Display Orientation Control for Stable Function Icon Visibility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional operating devices suffer from deteriorating visibility of function icons when the user changes the posture of the device, as the position of the icons rotates with the device, making it difficult for users to operate effectively.

Innovation Solution

An operating device with a posture setter, display processor, posture detector, and display changer that sets a facing posture for the device, detects posture changes, and maintains the display of function icons towards a fixed direction, ensuring their visibility remains consistent regardless of device orientation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the operating device rotates the display image when the user rotates the device, then the display image orientation changes to match the device posture, but the position of the function icon rotates with the display image, causing visibility deterioration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay image orientation adaptationVSAvoidfunction icon visibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the function icon from the rotating display image by making it an independent element that does not rotate with the image. The display processor separately controls the function icon's orientation, keeping it fixed in the up-down direction while the display image rotates to match the device posture. This resolves the contradiction by allowing the display image to adapt to device orientation while maintaining function icon visibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the display content into two independent parts: the rotatable display image and the non-rotatable function icon. This segmentation allows different parts of the display to have different transformation behaviors, enabling the display image to rotate with the device while the function icon remains stationary and visible.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Stability of the object's composition

If the function icon position rotates with the device rotation, then the display maintains consistency with device orientation, but the user must continuously adjust to find the function icon, reducing operability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay-device orientation consistencyVSAvoidfunction icon operability

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The function icon is extracted from the rotating display system and positioned independently. The display processor applies different transformation rules to the function icon compared to the display image, keeping the icon fixed in the vertical direction while allowing the image to rotate. This maintains display-device orientation consistency while ensuring the function icon remains easily operable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the display processor rotates all display elements with the device, then the overall display orientation adapts to the device posture, but the function icon becomes difficult to locate and operate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay posture adaptationVSAvoidfunction icon position information

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The function icon is taken out from the group of rotating display elements and given special treatment by the display processor. While the display image rotates to adapt to device posture, the function icon maintains its original vertical orientation, preventing loss of position information and ensuring continuous visibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different quality characteristics to different parts of the display: the display image has rotational adaptability while the function icon has fixed vertical orientation. This local differentiation in transformation properties allows the system to adapt to device posture while preserving function icon position information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS11555575B2Operating device, display control method, and recording medium recording display control program

Publication Date: 2023.01.17 SHARP KK

AI summary

An operating device according to the present invention includes a posture setter that sets a posture of the operating device with respect to a user to a first posture, a display processor that causes a predetermined object to be displayed toward a first direction in the display area of the operating device set to the first posture, a posture detector that detects a posture change of the operating device when the user changes the posture of the operating device, and a display changer that causes at least a part of object information included in the object to be displayed toward the first direction in the display area when the operating device changes the posture from the first posture to a second posture.