Virtual Home Button Interface Using Embedded Fingerprint Touch

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Solution Overview

Problem

The presence of a permanent home button on electronic devices reduces the space available for touch-sensitive surfaces and removes a convenient way to access the home screen and associated functions, necessitating improved methods for home button replacement.

Innovation Solution

Implementing methods and interfaces that utilize touch-sensitive surfaces to detect specific sequences and gestures to activate a virtual home button, allowing access to the home screen without a physical button, and incorporating sensors to detect contact intensity for precise interactions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a permanent home button is included on the front face of the device, then convenient access to the home screen is provided, but the space available for the touch-sensitive surface is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconvenient access to home screenVSAvoidspace available for touch-sensitive surface

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the home button function from a permanent physical component and relocates it to a virtual implementation on the touch-sensitive display. This allows the physical space previously occupied by the home button to be reclaimed for the touch-sensitive surface, while the home screen access function is maintained through gesture-based interaction on the display surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical home button system with a software-based virtual button system. Instead of using a physical button that requires mechanical actuation, the system uses touch gestures detected by the touch-sensitive display to trigger home screen access, substituting mechanical interaction with electronic sensing and software response.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Area of stationary object

If the home button is removed from the front face of the device, then more space is available for the touch-sensitive surface, but a convenient way to access the home screen is removed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespace available for touch-sensitive surfaceVSAvoidconvenient access to home screen

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the touch-sensitive display surface universal by enabling it to serve both as the primary interaction interface and as the location for home screen access. The same surface that displays content also functions as the control mechanism for navigating to the home screen, eliminating the need for separate dedicated buttons while maintaining ease of access.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces gesture recognition software as an intermediary between the user's touch input and the home screen access function. This intermediary layer detects specific gesture patterns (such as swiping from the edge or corner of the display) and translates them into home screen navigation commands, providing convenient access without physical buttons.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If conventional home button methods are used, then home screen access is provided, but power consumption increases and efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehome screen access functionVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements home screen access through periodic gesture-based interactions rather than continuous physical button presence. The system activates home screen navigation only when specific gesture patterns are detected, allowing the device to conserve power by not maintaining active button states or requiring continuous physical interaction, while still providing timely access when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS12535892B2Devices, methods, and graphical user interfaces for providing a home button replacement

Publication Date: 2026.01.27 APPLE INC

AI summary

An electronic device with a display and an embedded fingerprint sensor displays a lock screen on the display. While displaying the lock screen, the electronic device detects a first touch input on the embedded fingerprint sensor. In response to detecting the first touch input on the embedded fingerprint sensor: the electronic device, in accordance with a determination that first timing criteria are met, displays content of a plurality of messages; and the electronic device, in accordance with a determination that second timing criteria, different from the first timing criteria are met, ceases to display the lock screen and displaying a home screen use interface for the electronic device with a plurality of application icons.