Screen Rotation Lock for Electronic Reading Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electronic reading devices lack a reliable method to maintain screen orientation consistently when rotated by the user, leading to inconvenient automatic orientation changes that can disrupt reading experiences, especially in specific user positions like reading in bed.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a user-selectable screen rotation lock function that allows users to lock the screen in either portrait or landscape mode, with the device detecting 90-degree rotations and maintaining the selected orientation, and displaying a message in automatic rotation mode to confirm orientation changes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If automatic screen rotation is implemented to adapt to different device orientations, then the device can automatically adjust to user's reading position, but the screen orientation changes uncontrollably which disrupts reading experience

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescreen orientation adaptationVSAvoidreading experience stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically switches between automatic rotation mode and locked orientation mode, allowing the screen orientation to be adaptive when needed but stable when required for reading. The processing circuitry detects device orientation changes and either rotates the screen accordingly or maintains the current orientation based on the locked setting.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the orientation parameter of the screen display based on detected device rotation. When in automatic mode, the screen rotation parameter is adjusted in response to accelerometer data; when locked, the parameter remains fixed regardless of device orientation changes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If screen rotation is locked to maintain stable orientation, then reading experience is improved, but the device cannot adapt to different user positions or orientations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereading experience stabilityVSAvoidscreen orientation flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides dynamic control over screen orientation behavior, allowing users to switch between locked and automatic modes. The processing circuitry responds to mode selection by either maintaining fixed orientation or adapting to device rotation, giving users flexibility to choose the appropriate behavior for their situation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Extent of automation

If the device detects 90-degree rotation to trigger orientation change, then automatic rotation function works, but unwanted orientation switching occurs during reading

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomatic orientation detectionVSAvoidorientation control

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The accelerometer provides feedback about device orientation to the processing circuitry. Based on this feedback and the current mode setting, the system either triggers screen rotation or maintains the current orientation, giving users control over whether automatic orientation changes occur.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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

Ensures that the screen remains in the chosen orientation even after device rotation, enhancing user convenience and reading experience by preventing unwanted orientation changes, such as switching from portrait to landscape while reading in bed.

Implementation Method 1

An accelerometer, a display screen, and processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to: receive a request to access a menu for initiation of a screen-rotation lock function

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAccelerometer: Accelerometer

Data Source

PatentUS11586576B2Electronic reading device with a mid-frame structure

Publication Date: 2023.02.21 RAKUTEN KOBO

AI summary

A method for controlling screen rotation of an electronic reading device that includes processing circuitry, an accelerometer, and a display screen. The method including: receiving, by the processing circuitry, a request to access a menu for initiation of a screen-rotation lock function for the electronic reading device; displaying, on the display screen, the menu for the initiation of the screen-rotation lock function; receiving, by the processing circuitry, a selection of one particular screen orientation for the display screen from among a plurality of screen orientations; rotating, the electronic reading device, 90 degrees; detecting, by the accelerometer, the 90 degree rotation; and maintaining a screen that is displayed on the display screen in the selected one particular screen orientation.