Slidable Phone Touchscreen Lock During Housing Transition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable electronic devices with slidable housings face issues of accidental key presses and unwanted input during transitions between open and closed positions, which can lead to malfunction or unintended function execution.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating at least one position sensor to detect the device's position and disable input devices during the transition phase between open and closed positions, ensuring that the touchscreen display is locked in portrait mode when the device is open and power is managed accordingly based on the device's position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the device allows touch input during housing transition, then user interaction is maintained, but accidental inputs and unintended function execution occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of housing position using sensors before allowing touch input. During transition states (when housings are moving between open and closed positions), the system proactively disables touch screen input to prevent accidental activations. This preliminary action of detecting position and preemptively disabling input during vulnerable transition phases resolves the contradiction by maintaining reliability while preserving ease of operation during stable states.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the touchscreen remains active during sliding, then user interface accessibility is maintained, but malfunction and unintended function execution occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts touchscreen accessibility based on real-time housing position detection. The touch screen transitions between active and disabled states depending on whether the housing is in a stable position (open or closed) or in transition. This dynamic adaptation ensures interface accessibility is maintained during stable states while preventing malfunction during sliding transitions, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and reliability.
3Reliability
If position sensing is implemented to prevent accidental input, then reliability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces complex mechanical position detection mechanisms with electronic sensors that detect housing position through magnetic fields or other non-contact methods. This substitution maintains high input accuracy and reliability by precisely detecting transition states, while reducing mechanical complexity compared to traditional mechanical switches or detectors. The sensor-based approach resolves the contradiction by achieving reliable position detection with minimal added complexity.
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
Prevents accidental inputs and maintains device functionality by disabling inputs during transitions and optimizing power usage based on the device's position, enhancing user experience and reducing potential malfunctions.
Implementation Method 1
at least one position sensor operable to detect whether the portable electronic device is in the open position, the closed position or the transition position between the open and closed positions
Data Source
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AI summary
A portable electronic device (200), including a first housing (204), a second housing (202) slidably coupled to the first housing, the first housing and the second housing movable between a closed position, an open position and a transition position between the open position and the closed position, at least one input device (212), and at least one position sensor (230, 232) operable to detect whether the portable electronic device is in the open position, the closed position or the transition position. When the at least one position sensor detects the transition position, the at least one input device is disabled.