Virtual Home Key With Haptic Feedback For Bezel Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge is to minimize the size of the bezel portion on mobile terminals without compromising functionality, particularly in eliminating the need for a physical home key while ensuring accurate user input and maximizing screen information display.
Innovation Solution
A mobile terminal design that incorporates a virtual home key system, utilizing a pressure sensor and vibration output unit integrated with the display, allowing users to sense touch positions and apply control commands through tactile inputs without a physical home key on the bezel, enabling minimized bezel size and enhanced screen utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a physical home key is arranged on the bezel portion, then user input functionality is ensured, but the bezel size increases and screen real estate is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical physical home key with a virtual home key implemented through software on the display unit. The controller detects touch inputs at specific coordinates on the display and executes home key functions accordingly, eliminating the need for a physical mechanical button on the bezel portion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions the home key function from a three-dimensional physical button on the bezel to a two-dimensional virtual interface on the display screen. This dimensional shift allows the home key functionality to be integrated into the display area without adding to the physical bezel size.
2Area of stationary object
If the bezel size is minimized, then screen real estate is maximized, but user input accuracy and tactile feedback are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a vibration output unit that provides tactile feedback when a touch input is detected at the virtual home key coordinates. This haptic feedback mechanism allows users to confirm their touch input accuracy without needing a physical button, maintaining input precision while minimizing the bezel size.
3Length of stationary object
If a virtual home key is implemented without physical button, then bezel size is reduced, but tactile feedback for confirmation is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a vibration output unit to generate mechanical vibrations that provide tactile feedback to the user's finger. When a touch input is detected at the virtual home key position, the vibration unit activates to confirm the input, replacing the tactile sensation previously provided by a physical button press.
4Ease of operation
If vibration feedback is added to virtual home key, then tactile confirmation is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the vibration output unit with the existing display unit structure, combining multiple functions (display, touch sensing, and haptic feedback) into a unified system. This merging approach minimizes additional structural complexity while achieving tactile feedback functionality.
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 allows for a reduced bezel size, improved screen real estate, and accurate user input through distinct vibration patterns for different touch inputs, enabling users to execute functions tactilely without visual feedback.
Implementation Method 1
a vibration output unit 220 configured to output vibrations to at least one region of the display unit 151
Implementation Method 2
pressure sensor 210 and a vibration output unit 220. A touch pressure applied onto the display unit 151 may be sensed by the pressure sensor 210
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B~1C
Figure 2A
AI summary
A mobile terminal includes: a display unit for outputting an image and receiving a touch input; a virtual home key unit overlapped with a specific region of the display unit, and for generating a control command for executing a specific function; and a controller for forming the control command, wherein the virtual home key unit includes: a vibration output unit for outputting vibrations of a specific pattern based on a touch input applied to the specific region and a peripheral region; and a pressure sensor disposed between the vibration output unit and the display unit, and for sensing a touch pressure, and wherein the controller executes the specific function when the touch pressure is sensed.