GNSS Device Calibration Screen Shift via Tilt Sensor Icon

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Solution Overview

Problem

GNSS devices with built-in tilt sensors face difficulties in operability and usability due to complex and hard-to-understand screen displays.

Innovation Solution

A GNSS device equipped with a tilt sensor, electronic compass, and GNSS antenna, featuring a display unit that shifts to a calibration screen upon request, uses color-coded electronic bubble tubes to indicate tilt levels, and distinguishes between correction function ON and OFF states, allowing for immediate calibration and reducing wasteful operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If the display shows detailed calibration information and status, then the information completeness is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to complex navigation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation completenessVSAvoidoperability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the calibration initiation function from the complex menu system and places it directly on the main display through icons. This allows users to access calibration functions immediately without navigating through multiple menu levels, thus improving ease of operation while maintaining information completeness through the visual icon representation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different visual qualities to different parts of the display - icons for quick access, electronic bubble tube for tilt visualization, and text for detailed information. This local differentiation allows users to quickly grasp essential information through icons while detailed information remains available, resolving the contradiction between information completeness and operational simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of operation

If the screen displays multiple calibration indicators and status messages, then the usability is improved through comprehensive information, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveusabilityVSAvoiddisplay complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the display information into distinct functional areas: icons for calibration status, electronic bubble tube for tilt indication, and text messages for detailed information. This segmentation allows comprehensive information display while maintaining visual organization and reducing perceived complexity through clear spatial separation of different information types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of hiding calibration functions within complex menus, the patent inverts the approach by making calibration status and initiation prominently visible on the main display through icons. This inversion simplifies the user interaction model while maintaining comprehensive information availability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Reliability

If the calibration screen is accessed through multiple menu steps, then the information verification is improved, but the productivity deteriorates due to time-consuming navigation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation verificationVSAvoidwork efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary action by pre-positioning calibration icons and information on the main display, allowing users to initiate calibration immediately without menu navigation. This preliminary placement of information maintains reliability through visual confirmation while dramatically improving productivity by eliminating navigation steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Measurement precision

If the electronic bubble tube shows detailed tilt values, then the measurement precision is improved, but the ease of operation worsens due to complex interpretation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetilt measurement precisionVSAvoiduser understanding
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses color changes in the electronic bubble tube to represent different tilt levels, providing intuitive visual feedback that is easy to interpret. This color-coded system maintains measurement precision through accurate tilt detection while improving ease of operation by presenting the data in an immediately understandable visual format.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution enhances operability and usability by providing clear, intuitive visual feedback and allowing for immediate calibration, thereby improving work efficiency and user understanding.

Implementation Method 1

a tilt sensor capable of measuring a tilt

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravitation: Gravitation

Implementation Method 2

an electronic compass capable of measuring a direction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic field detection: Magnetic Field

Data Source

PatentEP3546885B1GNSS device
Publication Date: 2023.02.01 TOPCON CORPORATION
  • EP3546885B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3546885B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3546885B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Usability of a GNSS device with a tilt sensor is improved. A GNSS device includes a tilt sensor (23) capable of measuring a tilt, an electronic compass (24) capable of measuring a direction, a GNSS antenna (21) capable of acquiring positional information, and a display unit (31) capable of displaying information, wherein when the tilt sensor (23) or the electronic compass (24) requests calibration for adjustment, an icon calling attention is displayed on a screen of the display unit, and when the icon is tapped by a user, the screen of the display unit shifts to a calibration screen. When calibration is required, immediate shifting to a calibration screen is enabled, so that high operability and usability are obtained.