Dynamic Touch Gesture Control for Electronic Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current touch-based user interactions on electronic devices can only perform singular end-actions, limiting user engagement and functionality, as they do not allow for intermediate actions or dynamic transitions during a gesture.

Innovation Solution

An electronic device with a touch interface and a processor that identifies and measures touch gestures, enabling the performance of intermediate actions based on the displacement of the gesture, providing dynamic and proportional actions to the user, which can be subsets of the primary action.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional touch-based actions (swipe, pinch) are used, then the user interface is simple and easy to operate, but only singular end-actions can be performed with limited functionality

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinteraction functionalityVSAvoidgesture recognition complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system transitions from static gesture recognition (fixed start and end points) to dynamic gesture recognition (continuous tracking of touch displacement throughout the gesture). The processor continuously monitors touch displacement during the gesture animation, enabling intermediate actions at different displacement thresholds. This dynamic approach allows multiple actions to be triggered within a single gesture, significantly enhancing interaction functionality while maintaining a simple user interface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The gesture interaction is segmented into multiple discrete displacement thresholds (e.g., 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% of total displacement). Each threshold corresponds to a specific intermediate action, allowing the system to perform multiple distinct functions within a single continuous gesture. This segmentation enables versatile functionality by breaking down the continuous gesture into manageable discrete states, each triggering appropriate actions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If only singular end-actions are supported, then the system is simple to implement, but user engagement and interaction capabilities are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser engagementVSAvoidgesture processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-defines multiple intermediate actions at specific displacement thresholds before the gesture is executed. These actions are prepared in advance and mapped to specific displacement percentages. When a gesture is performed, the system simply checks which threshold is reached and executes the corresponding pre-prepared action. This approach enhances user engagement by providing rich interaction options while keeping the processing logic relatively simple through pre-computation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides continuous feedback during the gesture by monitoring current displacement and comparing it against predefined thresholds. As the user performs the gesture, the system can trigger intermediate actions at appropriate displacement levels, creating a responsive and engaging interaction experience. This feedback mechanism allows users to see immediate results of their gesture progress, enhancing ease of operation and user engagement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3529689B1Electronic device and method of controlling the electronic device
Publication Date: 2023.03.22 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3529689B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3529689B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5A
  • EP3529689B1 patent drawingFigure 5B

AI summary

An electronic device includes a touch interface and a processor configured to identify a current touch displacement while a touch gesture of a user is received through the touch interface, to identify an action corresponding to a current state of the electronic device and the identified current touch displacement, and to perform a task according to the identified action.