Slideable Control Bar for Flip-Style Wireless Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Clamshell or flip-style mobile communication devices face challenges in providing accessible navigation control buttons when in the closed state due to limited physical real estate, leading to inadvertent loss of information and redundant data entry errors.
Innovation Solution
A slideable control bar is integrated into the device, allowing navigation buttons to be accessible in the closed position and relocatable to a more convenient location when the device is opened, facilitating easier access and use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fixed navigation control buttons are provided on the device housing, then the buttons are protected when the device is closed, but the buttons become inaccessible or difficult to use when the device is open
Solution Approach 1:
The control bar is made movable rather than fixed, allowing it to transition between different positions. When the device is closed, the control bar remains in place to be protected; when the device is opened, the control bar can be accessed by the user. This dynamic repositioning resolves the contradiction between protection and accessibility.
2Area of stationary object
If the device housing is made compact to protect control buttons, then the device size is reduced, but the physical real estate for navigation controls is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The control bar is designed to move along the longitudinal axis of the device, utilizing the depth dimension rather than competing for surface area. This allows the control buttons to be accessible in a compact device by moving them to a different position along the device's length when needed, effectively adding a dimensional solution to the area constraint.
3Ease of operation
If the control bar is made movable to improve accessibility, then the buttons are easily accessible in both closed and open positions, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control bar is segmented from the main device housing, allowing it to move independently. This segmentation enables the control bar to be accessed separately without moving the entire device, reducing the complexity of the overall mechanism while still providing the desired accessibility improvement.
Data Source
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AI summary
A wireless handheld device is provided comprising a lid, a lower casing, and a slideable control bar. The lower casing has a bottom end and a top end. The lid has a bottom end and a top end. The top end of the lid is rotatably coupled to the top end of the lower casing with at least one hinge component such that the handheld device is rotatable from a closed position to an open position and from the open position to the closed position. The lid and the lower casing have adjacent facing surfaces when in the closed position. The slideable control bar is provided on the lower casing. When the wireless handheld device is opened, the slideable control bar is slideable along the facing surface of the lower casing towards the top end of the lower casing.