Dual Touch Panel System for Intuitive Process Selection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Touch panel devices require users to navigate menu screens to select processing types, limiting their ability to perform multiple types of operations intuitively.

Innovation Solution

A touch panel system with two touch panels that detect contact, where the control unit associates displayed images with their positions and determines the appropriate process based on contact state, allowing for intuitive execution of various processes without the need for a menu screen.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a menu screen is used to select processing types, then multiple types of processing can be performed, but the operation becomes less intuitive and requires prior knowledge of operations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing typesVSAvoidintuitive operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The touch panel is divided into multiple regions with different functionalities. The first region displays data images, while the second region serves as a dedicated operation input area. This segmentation allows users to perform different operations by contacting different regions, eliminating the need for menu screens while maintaining versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A second touch panel is introduced as an intermediary input device between the user and the data processing system. This second touch panel detects contact states and translates them into specific processing operations, serving as a mediator that enables intuitive control without requiring users to navigate traditional menu interfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If a second touch panel is added to enable intuitive operation, then ease of operation improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveintuitive operationVSAvoidtouch panel structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The first and second touch panels are combined into a single integrated touch panel device with opposite surfaces. This merging approach allows the system to maintain the functionality of multiple touch panels while simplifying the overall device structure and reducing the complexity associated with managing separate panel systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The second touch panel serves multiple functions: it detects contact states to determine processing types, provides intuitive input capability, and eliminates the need for separate menu navigation interfaces. This multi-functionality justifies the added component by consolidating several operations into a single versatile input mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS9817567B2Touch panel device, process determination method, program, and touch panel system

Publication Date: 2017.11.14 NEC CORP

AI summary

A touch panel device includes: first and second touch panels that detect contact of an object, and a control unit that associates images that are displayed on the first touch panel and that indicate data with the display positions of the images on the first touch panel, and determines on the basis of the state of contact detected on the second touch panel, from among a plurality of types of processes that have been determined in advance, a process that is to be performed upon data indicated by a selected image that is an image that corresponds to the position of contact detected on the first touch panel.