Integrated Rotary Touch Dial for Compact Camera Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image pickup apparatuses face challenges in miniaturization due to separate dial and touch operation units, unstable signal output from capacitance detectors, and limited functionality in detecting and responding to touch operations, particularly slide operations.
Innovation Solution
An electronic apparatus with a rotationally operable operation member, integrated rotational and touch operation detection, and a processor that executes functions based on both operations to change settings and modes, utilizing a capacitive touch sensor and flexible substrates to stabilize touch operation detection without air layers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a dial and touch operation unit are separately provided, then rotational operation stability is improved, but device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the dial structure and touch operation unit into a single integrated operation member. The operation member includes both a rotational dial component and a touch-sensitive surface, allowing both rotational and touch operations to be performed on the same physical component, thereby reducing device size while maintaining functional capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The operation member is designed to perform multiple functions: it can detect rotational operations for stable dial operations and touch operations (including slide operations) for silent operation modes. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate dedicated components for each operation type.
2Ease of operation
If clearance including air layer is provided between operation member surface and capacitance detector, then touch operation flexibility is improved, but detection precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a flexible substrate as an intermediary layer between the operation member surface and the capacitance detector. This flexible substrate maintains close proximity for accurate capacitance detection while still allowing touch operations to be performed on the operation member surface, bridging the gap between detection precision and operational flexibility.
3Adaptability or versatility
If separate dial and touch operation units are provided, then operational functionality is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the dial structure and touch operation unit into a single integrated operation member with unified detection mechanisms, reducing structural complexity while preserving both rotational and touch operation functionalities.
Solution Approach 2:
The operation member is designed as a universal interface that handles both rotational operations and touch operations (including slide operations for silent mode), eliminating the need for separate dedicated components and simplifying the overall device architecture.
4Measurement precision
If rotational operation detector and touch operation detector are separately provided, then detection accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The detection system is designed to handle both rotational and touch operations through integrated detection mechanisms. The system can detect rotational operations when one hand operates the dial and touch operations including slide operations when two hands operate, using a unified detection approach that reduces system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The detection system dynamically adapts its detection mode based on the operation type. It can switch between detecting rotational movements and detecting touch/capacitance changes, allowing a single flexible detection system to maintain high accuracy for both operation types without requiring completely separate dedicated detectors.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables accurate detection and response to rotational and touch operations, allowing for miniaturization and silent operation during moving image capturing, while providing stable and intuitive user interactions.
Implementation Method 1
a capacitance detector configured to detect capacitance change is provided at the dial to enable a rotational operation and a touch operation onto the operation member
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic apparatus includes an operation member that is rotationally operable, a rotational operation detector configured to detect a rotational operation onto the operation member, a touch operation detector configured to detect a touch operation onto the operation member, a state detector configured to detect a state of the electronic apparatus, and a processor configured to execute the instructions to execute a function in accordance with the rotational operation and the touch operation, and change setting about the rotational operation and the touch operation in accordance with the state.