Rotating Touch Sensing Unit for Compact Terminal Device Input
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high cost and increased thickness and power consumption of notebooks with both physical keyboards and touch screens pose a challenge in designing compact and cost-effective terminal devices with touch functionality.
Innovation Solution
A terminal device design featuring a rotating touch sensing unit that can form a touch screen with the display when needed and function as a virtual keyboard or joysticks when separated, reducing the need for additional input interfaces and minimizing the host portion's thickness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a physical keyboard and touch screen are both provided in the terminal device, then the input functionality is improved, but the cost and thickness increase
Solution Approach 1:
The touch sensing unit is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as part of the touch screen when in contact with the first casing, and as a virtual keyboard when in contact with the second casing. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate physical keyboard and touch screen components, thereby reducing thickness while maintaining diverse input capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The touch sensing unit is made movable through the rotating shaft mechanism, allowing it to dynamically switch between different positions and functions. When rotated to contact the first casing, it forms part of the touch screen; when rotated to contact the second casing, it becomes a virtual keyboard. This dynamic reconfiguration enables flexible input methods without increasing device thickness
2Adaptability or versatility
If two display screens are provided in the terminal device, then the touch input capability is improved, but the thickness and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The touch sensing unit serves dual purposes: it enhances the touch screen functionality when contacting the first casing and provides virtual keyboard input when contacting the second casing. This eliminates the need for a separate second display screen, reducing thickness while maintaining enhanced touch input capability
Solution Approach 2:
The touch sensing unit is integrated with both the display screen and virtual keyboard functions through a single component design. By merging these functions into one rotatable unit, the patent avoids the need for separate display screens, thereby reducing overall device thickness
3Adaptability or versatility
If a separate virtual keyboard is provided on the host portion, then the input options are improved, but the thickness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The touch sensing unit is designed to function as both a touch screen component and a virtual keyboard through rotation. This eliminates the need for a separate virtual keyboard on the host portion, providing diverse input options without increasing thickness
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual keyboard is implemented as a dynamic, rotatable component rather than a static element on the host portion. When the touch sensing unit rotates to contact the second casing, it provides virtual keyboard functionality. This dynamic approach eliminates the need for a permanent separate virtual keyboard, reducing thickness
Data Source
AI summary
A terminal device is provided with a first casing, configured to accommodate the display part of the terminal device; a second casing, configured to accommodate the computation part and the heat dissipation part of the terminal device; a first shaft, provided on one side of the second casing, configured to be connected to the first casing and the second casing, with the first casing being able to rotate clockwise or counterclockwise around the axis of the first shaft; and a touch sensing unit, connected to the first shaft and configured to detect touch inputs from the user, wherein the touch sensing unit is provided between the first casing and the second casing and rotates clockwise or counterclockwise around the first shaft.