Virtual Control Buttons on Wrap-Around Touchscreen Displays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mechanical buttons on devices can cause discomfort and reliability issues due to their fixed nature, leading to erroneous input and mechanical failures over time, as they may not conform to all users and are prone to wear and tear.
Innovation Solution
Implementing virtual control buttons on a computing device with a touchscreen display that wraps around the edges, allowing for customizable placement based on user grip profiles, voice activation, and dynamic movement detection to optimize button placement and reduce mechanical components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mechanical buttons are used, then device control functionality is provided, but reliability deteriorates due to mechanical failures after repeated use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical buttons with a touchscreen display that detects touch inputs at different locations to simulate button presses. The touchscreen display with wrap-around edges eliminates mechanical components while maintaining control functionality through software-based virtual buttons, thereby improving reliability by removing parts subject to mechanical wear and failure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates virtual copies of physical buttons as software interfaces on the touchscreen display. These virtual buttons replicate the functionality of mechanical buttons without the physical structure, allowing users to interact with the device through touch inputs that are detected and processed as button presses, thus eliminating mechanical failures while preserving control functions.
2Ease of operation
If fixed mechanical buttons are used, then device control is provided, but ease of operation worsens when users cannot easily reach the button
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic button placement on the wrap-around touchscreen display, where virtual buttons can be positioned at multiple locations including edge areas that are easily accessible to users. The system can adaptively place buttons based on user interaction patterns, device orientation, and grip detection, making operation easier for users with different hand sizes and gripping styles while maintaining control functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the wrap-around touchscreen display that extends onto the side edges of the device, creating additional dimensional space for button placement. This allows virtual buttons to be positioned on surfaces that are naturally accessible to the user's thumb or fingers during typical gripping positions, thereby improving ease of operation without compromising device compactness.
3Ease of operation
If mechanical buttons are used, then user interaction is enabled, but object-generated harmful factors increase due to erroneous input
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates grip detection and touch input analysis that provides feedback to dynamically adjust virtual button positioning and sizing. The system monitors user grip patterns and device orientation, then adapts button placement to optimize accessibility and reduce mispresses. This feedback mechanism ensures that buttons are positioned in areas most easily and accurately accessed by the user, thereby reducing erroneous input while maintaining ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments provide activation of virtual control buttons through verbal commands. In some embodiments, a computing device receives audio input, and, upon receiving the audio input, analyzes the audio input to identify an input command. The analysis can sometimes include voice authentication associated with a user. Upon identifying the input command, the computing device visually displays a virtual control button on a touchscreen display. In some embodiments, the computing device displays the virtual control button at a location corresponding to a current grip in contact with the touchscreen display.