Touch Device Assistance Mode via Physical Buttons
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Touch devices with open circuit touch sensors cannot interact with users, as they lack physical buttons for operation, rendering them unusable for tasks like making calls or viewing emails.
Innovation Solution
Enabling an assistance mode that allows users to interact with the touch device via a physical button interface, including a preconfigured operation interface for tasks like dialing, messaging, and managing audio/video communications, even when the touch sensor is open circuit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the touch panel is integrated with all functions to reduce physical buttons, then the device becomes more compact and modern, but the device becomes unusable when the touch sensor fails
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (assisted operation mode) that bridges the gap between the failed touch sensor and the user's need to operate the device. When the touch sensor fails, the system activates a fallback mode where physical buttons serve as intermediaries to control the display and interface, allowing the device to remain functional without requiring both touch and physical buttons simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the device by detecting the touch sensor's functional state and switching between different operation modes accordingly. When the touch sensor is detected to be faulty, the system changes its operational parameter set to enable physical button control, thereby adapting to the degraded state and maintaining usability.
2Shape
If physical buttons are minimized to achieve a sleeker design, then the device appears more modern and compact, but the device lacks backup control methods when touch functionality fails
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-configuring the assisted operation mode and physical button mapping before the touch sensor fails. The system is prepared in advance with the capability to switch to physical button control, so when failure occurs, the user can immediately begin using the backup control method without delay or reconfiguration.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the touch panel is made as the primary interface to eliminate physical buttons, then the device achieves full functionality integration, but the device cannot operate when the touch sensor is open circuit
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing the physical buttons to serve multiple functions: they normally serve as standard control buttons during normal operation, and they also serve as the primary interface when the touch sensor fails. This multi-functionality ensures that the physical buttons are not redundant but rather a complementary control mechanism that activates when needed.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a method for controlling a touch device, including steps of detecting an enabled instruction for an assistance mode of the touch device; enabling the assistance mode when the enabled instruction for the assistance mode has been detected and displaying a preconfigured assistance mode operation interface on the touch device; and receiving an operational instruction generated when the assistance mode operation interface is operated via a physical button on the touch device and executing an operation response event corresponding to the operational instruction.