Seamless Protective Cover Glass Input Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic devices with input devices that require holes in protective cover glass face issues with sealing contaminants, increased size, and aesthetically undesirable gaps, which compromise both functionality and appearance.
Innovation Solution
A seamless protective cover glass that moves in response to user input, detected by a cover glass movement detector, generates control signals for the device's operation without the need for physical holes, using mechanisms like hinges, elastic connectors, or flexible materials to provide a seamless and sealed interface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If input devices require holes in protective cover glass, then user input can be received, but sealing effectiveness deteriorates and contaminants can enter
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the input function from the physical hole structure and relocates it to the movement detection system. The cover glass itself becomes the input mechanism through its movement, eliminating the need for holes while maintaining user input capability and preserving sealing integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical hole-based button system with an optical/electrical detection system. Instead of physical buttons requiring holes, the system uses sensors to detect cover glass movement, substituting mechanical interaction with sensor-based detection to maintain both input functionality and sealing.
2Ease of operation
If holes are made in protective cover glass for input devices, then user input is enabled, but aesthetic appearance deteriorates due to gaps and breaks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the input function with the protective cover glass itself. By making the cover glass movable and detecting its movement, the system combines protection and input functionality into a single seamless component, eliminating gaps and breaks while maintaining both aesthetic appearance and input capability.
3Reliability
If sealing elements are added to prevent contaminants, then protection is improved, but device complexity increases and size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the need for separate sealing elements by making the cover glass itself the sealing barrier. The movable cover glass maintains a sealed interface with the housing through its movement mechanism, removing the need for additional sealing components and reducing overall device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device with seamless protective cover glass is disclosed. In the described embodiments, the cover glass is coupled to the housing such that the cover glass or portions of the cover glass move with respect to the housing. This movement can be used as an interface for receiving user inputs that can be used to provide control signals to the electronic device.