Smartwatch Bezel Electrode Switching for Touch-Free Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Smartwatches with touch display screens face operational challenges due to their small size, leading to display region blocking by fingers during operations, causing unlocking errors and privacy exposure if not properly secured.

Innovation Solution

An electronic device with a bezel mechanism that conducts or disconnects electrodes based on its position within a groove, allowing for intuitive control through bezel rotation to adjust electrical signals, enabling functions like turning on/off or selecting targets without direct screen interaction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a touch display screen is integrated on a smartwatch to improve human-computer interaction experience, then the ease of operation is improved, but the display region is easily blocked by the finger during operations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehuman-computer interaction experienceVSAvoiddisplay region
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a bezel as an intermediary component between the user and the display screen. The bezel can be rotated to control the display content, allowing users to interact with the device without directly touching the display screen. This mediator approach resolves the contradiction by enabling operation while preventing display region blocking.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Area of moving object

If the touch display screen size is reduced to make the smartwatch more compact, then the device size is reduced, but the display region is more easily blocked by the finger during operations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice sizeVSAvoidoperation accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The bezel serves as a mechanical intermediary that provides precise control without requiring direct finger contact with the display. By rotating the bezel, users can navigate and select options with high precision, maintaining operation accuracy despite the small device size.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces direct touch screen interaction with a mechanical bezel rotation system. This substitution allows for precise control through mechanical feedback while keeping the display screen fully visible, resolving the contradiction between device compactness and operational precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If direct finger operation on the touch display screen is used for unlocking, then the ease of operation is improved, but privacy may be exposed if the screen lock is not set properly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveunlocking operationVSAvoidprivacy exposure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The bezel acts as an intermediary input mechanism that allows unlocking operations without requiring the user to touch or view sensitive information on the display screen. The user can rotate the bezel to unlock the device while the screen remains locked or displays non-sensitive content, preventing privacy exposure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent separates the input function (bezel rotation) from the display function (screen showing). This segmentation allows the input mechanism to operate independently without requiring the display to show sensitive information, thereby protecting privacy during unlocking operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4086712B1Electronic device and control method
Publication Date: 2025.08.13 VIVO MOBILE COMM CO LTD
  • EP4086712B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4086712B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4086712B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

Disclosed is an electronic device, including: a housing (1) having an accommodating space, where the housing (1) is provided with a groove (2) around the accommodating space, and a first electrode (3) and a second electrode (4) are disposed on a bottom surface of the groove (2); and a bezel (5), where at least a portion of the bezel (5) is disposed in the groove (2). In the case that the bezel (5) is located at a first position of the groove (2), the first electrode (3) and the second electrode (4) are conductively connected; and in the case that the bezel (5) is located at a second position of the groove (2), the first electrode (3) and the second electrode (4) are conductively disconnected. A control method for the electronic device is further disclosed.