Cursor Coordinate Controller for Intuitive Touch Pad Selection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing display control devices require adjustment of the touch pad operation position or amount to match the cursor position with selection items, making it difficult for drivers to intuitively select items during vehicle travel, especially when multiple items are close or layout is complex.

Innovation Solution

A display control device that acquires operation information from a touch pad, including position and direction, to automatically select the closest selection item based on positional relationships, reducing the need for precise operation amount adjustments and minimizing 'cursor jumping' across display areas.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the touch pad operation position or amount is adjusted to match the cursor position with selection items, then the selection accuracy is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates during vehicle travel

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecursor position matching accuracyVSAvoidoperability during vehicle travel
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically determines the operation direction from touch pad operations and autonomously selects the closest selection item in that direction, eliminating the need for the driver to manually adjust operation position or amount. The system serves itself by interpreting the driver's intuitive directional input and completing the selection automatically.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the operational parameters from requiring precise position and amount control to accepting directional input only. By transforming the operation mode from absolute coordinate control to direction-based relative control, the system adapts to the driving context where precise manual control is difficult.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If the cursor position is precisely controlled to match selection items, then the selection accuracy is improved, but the device complexity increases due to coordinate system synchronization requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveselection item matching accuracyVSAvoidcoordinate system synchronization complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts and utilizes only the directional component from touch pad operations, discarding the need for complex coordinate system synchronization. By focusing solely on operation direction rather than absolute position mapping, the system simplifies the control mechanism while maintaining selection accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of mapping touch pad coordinates to display coordinates through complex synchronization, the system inverts the approach by using the operation direction from the touch pad to directly determine cursor movement direction on the display, bypassing the need for coordinate transformation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the cursor moves across display areas to reach selection items, then the selection capability is improved, but cursor jumping occurs reducing stability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveselection capability across display areasVSAvoidcursor position stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The system incorporates feedback by detecting whether the cursor is positioned over a selection item and automatically adjusting the cursor position to the nearest item in the operation direction. This feedback mechanism prevents cursor jumping by ensuring the cursor always lands on a valid selection target.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary action by pre-determining the closest selection item in the operation direction before finalizing the cursor position. This anticipatory selection prevents unstable cursor jumping by establishing the target position in advance based on the operation direction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3327561B1Display control device
Publication Date: 2021.01.13 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP3327561B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3327561B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4D
  • EP3327561B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

A display control device (200) includes an operation information acquisition unit (210) and a cursor coordinate controller (220). The cursor coordinate controller (20) is configured to, in a state in which a cursor is set to a predetermined selection item, when operation information is acquired from the operation information acquisition unit (210), and when, based on a position of the cursor on a display surface of a display device (300), the selection item is included in a search area that is set in a direction corresponding to an operation direction included in the operation information on the display surface, select the selection item at a position closest to a reference point of the cursor in the direction corresponding to the operation direction as the selection item to be a movement destination of the cursor.