Graph Display Apparatus Scale Overlap Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Graph display apparatuses face issues when zoomed out, as they either display too many cramped scales or automatically reduce scale intervals, leading to confusion and misunderstanding of the graph's range.
Innovation Solution
A graph display apparatus that sets a display range and scale intervals based on user input, detects overlapping scale values, and displays only the values at both ends when they overlap, preventing the graph from looking cramped and maintaining original scale intervals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the number of scales is automatically reduced when display contents are zoomed out, then the graph does not look cramped, but scale intervals set by a user change and the displayed scales become confusing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary scale values (those at both ends of the coordinate axis) for display when scale values overlap, while maintaining all scale intervals in the data structure. This selective display approach prevents cramming while preserving complete scale information in the system, resolving the contradiction between display clarity and information retention.
2Ease of operation
If scale values are not displayed to prevent cramming, then the graph does not look cramped, but the range to be displayed of the graph becomes difficult to understand
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different display qualities to different scale values based on their position. Scale values at both ends of the coordinate axis are displayed to indicate the range, while overlapping scale values in the middle are hidden. This local differentiation maintains display clarity while preserving essential range information.
3Loss of information
If all scale values are displayed when display contents are zoomed out, then complete scale information is shown, but the scales look too cramped
Solution Approach 1:
The patent displays only a partial set of scale values (those at both ends) rather than all scale values when they would overlap. This partial display action prevents cramming and maintains readability while still providing sufficient information about the scale range and intervals through the end values.
Data Source
AI summary
A graph display apparatus including: a display unit; a graph formula input unit for receiving input of a graph formula; a coordinate system setting unit for setting a display range of a coordinate system and a scale interval on a coordinate axis in the coordinate system; a coordinate system display controlling unit for making the display unit display the coordinate axis, and display scales and scale values at the scale interval, the coordinate system display controlling unit including a scale value display controlling unit for detecting overlapping of the scale values to be displayed, and, when the scale values overlap, making the display unit display only scale values of scales at both ends among the scales to be displayed on the coordinate axis; and a graph display controlling unit for making the display unit display a graph of the graph formula.