Rotary Control Feedback Synchronization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional rotary control components in electronic devices face challenges in synchronizing mechanical and software control values, leading to user confusion and potential over-rotation due to the absence of perceptible feedback at limit positions, whether with or without hard-stop units.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a system that dynamically synchronizes the mechanical control value of a rotary control component with a software control module, providing perceptible feedback through various mechanisms (haptic, sound, visual) when specific feedback conditions are met, such as reaching limit positions or value ranges, using a controller to manage this synchronization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If perceptible feedback is provided at limit positions, then user experience is improved and over-rotation is prevented, but device complexity increases due to additional feedback mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser experienceVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements perceptible feedback mechanisms (haptic, acoustic, or visual) that activate when the rotary control component reaches predetermined limit positions or value ranges. This feedback informs the user of boundary conditions, preventing over-rotation and improving operational clarity without requiring mechanical hard-stop units.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a controller as an intermediary component that mediates between the rotary control component and the feedback mechanisms. The controller receives position information from the rotary control component and activates appropriate feedback signals, thereby coordinating the interaction between mechanical input and perceptible output.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If mechanical hard-stop units are used to prevent over-rotation, then over-rotation is prevented, but the rotary control component cannot provide continuous adjustment and synchronization with software becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveover-rotation preventionVSAvoidcontinuous adjustment capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical hard-stop units with electronically controlled perceptible feedback mechanisms. This substitution eliminates the mechanical constraint that prevented continuous rotation, allowing the rotary control component to rotate freely while providing software-synchronized feedback signals to indicate limit positions and prevent over-rotation through user-perceptible cues.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamically adjustable feedback conditions that can be modified based on software state. The limit positions and feedback triggers are not fixed mechanically but can be adjusted through software control, enabling continuous mechanical rotation while maintaining reliable operational boundaries through dynamic feedback.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If the rotary control component is made without hard-stop units for continuous rotation, then continuous adjustment is enabled, but user awareness of limit positions is lost leading to potential over-rotation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontinuous rotation capabilityVSAvoiduser awareness of limit positions
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements perceptible feedback mechanisms that provide information about limit positions to the user during continuous rotation. When the rotary control component reaches predetermined limit positions or value ranges, the system generates haptic, acoustic, or visual feedback signals that inform the user of boundary conditions, compensating for the absence of mechanical hard-stop cues.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

4Measurement precision

If synchronization between mechanical and software control values is implemented, then control accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases due to additional synchronization mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol value accuracyVSAvoidsynchronization mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a controller as an intermediary that coordinates between the mechanical rotary control component and the software system. The controller receives position information from the rotary control component, determines whether feedback conditions are met based on software-defined criteria, and activates appropriate feedback mechanisms, thereby synchronizing mechanical and software control values.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The controller serves multiple functions: it monitors the position of the rotary control component, compares the mechanical value with software control values, determines feedback conditions, and activates appropriate feedback mechanisms. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate synchronization mechanisms while maintaining control accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4028867B1Dynamically providing perceptible feedback for rotary control component
Publication Date: 2025.06.25 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC
  • EP4028867B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4028867B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4028867B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A method, an apparatus and a corresponding electronic device for dynamically providing perceptible feedback for a rotary control component of an electronic device are provided. An operation on the rotary control component is detected. An initial value of the rotary control component is synchronized with a software control value of the electronic device. A variation value corresponding to the operation is identified. It is determined that the initial value and the variation value meet a feedback condition. Perceptible feedback is provided through a feedback component of the electronic device.