SE2530084A1 - Mechanism for simplified operation of a handheld electronic device - Google Patents

Abstract

The ordinary way to operate a smartphone and similar devices is by means of a touchsensitive display.In situations when the device has to be lifted up and only one hand is available, it is hard to hold the device in a firm grip while operating it by using the thumb.The solution proposed is as follows.A specific subarea is defined out of a subpart of the surface of the device not covered by the display, e.g. on the backside of the device. Said subarea is equipped with means to detect and measure the movements and positions of multiple fingertips relative to said subarea in three dimensionsA mapping function is implemented which transforms each fingertip’s movement and position to the movement and position of a corresponding cursor symbol and makes this cursor symbol shown on the display.A fingertip touch of the surface of said specific subarea is defiend to occur when its measured height above the subarea surface goes under a certain value.Said fingertip touch is mapped to imply a conceptual touch of the display surface by the corresponding cursor symbolThe effect of a conceptual touch of a cursor symbol on a position of the display surface is considered equivalent to that of a physical fingertip touch on said position should the display be touch-sensitive.