Flexible device deformation measurement

• US 9,228,907 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2013
• Issued: 01/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Salo, Antti, Kosonen, Matti
• Primary Examiner(s): Noori, Max
• Application Number:
  US14/080,376
• Publication Number:
  US 20150128728A1
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• Field of Search: 738/623.81, 738/623.91, 738/626.26, 738/00
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 7/16 for measuring the deformation in a solid, e.g. by resistance strain gauge
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 7/22 using change in capacitance
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/04 by measuring elastic deformation of gauges, e.g. of springs
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/12 by measuring variations in the magnetic properties of materials resulting from the application of stress
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/14 by measuring variations in capacitance or inductance of electrical elements, e.g. by measuring variations of frequency of electrical oscillators
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/142 using capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1641 the display being formed by a plurality of foldable display components G06F1/1647 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1652 the display being flexible, e.g. mimicking a sheet of paper, or rollable
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04102 Flexible digitiser, i.e. constructional details for allowing the whole digitising part of a device to be flexed or rolled like a sheet of paper
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04103 Manufacturing, i.e. details related to manufacturing processes specially suited for touch sensitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04105 Pressure sensors for measuring the pressure or force exerted on the touch surface without providing the touch position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0445 using two or more layers of sensing electrodes, e.g. using two layers of electrodes separated by a dielectric layer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0447 Position sensing using the local deformation of sensor cells
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0487 using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser

Abstract

Monitoring deformation of a flexible electronic apparatus. Changes in space within the apparatus between at least two measurement points are detected; and degree of deformation of the apparatus is determined based on the detected changes in the space within the apparatus between the at least two measurement points.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

monitoring deformation of a flexible hand-held mobile electronic apparatus, said apparatus comprising,

a processing unit;

at least one memory, the at least one memory having computer program code stored thereon;

a communication interface configured to communicate data over at least one radio frequency connection; and

a user interface configured to receive input from, and display output to, a user of the apparatus;

wherein said monitoring of deformation comprises

detecting changes in space within the apparatus between at least two measurement points; and

determining a degree of deformation of the apparatus based on the detected changes in the space within the apparatus between the at least two measurement points.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said at least two measurement points reside in at least two different parts of the apparatus, wherein said at least two parts are configured to move in relation to one another to allow deformation of the flexible electronic apparatus.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said at least two measurement points reside on different surfaces of one deforming part of the apparatus.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein said at least two measurement points reside inside the apparatus.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the two measurement points resides on a cover part of the apparatus.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein said at least two measurement points are different points in time domain.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein said detection of changes in space within the apparatus comprises detecting relative movement of the at least two measurement points in relation to one another.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein said detection of changes in space within the apparatus comprises detecting a change in distance between the at least two measurement points.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein said detection of changes in space within the apparatus comprises detecting a gap between the at least two measurement points.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein said detection of changes in space within the apparatus comprises detecting a contact between the at least two measurement points.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein said detecting of changes in space within the apparatus comprises detecting a change in forces experienced between the at least two measurement points.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein said detection of changes in space within the apparatus comprises detecting changes in pressure experienced within the apparatus.

13. A method according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus comprises a cavity filled with any one of a fluid and a gas within the apparatus and said detection of changes in space within the apparatus comprises detecting changes in pressure experienced by any one of the fluid and the gas within the cavity.

14. A method according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises elastic material between the at least two measurement points and said detection of changes in space within the apparatus comprises detecting changes within the elastic material.

15. A method according to claim 1, wherein said detection of changes in space within the apparatus is performed by using contactless measurement technology.

16. A method according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus comprises a touch screen and said detection of changes in space within the apparatus comprises detecting changes in capacitive environment of the touch screen.

17. A flexible hand-held mobile electronic apparatus comprising:

a processing unit;

at least one memory, the at least one memory having computer program code stored thereon;

a communication interface configured to communicate data over at least one radio frequency connection;

a user interface configured to receive input from, and display output to, a user of the apparatus;

an apparatus structure configured to allow deformation of the apparatus;

detection equipment configured to detect changes in space within the apparatus between at least two measurement points; and

the processing unit configured to determine a degree of deformation of the apparatus based on the detected changes in the space within the apparatus between the at least two measurement points.

18. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said detection equipment is configured to detect changes in distance between the at least two measurement points.

19. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said detection equipment is configured to detect a change in forces caused between the at least two measurement points.

20. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said detection equipment comprises contactless measurement equipment.

21. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said detection equipment comprises at least one magnet and magnetometer pair.

22. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said detection equipment comprises at least one capacitive sensor.

23. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said detection equipment comprises at least one inductive sensor.

24. An apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising at least one touch screen configured to provide a user interface and said touch screen is configured to operate as the detection equipment and to detect changes in capacitive environment of the touch screen changes in space within the apparatus.

25. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the apparatus structure comprises a plurality of tabs loosely fitted into holes to allow deformation of the apparatus without breaking.

26. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the apparatus further comprises a top cover and a bottom cover, and wherein a pillar and sliding contacts join the covers to enable parallel movement of the covers in relation to one another.