Industrial Vehicle GUI With Redundant Touch and Hardware Controls
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial vehicle operators face challenges in interacting with graphical user interfaces due to the need for precise control inputs, especially in dynamic and harsh environments, where existing solutions do not efficiently integrate touch gesture commands with hardware controls, leading to difficulties in navigating and displaying relevant operational information.
Innovation Solution
A processing device with a touch screen display and collocated hardware controls, such as buttons, that map touch gesture commands to corresponding hardware control commands, allowing seamless interaction regardless of environmental conditions, and enabling customization of widgets and information display for efficient operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a touch screen display is used for graphical user interface interaction, then the interface can provide rich visual information and modern control capabilities, but operators cannot effectively interact with it when wearing gloves or in harsh environmental conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines touch screen display with physical control elements (buttons, switches, knobs) into a hybrid interface system. The physical controls are positioned adjacent to the touch screen and can be operated independently of touch gestures, allowing operators to interact with the interface even when wearing gloves or in conditions where touch sensitivity is compromised.
Solution Approach 2:
The interface system is designed to accept multiple types of input methods simultaneously - both touch gestures and physical control element operations. This multi-functional approach ensures the interface remains usable across various operational conditions, whether the operator prefers touch interaction, physical control, or a combination of both.
2Measurement precision
If precise control inputs are required for graphical user interface navigation, then accurate command execution is achieved, but operators face difficulties in dynamic and harsh environments where precise input is challenging
Solution Approach 1:
Physical control elements serve as intermediaries between the operator and the graphical user interface. These buttons, switches, and knobs provide tactile feedback and mechanical engagement that facilitates precise control input in harsh environments, mediating the interaction between the operator's physical actions and the digital interface responses.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces purely mechanical touch-based control with a hybrid system that incorporates traditional mechanical control elements. This substitution provides operators with tactile and tactile-feedback-based control mechanisms that are more reliable in harsh environments where touch screen gestures may be difficult to execute precisely.
3Adaptability or versatility
If touch gesture commands are mapped to hardware control commands, then seamless interaction is enabled across different input methods, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller is designed to handle multiple input types (touch gestures and physical control commands) through a unified processing architecture. This multi-functional controller maps both input methods to the same set of graphical user interface commands, providing control flexibility while managing system complexity through integrated processing.
4Ease of operation
If collocated hardware controls are added next to the display, then operators can interact effectively in harsh conditions, but the device physical dimensions increase
Solution Approach 1:
Physical control elements are strategically positioned in specific locations adjacent to the touch screen display, optimized for operator accessibility and ergonomic interaction. This localized placement provides enhanced control capability in harsh conditions while minimizing the overall increase in housing area by concentrating controls in efficient spatial arrangements.
Data Source
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Figure 3A
AI summary
A processing device having a graphical user interface includes a housing having a touch screen display that receives touch gesture commands from a vehicle operator. Still further, a set of controls is arranged on a front face of the housing. The set of controls include hardware control equivalents to the gesture commands recognized by the touch screen of the display. This allows industrial vehicle operators to wear gloves or other attire fitting for the task at hand, without undue interference interacting with the graphical user interface. Also, redundant control, e.g., via gesture commands recognized by the touch screen of the display and corresponding controls in the user control section, allow the vehicle operator to use which ever data input option is most convenient for speed, convenience, workflow, etc.