Slidable Keypad Covering Display Regions for Input Adaptability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Portable electronic devices with touch-sensitive displays face limitations in user input and output due to space constraints, necessitating a separate input device like a keypad that can be efficiently integrated and configured to adapt to different usage scenarios.
Innovation Solution
A slidable portable electronic device design featuring a display portion and a keypad portion that can move between closed and open positions, allowing selective exposure of display regions and facilitating improved user interaction by aligning surfaces for seamless transitions between input and output modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a separate keypad device is integrated into the portable electronic device, then user input capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the display portion and keypad portion into a single integrated portable electronic device. The keypad portion is merged with the display portion such that they form a unified structure where the keypad can selectively cover regions of the display, providing both visual output and tactile input capabilities within one device unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The keypad portion serves multiple functions: it acts as a physical input device for user interaction, a protective cover for the display when closed, and a structural component that enables the device to operate in different configurations (closed and open positions). This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the keypad portion covers the display when closed, then display protection is improved, but display area is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The device operates in dynamic configurations where the keypad portion can move between covering and non-covering positions relative to the display. The display area is not permanently reduced but is dynamically adjusted based on whether the keypad is in the closed (covering) or open (non-covering) position, allowing flexibility between protection and visibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The keypad portion is designed to nest over the display portion when closed, with the keypad acting as a protective layer that can be positioned over the display area. This nesting arrangement allows the keypad to cover and protect the display without permanently reducing the display's functional area, as the display remains fully accessible when the keypad is opened.
3Ease of operation
If the keypad portion is made slidable, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The keypad portion is designed with slidable movement capability, allowing it to transition smoothly between closed and open positions. This dynamic movement mechanism provides ease of operation by enabling simple sliding gestures to open or close the device, rather than requiring complex locking or latching systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is segmented into distinct movable components: a fixed display portion and a slidable keypad portion. This segmentation allows the keypad to move independently relative to the display, facilitating easy opening and closing operations while maintaining structural integrity through the defined sliding interface between segments.
Data Source
AI summary
According to one aspect, there is provided a portable electronic device, including a first portion having a display, and a second portion slidably coupled to the first portion. The first portion and second portion are sized and shaped so that the second portion can move between a closed position, wherein a first region of the display is exposed and a second region of the display is covered by the second portion, and an open position wherein the first and second regions of the display are exposed. The first portion may be a display portion and the second portion may be a keypad portion having a keypad.