3D Coordinate Display Cues for Off-Screen Origin Direction

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional display apparatuses struggle to intuitively convey the relative position of a specific point in a three-dimensional coordinate system when it is located outside the displayed coordinate range, making it difficult for users to understand its direction in relation to the displayed coordinates.

Innovation Solution

The display apparatus employs gradation displays, origin direction marks, and origin direction arrows to indicate the position of the origin in relation to the 3D space, using color gradation and directional indicators to clearly show the relative position of the origin, even when it is outside the displayed range.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If the coordinate range displayed on the screen is set to show the solid figure, then the solid figure is clearly visible, but the origin may be located outside the displayed range making its position difficult to understand

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition information of originVSAvoiddisplayed coordinate range
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dimensionality change by introducing a fourth dimension (visual representation) to indicate the origin's position. When the origin is outside the displayed 3D coordinate range, the system displays a 2D indicator showing which face of the coordinate system the origin is closest to, and on which side of that face the origin is located. This transforms the problem of representing 3D spatial relationship into a 2D visual indicator that can be displayed within the screen constraints.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses an intermediary indicator (a visual marker showing face and side information) to mediate between the origin (which cannot be directly displayed when outside the range) and the displayed coordinate system. This intermediary provides indirect information about the origin's position without requiring the origin itself to be within the visible range, thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining display range and conveying position information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the origin is displayed when it is within the coordinate range, then the origin position is clear, but additional display elements are needed when it is outside the range

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser understanding of origin positionVSAvoiddisplay elements
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by providing different display treatments based on the origin's location. When the origin is within the displayed range, it is shown normally as part of the coordinate system. When the origin is outside the range, a specific indicator is displayed on the relevant face to show the origin's relative position. This localized approach ensures clarity of origin position information while adapting the display complexity only where needed, rather than always showing complex indicators.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Loss of information

If the coordinate range is expanded to include the origin, then the origin position is visible, but the solid figure may become smaller or less detailed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveorigin position informationVSAvoidsolid figure detail
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the origin position information from the main 3D coordinate display and represents it separately through a 2D indicator on the relevant face. This allows the coordinate range to be optimized for displaying the solid figure with appropriate detail, while the extracted origin position information is conveyed through the indicator showing which face and side the origin is closest to, thus avoiding the need to expand the coordinate range and lose solid figure detail.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3576053B1Display device, display method, and program
Publication Date: 2025.12.31 CASIO COMPUTER CO LTD
  • EP3576053B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3576053B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP3576053B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

When a figure is drawn in a three-dimensional coordinate system which is set up on a screen of a display apparatus, a positional relationship of an origin of the coordinate system to the drawn figure is easily understandably displayed. Among twelve lines indicating a 3D space (Ad) (X-axis direction lines (Xa)(Xb)(Xc)(Xd), Y-axis direction lines (Ya)(Yb)(Yc)(Yd), Z-axis direction lines (Za)(Zb)(Zc)(Zd)), display colors of red (R), green (G) and blue (B) are allocated to three lines (three-dimensional directions), i.e. an X-axis direction line (Xa), a Y-axis direction line (Ya) and a Z-axis direction line (Za), which have, as starting points, a 3D space minimum point (M) at which each of an X value, a Y value and a Z value becomes minimum, and red gradation display (Rgr), green gradation display (Ggr) and blue gradation display (Bgr) (first origin direction distinct display) are executed such that the colors become darker toward an origin (O) of the 3D space (Ad) and become lighter away from the origin (O).