Dual Touch Sensor Symbol Entry Device for Compact Displays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing symbol entry devices face challenges in efficiently entering desired symbols, particularly on small display surfaces, where a large number of icons can lead to difficulty in finding symbols, and reducing the number of icons increases the number of software keyboard switches needed.
Innovation Solution
A symbol entry device with a display and dual touch sensors, where different touch operations (e.g., tap, peek, pop) on the same entry location generate distinct operation signals, allowing for the entry of different symbols with fewer operations, and enhancing security by reducing the risk of authentication information being known to others.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the number of icons in the software keyboard is increased, then more symbols can be entered, but the difficulty of finding a desired symbol increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensionality change by introducing a new interaction dimension (touch pressure levels) to the existing 2D display interface. Instead of adding more icons horizontally or vertically, the system utilizes pressure-sensitive touch operations (tap, double-tap, long-press) to access different symbol sets and functions, effectively adding a third dimension to the input interface that allows more symbols to be entered without increasing visual clutter
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements multi-functionality by making each entry location serve multiple purposes: light touch enters one symbol, heavy touch enters another symbol, and long-press triggers additional functions. This allows a single icon to represent multiple symbols and operations, increasing the number of enterable symbols without adding more visual elements to the interface
2Ease of operation
If the number of icons in the software keyboard is decreased, then the ease of finding a desired symbol improves, but the number of operations of switching among different software keyboards increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the keyboard configuration adaptive rather than static. The system dynamically switches between different symbol sets and input modes based on the touch operation detected, allowing users to access different symbol sets within the same visual interface without manual keyboard switching. This dynamic adaptation reduces the time lost to keyboard switching while maintaining ease of finding symbols
3Area of stationary object
If the display surface size is reduced, then the device becomes more compact, but the difficulty of entering symbols increases due to smaller entry locations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by utilizing touch pressure as an additional input parameter. Instead of relying solely on the spatial position of touch, the system uses pressure magnitude to differentiate between various input actions (light tap, heavy press, long-press), allowing compact entry locations to encode multiple symbols and functions without requiring larger display areas
Data Source
AI summary
A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer-readable instructions executable by a processor of a symbol entry device comprising a display, a first touch sensor and a second touch sensor, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the symbol entry device to execute: displaying an entry screen including a plurality of entry locations; receiving a location signal from the first touch sensor and one of a first operation signal and a second operation signal; determining that a first symbol associated with an entry location has been entered; determining that a second symbol associated with the entry location and different from the first symbol has been entered; and storing information corresponding to a determined symbol in memory for inclusion in authentication information, the determined symbol being based on one of the first symbol or the second symbol.