Compass Interface Bearing Setting via Touch Gestures

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing compass application features on electronic devices are cumbersome and inefficient, often requiring multiple key presses or keystrokes, wasting user time and device energy, particularly in battery-operated devices.

Innovation Solution

Faster and more efficient methods and interfaces for providing compass application features, reducing cognitive burden and conserving power by allowing precise bearing setting and resistance to accidental inputs, utilizing touch-sensitive displays and intuitive gestures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If traditional compass application interfaces are used, then bearing setting functionality is provided, but multiple key presses or keystrokes are required making the operation cumbersome and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of bearing settingVSAvoidtime for bearing setting

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the bearing setting functionality from traditional multi-step keyboard input and implements it through direct touch interaction with the display. Users can set bearings by simply touching and dragging on the compass display, eliminating the need for multiple key presses and simplifying the operation to a single intuitive gesture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical keyboard input system with a touch-sensitive display system. Instead of requiring physical key presses, the system responds to finger touches and gestures on the display surface, enabling faster and more intuitive bearing setting through direct manipulation of the visual interface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If traditional compass application interfaces are used, then bearing setting functionality is provided, but multiple key presses are required increasing device energy consumption

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of bearing settingVSAvoiddevice energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the bearing setting functionality from traditional multi-step keyboard input and implements it through direct touch interaction with the display. Users can set bearings by simply touching and dragging on the compass display, eliminating the need for multiple key presses and simplifying the operation to a single intuitive gesture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical keyboard input system with a touch-sensitive display system. Instead of requiring physical key presses, the system responds to finger touches and gestures on the display surface, enabling faster and more intuitive bearing setting through direct manipulation of the visual interface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If simplified touch interfaces are used, then operation speed is improved, but resistance to accidental inputs must be maintained

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperation speedVSAvoidresistance to accidental inputs

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different interaction requirements to different areas of the compass display. The bearing setting functionality requires a specific gesture pattern (touch and drag in a particular direction), while other areas respond to simpler touches. This localized differentiation allows quick operation when intended while preventing accidental activation through improper gesture patterns.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic response based on the characteristics of the user input. The system distinguishes between intentional bearing setting gestures (with specific duration, pressure, or motion patterns) and accidental touches (brief, random contacts). By dynamically adjusting the activation threshold based on gesture characteristics, the system enables fast operation while filtering out accidental inputs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3991006B1User interfaces for a compass application

Publication Date: 2025.06.25 APPLE INC

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AI summary

An electronic device displays a compass user interface with a direction indicator and a bearing indicator. The direction indicator provides an indication of a respective compass direction, wherein the appearance of the direction indicator is determined based on the orientation of the electronic device relative to the respective compass direction. The bearing indicator provides an indication of an offset from the respective compass direction. While displaying the bearing indicator, the electronic device detects rotation of the rotatable input mechanism and, in response, changes the displayed position of the bearing indicator from a first position to a second position by an amount that is determined in accordance with a magnitude of the rotation of the rotatable input mechanism.