Wearable Strap Bending Input for Small Display Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wearable computers have limited display screen area and input options, making it difficult to easily manipulate them due to small button sizes and limited touch screen capabilities.
Innovation Solution
An electronic apparatus with a strap that includes a flexible wire and sensors to detect bending and position, allowing users to input commands through intentional manipulation of the strap's bending state, which is differentiated from unintentional movements, enabling various functions and user interactions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the display screen area and button size are increased to improve manipulation ease, then the device size must be increased, but wearable devices are constrained by small form factor requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a temporal dimension to input interaction by detecting the duration of strap bending states. Instead of relying solely on spatial dimensions (screen size, button size), the system uses the time dimension (bending duration thresholds) to differentiate between intentional user inputs and unintentional movements, enabling adequate manipulation ease within the constrained wearable form factor
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of interaction detection from spatial parameters (touch position, button press) to temporal parameters (bending duration, state persistence). By monitoring how long a bending state persists against threshold values, the system transforms the nature of user input detection, allowing for adequate manipulation capabilities without increasing device size
2Adaptability or versatility
If more buttons and larger touch screen are used to provide more input options, then the device complexity increases, but wearable devices are limited in component integration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the strap serve multiple functions: it acts as both a structural component (holding the display) and an input device (detecting bending states for user commands). This multi-functionality provides diverse input options without adding separate buttons or controls, thereby increasing adaptability while maintaining simple component integration
Solution Approach 2:
The strap structure serves itself by using its inherent mechanical property (bending) as the input mechanism. The same component that provides structural support also captures user inputs through bending detection, eliminating the need for additional dedicated input components and reducing overall device complexity
3Measurement precision
If the strap bending detection is made sensitive to detect all movements, then false inputs from unintentional movements increase, but adequate detection requires high sensitivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by establishing duration thresholds before processing input commands. The system pre-defines time windows (first threshold for initial detection, second threshold for confirmation) that must be satisfied before an input is registered. This preliminary temporal filtering prevents false inputs from unintentional movements while maintaining high sensitivity for intentional gestures
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback by continuously monitoring the bending state over time and comparing it against threshold criteria. The detection mechanism provides feedback through state persistence evaluation, where only bending states that maintain beyond specified duration thresholds trigger inputs. This feedback loop ensures high measurement precision while filtering out transient unintentional movements
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 interaction capabilities with wearable devices by allowing intuitive command inputs through strap manipulation, improving usability and functionality without increasing device size or complexity.
Implementation Method 1
information about a bending state of the strap, which corresponds to a user input, is received
Data Source
Figure 1~3A
Figure 3B~4B
Figure 5A~5B
AI summary
The present disclosure relates generally to an electronic apparatus and a method of controlling the same, and more particularly, to an electronic apparatus including a strap and a method of controlling the electronic apparatus using various arrangement forms of the strap. The electronic apparatus includes a strap, a sensor configured to measure a position and angle at which the strap is bent, a display, and a processor configured to display a user interface (UI) element corresponding to the measured position and angle on the display.