Dynamic Reference Point for Touch Panel Direction Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing touch panel systems require users to separate their finger or stylus from the screen and re-contact a virtual controller to change direction, leading to increased operation burden and reduced intuitive interaction.

Innovation Solution

A program and system that sets a user's contact position on a touch panel as a reference point, identifies direction changes over a predetermined period or distance, and updates the reference point accordingly, allowing for continuous operation without re-contacting the virtual controller.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a virtual controller is displayed on a touch panel and the user's contact position is used for operation input, then the operation can be performed by finger contact with the screen, but the user must separate the finger from the screen and re-contact the virtual controller to change direction, increasing operation burden

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperation burdenVSAvoidoperation steps

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The reference position is made dynamic and automatically updates based on the user's contact position. When the contact position moves beyond a predetermined range from the current reference position, the reference position automatically follows and updates to the new contact position, allowing continuous directional input without lifting the finger

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically detects and updates the reference position based on the user's contact position movements. The direction identificator continuously monitors contact position changes and self-adjusts the reference position, eliminating the need for manual re-contacting of the virtual controller

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Device complexity

If the reference position is fixed in a virtual controller, then the controller structure is simple, but the user must move the contact position beyond the reference position to change direction, requiring separation and re-contacting

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontroller structureVSAvoiddirection changing operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The reference position transitions from a fixed point to a dynamic point that automatically updates. When the contact position moves beyond the predetermined range, the reference position dynamically follows and updates to the new contact position, enabling continuous directional input without structural complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS10901549B2Program, computer apparatus, program execution method, and system

Publication Date: 2021.01.26 SQUARE ENIX HLDG CO LTD

AI summary

Provided is a program which is executed in a device capable of outputting information on the basis of a user's contact position on an operation unit, the program causing the device to function as a setter that sets the contact position as a reference point, an identificator that identifies a direction from a first point to a second point of the contact position on the basis of a predetermined period or distance in a case where the contact position is moved, a determinator that determines a change of the direction by comparing a first direction and a second direction with each other when the direction identified in a case where the first point is a reference point is set to be the first direction and a direction identified in a case where a present contact position is set to be the second point is set to be the second direction.