Samsung patent: More pressure sensitive navigation by squeezing

Last updated: November 1st, 2018 at eleven:43 UTC+01:00

A patent application published today shows Samsung may have more than aces upwardly its sleeve regarding a phone UX with a pressure level sensitive display. We see new virtual keys, and the possibility to clasp your Galaxy.

Samsung patent: clasp and press more

Back in April 2017, Samsung filed a patent application in South korea, titledElectronic Device And Method Of Controlling the Electronic Device Based On Touch Input. The patent describes several implementations of pressure level sensitive virtual keys. One of them we are already familiar with, as the visitor has used it in devices like the Milky way S8 and S9: the virtual, force per unit area sensitive home key.

Samsung describes how different levels of pressure trigger different deportment. This is how, for instance, the Galaxy S9 knows whether you are tapping a central in an app, or if you lot want to return to the abode screen. So far, that is nothing new. However, the patent goes on to outline several more ways to employ the same technique.

Samsung patent shows more pressure sensitive navigation: squeezing, new keys

For example, by measuring pressure on both edges of a display, a squeeze can be detected. Squeeze hard enough, and you tin switch the brandish off, for example. At present, we've seen HTC's squeezable U11, just Samsung does not make the frame squeezable – merely the screen. We're assuming the aptitude dual-border brandish on Samsung's flagship devices would brand this work.

Also included in the application is a description of a pressure sensitive power key. It functions but like the virtual dwelling house key and provides unlike functions. Depending on how hard you press, the brandish switches off, the phone reboots, or an emergency mode is triggered. With the awarding of pressure, an indicator on the screen shows the user which action will be triggered.

Samsung patent shows more pressure sensitive navigation: squeezing, new keys

Information technology'south not hard to prototype all kinds of implementations of the same concept: volume keys, or completely new virtual buttons that sit on the curved edge of the display, waiting to be pressed, not only touched.

The usual disclaimer

Of course, at that place is no way to know if and when we'll be seeing any of these ideas in hereafter Galaxy phones. After all, the virtual habitation cardinal already is in use, and Samsung could have concluded it is the only truly useful implementation. But in a world of e'er-shrinking bezels and growing screen-to-body ratios, Samsung still has a few UX tricks up its sleeve, as this patent application shows.