Transparent Display Locking via Opacity Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Transparent display devices on portable terminals face challenges in distinguishing between touch inputs on both sides, leading to reduced input speed and malfunction, especially with 3D screens, and require efficient locking and unlocking mechanisms to enhance usability.

Innovation Solution

A method and portable terminal design that adjusts transparency based on lock and unlock states, allowing users to intuitively identify the active touch surface by changing the display's opacity or transparency, and automatically reversing lock states when the device is turned over.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a touch screen is applied to both side surfaces of the transparent display, then the input speed and 3D screen control are improved, but the user experiences malfunction when gripping the device and difficulty in distinguishing lock/unlock states

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinput speedVSAvoidtouch screen malfunction
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The touch screen functionality is segmented into independent front and rear surfaces, each with separate lock/unlock states. This allows the front and rear touch screens to operate independently, preventing malfunction when the user grips the device, as only the intended surface responds to touch inputs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The transparent display changes its transparency state to indicate lock/unlock status. When locked, the display becomes less transparent; when unlocked, it becomes more transparent. This visual feedback helps users easily distinguish the operational state of each surface without confusion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

2Ease of operation

If a touch screen is applied to both side surfaces of the transparent display, then the 3D screen control is improved, but the user has difficulty in distinguishing one side surface in a lock state from the other in an unlock state

Engineering Contradiction:
Improve3D screen controlVSAvoidlock/unlock state distinction
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The transparent display utilizes transparency changes as visual indicators for lock/unlock states. The locked state presents reduced transparency while the unlocked state presents increased transparency, enabling users to immediately distinguish which surface is active without confusion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides immediate visual feedback through transparency changes when lock/unlock states are toggled. This feedback mechanism ensures users can clearly perceive the current state of each surface, eliminating ambiguity in multi-surface operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Stability of the object's composition

If only one side surface is used for touch input, then the device stability is improved, but the input speed is reduced and the user interface control for 3D screens is difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice stabilityVSAvoidinput speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The touch interface is segmented into front and rear surfaces with independent operational states. This segmentation allows the device to maintain stability by preventing unintended touches while enabling high input speed through simultaneous access to both surfaces for 3D screen control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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

This solution enhances user convenience by allowing easy identification of lock and unlock states, reducing malfunctions, and maintaining consistent state changes when the device is rotated, thereby improving the stability and usability of transparent display devices.

Implementation Method 1

a transparent display, which can control a corresponding transparency according to the lock or unlock of each of the touch screen on the front surface of the portable terminal and the touch screen on the rear surface

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTransparency control:

Data Source

PatentEP3028146B1Method and portable terminal for controlling the locking or unlocking
Publication Date: 2019.09.25 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3028146B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3028146B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3028146B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method and an apparatus for controlling to lock or unlock in the portable terminal having a transparent display that has two display surfaces and is capable of double-sided touch input and double-sided display is provided. The method includes activating the transparent display according to a lock state or an unlock state of the transparent display, when screen display is requested; displaying a lock or unlock area, which notifies whether a display surface is locked, in a preset area of at least one of display surfaces of the transparent display; and changing the lock state or the unlock state of the at least one of the display surfaces of the transparent display and displaying the transparent display according to the changed state of the at least one display surface, when a touch input is received in the lock or unlock area.