Rotating Key Input with Touch Sensors for Portable Terminals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional portable terminals have limited key input units with only up, down, left, and right buttons, which restrict the implementation of various functions such as MP3, game, and DMB functions.
Innovation Solution
A key control apparatus with a first housing featuring touch-sensitive touch keys and sensors for implementing functions and scroll functions, and a second housing with mechanical keys that change functions based on rotation, allowing for enhanced input capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional key input unit with only up, down, left, and right buttons is used, then the device complexity is low, but the adaptability or versatility is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements multi-functionality by providing a first key input unit with touch-sensitive keys that can perform multiple functions (navigation, scrolling, and context-specific functions) and a second key input unit with mechanical keys that can be rotated to change their functions. This allows a single device to handle diverse operations without requiring separate dedicated buttons for each function, thereby improving versatility while managing complexity through intelligent key design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics by making the second key input unit rotatable, allowing the mechanical keys to change their functions based on the rotation position. This dynamic reconfiguration enables the same physical keys to serve different purposes in different contexts, improving adaptability without adding more physical keys, thus resolving the contradiction between versatility and complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If touch-sensitive keys with sensors are added to implement various functions, then the adaptability or versatility improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the key input unit into two distinct parts: a first key input unit with touch-sensitive keys and sensors for functions requiring precision and feedback, and a second key input unit with mechanical keys for functions requiring tactile confirmation. This segmentation allows each subsystem to be optimized for its specific purpose, improving overall functionality while managing complexity by dividing the system into manageable, specialized components.
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 convenient implementation of multiple functions in portable terminals by providing intuitive touch-sensitive and mechanical key inputs, improving user interface convenience and functionality.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of sensors to sense the touching of the touch keys
Data Source
AI summary
A key control apparatus for a portable terminal including a first housing with first and second display units and a second housing with first and second key input units is provided. The key control apparatus includes a first key input unit, a second key input unit and a control unit. The first key input unit includes a plurality of touch-sensitive touch keys for implementing given functions, one or more mechanical keys, and a plurality of sensors for sensing the touching of the touch keys and implementing a scroll function. The second key input unit includes a plurality of mechanical keys for implementing given functions or functions corresponding to the keys arranged on the first key input unit. The control unit controls the apparatus so that when a touch key in the first key input unit is touched, a function given to the touch key is implemented.