Cursor Position Determination from Finger Contact on Touch Screen
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional user interfaces for portable devices are inflexible and challenging to use due to small screens, complex key sequences, and menu hierarchies, making it difficult for users to interact effectively with multifunction devices.
Innovation Solution
A portable multifunction device with a touch-sensitive display and a graphical user interface that uses finger contacts and gestures to determine cursor positions, allowing for adaptive operation and intuitive interaction through soft keyboards and virtual click wheels, which can be tailored to individual user preferences and contexts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If physical pushbuttons are added to increase functionality, then device capability is improved, but device complexity and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the display and input functions into a single touch-sensitive display surface. The display shows both information and interactive elements (buttons, icons, sliders), eliminating the need for separate physical buttons. This integration maintains full functionality while reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The touch-sensitive display serves multiple functions simultaneously: it displays information, provides tactile feedback through visual cues, accepts various input modes (tap, slide, pinch, rotate), and adapts to different user preferences. This multi-functionality replaces multiple dedicated components with a single versatile interface.
2Adaptability or versatility
If more pushbuttons are added to access functions, then functionality is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to increased complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The interface dynamically adapts its configuration based on context, user preferences, and device state. Virtual buttons can be repositioned, resized, or transformed into different control mechanisms (sliders, knobs, gestures) depending on the application and user settings. This dynamic adaptation maintains ease of operation while providing extensive functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes interaction parameters such as touch sensitivity, button size, response time, and input modalities based on user preferences and contextual requirements. Users can adjust touch response thresholds, customize button layouts, and select preferred interaction styles, making the interface adaptable to individual usability needs.
3Volume of moving object
If conventional touch screen with virtual buttons is used, then device compactness is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to fingerprint variation
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces an intermediary transformation layer between the physical finger contact and the virtual interface elements. This intermediary algorithm processes the contact information (location, pressure, duration, gesture type) and translates it into the appropriate virtual button activation, accounting for fingerprint variations and providing precise control despite the indirect interaction medium.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical button pressing with a sophisticated software-based input interpretation system. Instead of relying on physical contact precision, the system uses algorithms to interpret touch patterns, gestures, and contact characteristics to accurately determine user intent and activate the corresponding virtual controls with high precision.
4Ease of manufacture
If fixed user interface layout is used, then ease of manufacture is improved, but adaptability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The interface transitions from a static, fixed layout to a dynamic, reconfigurable system. Elements can be automatically repositioned based on usage patterns, user preferences, and contextual requirements. The layout adapts in real-time or based on trigger events, maintaining ease of initial implementation while providing extensive flexibility for customization and adaptation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary configuration and learning during initial use, automatically determining optimal layouts and interaction patterns based on user behavior. This preliminary action establishes a customized interface without requiring manual configuration, combining the simplicity of fixed layouts with the adaptability of personalized configurations.
Data Source
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AI summary
A portable device with a touch screen display detects a contact area of a finger with the touch screen display and then determines a first position associated with the contact area. The cursor position of the finger contact is determined, at least in part, based on: the first position, one or more distances between the first position and one or more of the user interface objects; and one or more activation susceptibility numbers, each associated with a respective user interface object in the plurality of user interface objects. If the cursor position falls into the hidden hit region of a virtual push button on the touch screen display, the portable device is activated to perform operations associated with the virtual push button.