Dynamic Touch Icon Scaling for External Monitor Connectivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Touch panels on small electronic devices, such as digital video camcorders, are not user-friendly due to small operation icons, making it difficult for users with larger hands to operate effectively, especially when viewing images on an external monitor.
Innovation Solution
An image reproducing apparatus with a touch panel that adjusts the size of operation icons based on the connection status with external equipment, displaying a larger icon when connected to an external monitor for improved usability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the touch panel size is kept small for compact device design, then the device portability is improved, but the operation icon size becomes small making it difficult to operate
Solution Approach 1:
The operation icon size on the touch panel is made dynamic rather than static. The control unit automatically adjusts the icon size based on detection of external monitor connection status. When an external monitor is connected, the icon size is enlarged to facilitate easier operation, while maintaining small device dimensions for portability.
2Ease of operation
If the operation icon size is enlarged for easier operation, then the ease of operation is improved, but the touch panel space becomes insufficient for displaying both image and operation icons
Solution Approach 1:
The display configuration on the touch panel is made dynamic based on external monitor connection status. When an external monitor is connected, the system allocates more touch panel area to operation icons (enlarging them) since the main image display function is handled by the external monitor. When no external monitor is connected, the system reverts to displaying smaller icons to preserve image display quality on the limited touch panel area.
3Area of stationary object
If the operation icon size is kept small to maximize image display area, then the image display quality is improved, but the operability becomes poor especially for users with larger hands
Solution Approach 1:
The operation icon size is dynamically adjusted based on the connection status of external monitoring equipment. When an external monitor is detected, the system enlarges operation icons to improve operability for users with larger hands, while the image display function is offloaded to the external monitor. This resolves the conflict between maximizing image display area on the touch panel and providing adequately sized operation icons for comfortable operation.
Data Source
AI summary
An image reproducing apparatus includes a selector which selects output of the MPEG decoder in a reproducing mode. A connection detection unit detects whether a video monitor is connected to an output terminal and a result of the detection is sent to a CPU. When a video monitor is connected, the CPU reads out bit map data of an operation icon having an enlarged size from a ROM and sends the data to an OSD control unit. The OSD control unit determines whether a blue background is displayed on a touch panel. If the operation icon is not enlarged, the OSD control unit masks a background portion with a single color (for example, blue background) and displays an enlarged operation icon over the background portion.