Hover Touch Interface for Ergonomic Spatial Input
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional user interfaces for displays such as televisions, Head Mounted Displays (HMDs), and remote controllers are limited in supporting direct touch interactions due to ergonomic discomfort, spatial constraints, and complexity in input methods, particularly for advanced functions and spatial inputs.
Innovation Solution
A hover touch user interface system utilizing a controller with a touch sensor and proximity sensor that detects pre-touch events and provides visual feedback, allowing for intuitive navigation and control through hover mode interactions, enabling direct spatial input and reducing the need for complex button combinations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If direct touch interaction is implemented on television monitors and HMDs, then user interaction capability is improved, but ergonomic comfort deteriorates due to viewing distance constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from 2D touch screen interaction to 3D spatial interaction by detecting the position of input devices in three-dimensional space. This allows users to interact with the display from a comfortable viewing distance by pointing devices at the screen rather than touching it directly, resolving the contradiction between interaction capability and ergonomic comfort.
2Adaptability or versatility
If more buttons and functions are added to remote controllers, then user interface functionality is improved, but device complexity increases making the remote cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces physical buttons, d-pads, and mechanical input elements with motion tracking and hover touch detection. The system detects the position and orientation of the input device in 3D space to determine user intent, eliminating the need for numerous physical buttons while maintaining comprehensive user interface functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The motion-tracking input device serves multiple functions that previously required separate physical controls. By detecting different positions, orientations, and hover states in 3D space, a single device can perform navigation, selection, input, and control functions that previously required multiple dedicated buttons and controls.
3Adaptability or versatility
If motion tracked input with 3-6 degrees of freedom is used, then spatial input capability is improved, but performance for alphanumeric and textual inputs deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a hover touch detection layer as an intermediary between motion tracking and input execution. This intermediary layer detects when the input device is hovering over specific regions and uses this information to facilitate alphanumeric input, combining the spatial capabilities of motion tracking with the precision needed for text entry.
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
Enhances user interaction by providing intuitive and ergonomic direct spatial input capabilities, reducing fatigue and cognitive load, and improving the usability of advanced functions on various display types, including HMDs and remote controllers.
Implementation Method 1
a proximity sensor detecting three dimensional position information within a maximum depth from the touch surface
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3A
Figure 3B~3C
AI summary
A controller includes a touch sensor and a proximity sensor. Information on when and where a user touches the surface of the touch sensor is detected. Additionally, information on pre-touch events is detecting. The pre-touch events correspond to a user's finger hovering over the touch sensor within some maximum depth. A display device generates visualizations based on the hover events and the touch events. This can include providing visual feedback in a hover mode where a user's finger is, relative to the touch sensor. Additionally, various forms of navigation information may be provided in the hover mode, as well as other control information.