buttons, achieving multi-functionality while reducing structural complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple shortcut button functions are merged into a single rotary disk component. The rotary disk integrates selection, confirmation, and navigation capabilities that would otherwise require separate physical buttons, thereby reducing the number of components while maintaining operational versatility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple shortcut buttons are added to implement multiple operation functions, then the functionality of the wearable device is improved, but the device size increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperation functionsVSAvoiddevice size

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple shortcut button functions are merged into a single rotary disk component. The rotary disk integrates selection, confirmation, and navigation capabilities that would otherwise require separate physical buttons, thereby reducing the number of components and the overall device volume

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The rotary disk serves multiple functions: it can be rotated to select different shortcut functions, pressed to confirm selections, and different rotation directions or speeds can trigger different operations. This single component replaces what would traditionally require multiple separate buttons, achieving multi-functionality while reducing device size

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Volume of moving object

If the screen size is kept small for wearable device design, then the device portability and aesthetics are improved, but the ease of operation for elderly and children is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice sizeVSAvoidoperation difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The rotary disk provides a tactile, curved interface that is inherently easier to manipulate than flat touchscreen elements. The rotational motion and physical feedback of the disk allow users with limited dexterity or visual acuity to easily sense and control the selection without requiring precise visual alignment or fine motor skills

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The rotary disk acts as an intermediary between the user and the small screen interface. It provides a physical, tactile control mechanism that translates user intent into screen interactions, allowing elderly and children users to operate the device through touch and rotation rather than requiring direct manipulation of small touchscreen elements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12422785B2Wearable device and control method therefor

Publication Date: 2025.09.23 VIVO MOBILE COMM CO LTD

AI summary

A wearable device and a control method are provided. The wearable device includes: a rotary disk, a housing, a position detecting unit, and a processor. The rotary disk is rotatably connected to the housing. The position detecting unit is disposed between the rotary disk and the housing. The position detecting unit is electrically connected to the processor. The position detecting unit is configured to detect a target position to which the rotary disk is rotated along the housing and to send the target position to the processor. The processor is configured to enable a shortcut function corresponding to the target position. Multiple positions on the housing correspond to multiple shortcut functions. The target position is one of the multiple positions.