Cylindrical Display Rotation for Intuitive Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing control room display systems lack an intuitive and efficient method for interactively selecting and positioning multiple displays, often resulting in user confusion and difficulty in accessing critical information.
Innovation Solution
A user interface featuring a cylindrical or prismatic carrier element with displays arranged laterally, allowing rotation about an axis of symmetry in response to user input signals, enabling intuitive selection and visualization of displays, with the selected display being positioned centrally for optimal viewing and potentially output on a large screen or projector.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If multiple displays are arranged on a workstation with traditional switches for selection, then more image information can be available, but user interaction becomes confusing and difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a cylindrical arrangement of displays around a central axis, replacing traditional linear or grid layouts. This curved spatial organization allows displays to be rotated into view through natural rotational motion, making selection more intuitive and reducing interaction complexity while maintaining the ability to present multiple displays simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements dynamic rotation of the cylindrical display arrangement based on user input. Instead of static display positions requiring switch selection, the entire cylindrical structure rotates to bring different displays into the central viewing position, creating an intuitive dynamic interaction model where rotation directly corresponds to display selection.
2Ease of operation
If displays are arranged laterally on a cylindrical carrier, then display selection becomes intuitive through rotation, but the physical structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple displays onto a single cylindrical carrier structure, integrating what would traditionally be separate display units and control mechanisms into one unified rotating assembly. This consolidation simplifies the overall system architecture while enabling intuitive rotational selection of displays.
Solution Approach 2:
The cylindrical carrier serves multiple functions simultaneously: it holds multiple displays, provides the rotational mechanism for selection, and acts as the structural framework. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components and simplifies the overall device complexity despite the innovative arrangement.
3Manufacturing precision
If a display is positioned centrally for optimal viewing, then readability improves, but other displays become less accessible
Solution Approach 1:
The system resolves the conflict between central positioning for readability and accessibility of other displays through dynamic rotation. The cylindrical arrangement allows any display to be brought to the central optimal viewing position on demand, while all other displays remain accessible through the rotational mechanism. This dynamic repositioning capability ensures both precise central positioning and universal accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional display arrangement to a three-dimensional cylindrical configuration. This dimensional change allows displays to be arranged around the circumference, with rotation providing access to each display in sequence. The third dimension (radial arrangement) enables central positioning for optimal viewing while maintaining accessibility to all displays through rotational movement.
Data Source
AI summary
A user interface, computer program, computer readable media and method arranges displays on a lateral surface of a cylinder, which displays can be easily viewed and selected by rotation about the axis of rotation of the cylinder. A user operates an input element for this purpose. A drive rotates the lateral surface containing the displays according to the user's inputs. In addition to this exemplary embodiment of a mechanical arrangement, a user interface is also proposed which visualizes the displays and the lateral surface only virtually as graphical objects on a graphical user interface. The rotation of the displays is now output as an animation on the graphical user interface. This affords the advantage that a visualization is provided which images a mental model of the user on the graphical user interface and simultaneously increases the user's attention by means of the animation.