Touch Keypad LED Feedback for Key Recognition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobile communications terminals with touch keypads struggle to allow users to easily recognize selected keys due to the absence of distinct visual or tactile feedback, making operations cumbersome.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a light emitting diode (LED) system where each key has an associated LED that illuminates independently upon selection, with optional audible and vibration feedback, allowing users to differentiate the selected key from non-selected ones based on color, brightness, or blinking patterns, and adjusting these features according to user settings, time, and environmental conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a touch keypad with IC sensing is used, then the terminal can detect key selection, but the user cannot easily recognize the selected key
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color changes by illuminating the selected key with a light emitting unit, causing it to emit light of a specific color that differs from non-selected keys. This visual feedback enables users to easily recognize which key is currently selected, directly resolving the contradiction between detection capability and recognition ease.
2Illumination intensity
If all light emitting units are illuminated, then all keys are visible, but the selected key cannot be distinguished
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by illuminating only the selected key with a light emitting unit while keeping other keys in a different state (unilluminated or differently illuminated). This creates a local distinction that highlights the selected key, enabling users to identify it among all keys without illuminating every key equally.
3Volume of moving object
If the terminal is made smaller and slimmer, then portability is improved, but the touch keypad becomes less recognizable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color changes by using light emitting units that illuminate selected keys with visible light, creating a clear visual distinction that compensates for the reduced size of the terminal. This enables small terminals to maintain good key recognition through optical feedback rather than relying on larger physical key features.
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
Enhances user convenience by providing clear visual and tactile feedback, enabling easier key recognition and improving operational efficiency in various environments and usage modes.
Implementation Method 1
a light emitting unit associated with each of the plurality of keys... illuminating the light emitting unit associated with the selected key
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile terminal and method for operating a touch keypad, the mobile terminal including a touch keypad, a touch sensor processor for sensing a signal inputted from a key selected by a user on the touch keypad and outputting location information corresponding to the selected key based upon the sensed signal, a Control Processor (CPU) for outputting at least one or more control signals based upon the outputted location information, and a light emitting diode controller for independently driving a light emitting diode corresponding to the selected key based upon the outputted control signals.