Rotating Sliding Display Aligning Keypad Surfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable electronic devices face challenges in providing an efficient and user-friendly input and output configuration due to limited space, with existing designs often resulting in discontinuities between display and keypad surfaces when transitioning between closed and open positions.
Innovation Solution
A slidable and rotatable portable electronic device design that couples a touch-sensitive display portion with a keypad portion, utilizing a slide mechanism and rotational axis to align surfaces seamlessly, allowing for both portrait and landscape modes of operation, and incorporating biasing members and locking mechanisms for easy operation and retention in various positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a touch-sensitive display with limited space is used, then the device size is reduced, but the user input and output configuration becomes less efficient
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into two separate portions: a display portion and a keypad portion. These portions can be moved independently relative to each other, allowing the display to be positioned for optimal viewing while the keypad is positioned for comfortable input, thereby resolving the contradiction between compact size and operational efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a third dimension of movement by allowing the display portion to rotate and slide relative to the keypad portion. This dimensional freedom enables the surfaces to be aligned seamlessly in different orientations (portrait and landscape modes), improving user interaction without increasing the device's footprint
2Reliability
If the display portion covers the keypad when closed, then the keypad is protected, but discontinuities between surfaces occur when transitioning between closed and open positions
Solution Approach 1:
The device employs dynamic movement mechanisms including sliding and rotation that allow the display portion to smoothly transition between covering and exposing the keypad. The sliding motion specifically enables the surfaces to remain aligned during the transition, eliminating discontinuities while maintaining protection when closed
Solution Approach 2:
The sliding mechanism acts as an intermediary between the closed and open positions, enabling a continuous, smooth transition that maintains surface alignment. This intermediary motion prevents the abrupt discontinuities that would occur with simple hinge rotation
3Ease of operation
If a slidable and rotatable mechanism is implemented, then surface alignment is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines sliding and rotation mechanisms into a single integrated system where the display portion performs both movements relative to the keypad portion. This merging of functions achieves complex surface alignment while avoiding the need for separate, additional mechanical systems
Data Source
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AI summary
A portable electronic device, including a first portion having a first surface, a second portion having a second surface, and a slide portion coupled to the first and second portions. The first portion, second portion and slide portion are adapted so that the first portion can rotate between a closed position wherein the first portion at least partially covers the second surface, and a rotated position wherein the second surface is at least partially exposed, and wherein, when the first portion is in the rotated position, the first portion and slide portion can slide relative to the second portion along a slide direction to an open position in which the first surface and second surface are aligned.