Angular Orientation Indicator for Multi-Viewer Displays
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Solution Overview
Problem
In multi-viewer displays, such as microscopes or video game displays, indicating a location on an image can lead to confusion among viewers due to unclear orientation, especially when users refer to positions using directional expressions that may not align with the viewer's perspective, causing miscommunication during collaborative analysis or gameplay.
Innovation Solution
A user-controlled indicator with a directional element and multiple reference elements indicating angular orientations, such as clock face positions, is used to clearly convey the intended direction, reducing confusion by providing visual cues for accurate orientation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a simple indicator is used to mark a location on an image, then the device complexity is reduced, but the clarity of angular orientation communication deteriorates causing confusion among viewers
Solution Approach 1:
The indicator is segmented into multiple functional components: a directional element showing the primary direction and multiple reference elements showing angular orientations at different clock face positions. This segmentation allows each element to convey specific orientation information, resolving the contradiction by making the indicator more informative without requiring a completely new device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The indicator transitions from a simple point marker to a multi-dimensional orientation display by adding angular reference elements that extend in different directions. This dimensional expansion allows the indicator to convey not just location but also angular orientation information, preventing information loss while maintaining reasonable structural complexity.
2Ease of operation
If directional expressions are used to indicate positions in multi-viewer displays, then communication between viewers is simplified, but miscommunication occurs due to perspective misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
The reference elements act as an intermediary visual language between the user and other viewers. Instead of relying on ambiguous directional expressions that depend on viewer perspective, the reference elements provide objective visual cues (clock face positions) that all viewers can interpret consistently regardless of their viewing angle or orientation.
Solution Approach 2:
While not explicitly using color changes, the patent applies a similar visual differentiation principle by using distinct visual markers (reference elements at different angular positions) to encode orientation information. Each reference element's position serves as a visual code that communicates angular orientation unambiguously, similar to how color changes can convey different states or directions.
3Loss of information
If a user-controlled indicator with multiple reference elements is implemented, then angular orientation clarity is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The indicator is designed as a universal tool that performs multiple functions: marking location, indicating primary direction, and showing angular orientations at multiple clock face positions. By consolidating these functions into a single multi-functional indicator structure, the patent achieves comprehensive orientation communication without requiring multiple separate devices or complex coordination between them.
Solution Approach 2:
The indicator structure is designed to be self-explanatory and self-sufficient. The reference elements automatically provide angular orientation information without requiring additional commentary or explanation from the user. The indicator serves itself by embedding all necessary orientation cues directly in its visual structure, reducing the need for complex control mechanisms or additional communication channels.
Data Source
AI summary
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate generally to the fields for indicating a location on an image in a multi-viewer display. In particular embodiments, the multi-viewer display may be a multi-viewer microscope.