Imaging Apparatus GUI Menu Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional imaging apparatuses face challenges in operability and visibility when setting and adjusting functions, due to increased complexity in menu hierarchies, difficulty in searching for specific items, unclear button functions, unintuitive setting ranges, and discomfort from frequent screen image changes.
Innovation Solution
The imaging apparatus incorporates GUI screen image generation and editing capabilities, allowing for customizable menus, seamless scrolling of setting items, intuitive graphic displays, and overlap-display of operation screens to enhance user interaction and clarity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a hierarchy type menu method is used to manage index information, then setting items can be classified into predetermined categories, but the number of steps to reach a target setting screen increases and it becomes difficult to search for necessary items
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the menu system into multiple display regions (first display region for current menu, second display region for related menus) allowing users to access different menu categories simultaneously without navigating through multiple screens, thus reducing the number of steps while maintaining classification capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a spatial dimension to menu navigation by displaying multiple menu levels and related menus in different display regions on the same screen, transforming the traditional linear hierarchical navigation into a parallel multi-region display that reduces navigation steps
2Adaptability or versatility
If a hierarchy type menu method is used to manage index information, then setting items can be classified into predetermined categories, but the number of hierarchy ranks increases making it difficult to search for target items
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the complex menu hierarchy into multiple display regions, with each region showing a different menu level or category. This segmentation allows the system to maintain comprehensive classification while reducing the perceived complexity by distributing menu items across multiple simultaneous displays rather than requiring deep hierarchical navigation
3Ease of operation
If multiple buttons including Execute and Return buttons are displayed on the setting screen, then setting operations can be performed, but it becomes difficult to understand button functions and operation results by viewing the screen display
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a display region that shows related menu screens as intermediaries between the current menu and the final setting. This intermediary display provides contextual information about the relationship between different menu items and buttons, helping users understand button functions and expected operation results before executing them
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by displaying information about the current menu's related menus and their relationships in the second display region. This feedback mechanism provides users with contextual information about what will happen when they press certain buttons, improving their understanding of button functions and operation outcomes
4Adaptability or versatility
If setting values are displayed using character information and graphic with divided intervals, then setting ranges can be represented, but the display becomes intuitively unintelligible and setting operation becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds a spatial dimension to setting value display by showing the relationship between current settings and related menu settings in different display regions. This multi-dimensional display approach makes the setting ranges and their relationships more intuitive by visually connecting related settings across different menu levels
Data Source
AI summary
An imaging apparatus generates a GUI screen image for operating the imaging apparatus. A controller controls the generation of the GUI screen image upon detecting a predetermined operation.