Dynamic Soft Trigger for Handheld Barcode Scanners
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic devices with touch screen interfaces for data reading, such as barcode scanners and RFID readers, often require a physical trigger button that restricts handheld use, adds bulk, and may be inconvenient for users with smaller hands or those who are left- or right-handed.
Innovation Solution
A portable electronic device with a touch screen that features a soft activation trigger, which is selectable by touching the display and automatically adjusts its display size and position based on the operator's usage patterns and precision, allowing for ergonomic customization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a physical trigger button is provided on the housing of the device, then device functions can be activated, but the device bulk and size increase and handheld use is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical physical trigger button with a software-based virtual trigger displayed on the touch screen. This substitution eliminates the need for additional mechanical components that increase device bulk, while maintaining the activation function through touch interface interaction. The virtual trigger is rendered as a graphical element on the display, allowing device activation without adding physical volume to the handheld device.
2Ease of operation
If a physical trigger button is provided on the housing of the device, then device functions can be activated, but the device bulk and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the trigger activation function with the existing touch screen display interface. Instead of adding a separate physical trigger component, the activation functionality is integrated into the graphical user interface by displaying a virtual trigger element on the screen. This consolidation allows the device to maintain activation capabilities while avoiding the volume increase that would result from adding a separate physical trigger mechanism to the housing.
3Ease of operation
If the trigger size is large, then it is easier to select, but the display area for other information is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic virtual trigger that automatically adjusts its display size and position based on the operator's usage patterns and precision. The trigger begins at an initial size that is easy to select, and then progressively reduces in size as the operator demonstrates improved precision in selecting it. This dynamic adaptation allows the trigger to optimize between ease of selection and available display area, with the size being adjusted in real-time based on operator performance rather than being fixed at a conservative large size.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms that monitor the operator's trigger selection precision and use this information to automatically adjust the trigger size. The feedback loop tracks whether selections are accurate and makes real-time modifications to the trigger dimensions, allowing the display area to be maximized while maintaining ease of selection. This feedback-driven adaptation resolves the contradiction by allowing the trigger to be large when needed for ease of selection and small when precision is demonstrated.
Data Source
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AI summary
A portable electronic device (100) having a touch screen (112) for displaying a soft activation trigger (175). The soft trigger (175) may be selected via application of a control gesture on the touch screen (112) to configure the electronic device (100) and enable various functions of the electronic device (100), such as bar code reading and capturing RFID data. The electronic device (100) includes a controller (106) operable to detect a location of the applied control gesture on the touch screen (112) and to automatically adjust a display size and/or location of the activation trigger (175) based on the detected location of the applied control gesture. After prolonged use of the electronic device (100), the controller (106) may further adjust the display size and position of the activation trigger (175) to position it at a convenient and comfortable position for the operator.