Adaptive Display Area Control via Back Touch Sensor

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users face difficulty in viewing information on an information processing device when holding it with one hand, as displayed information can be obscured by their hand, and existing solutions do not effectively adapt the display area based on hand orientation.

Innovation Solution

The device incorporates a front touch sensor overlapped on the display and a back touch sensor to detect hand orientation, identifying prohibited areas on the display and positioning information outside these areas for optimal visibility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If information is displayed in the lower right area of the display when the user holds the device with the left hand, then the display area is utilized, but the information is hidden by the user's hand and becomes difficult to see

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay areaVSAvoidvisibility of displayed information
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The display area dynamically changes based on detected hand orientation. The control section identifies prohibited areas and adjusts where information is displayed according to the detected position by the back touch sensor, making the display adaptive rather than static.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The back touch sensor detects the user's hand position and provides feedback to the control section. This feedback loop allows the system to continuously monitor hand orientation and adjust the display area accordingly, ensuring information remains visible.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Device complexity

If the display area is fixed regardless of hand orientation, then the device structure is simple, but the information may be obscured by the user's hand

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay control structureVSAvoidvisibility while operating
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The back touch sensor serves multiple functions: it detects hand orientation and enables dynamic adjustment of the display area. This multi-functionality allows the system to maintain simplicity while improving ease of operation through adaptive display control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Loss of information

If a back touch sensor is added to detect hand orientation and adjust display area, then visibility is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisibility of displayed informationVSAvoidsensor and control structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The back touch sensor acts as an intermediary that detects hand orientation without requiring direct contact with the front display. This indirect detection method provides necessary information for display adjustment while maintaining a simple overall structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2711813B1Information processing device, method for controlling information processing device, program, and information recording medium
Publication Date: 2020.08.05 SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT LLC
  • EP2711813B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP2711813B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP2711813B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3

AI summary

The present invention is to allow change of the area in which information as a display target is not displayed in a display according to a detected position by a touch sensor disposed opposed to a touch sensor that is so disposed as to be overlapped on the display. An information processing device (1) includes a touch panel (12) that is so configured as to include a display and a front touch sensor that is so disposed as to be overlapped on the display and detects the position of an object on a detection surface, a back touch sensor (18) that is disposed opposed to the front touch sensor and detects the position of an object on a detection surface, and a control section. The control section identifies, as a prohibited area, one of two areas that each occupy part of the display and are disposed on the left and right sides based on at least one detected position by the back touch sensor (18), and causes information as a display target to be displayed in an area outside the prohibited area in the display.