Input Display Control for Character Strings on Curved Paths

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing input display control devices cannot fully display a character string within a limited display area due to size constraints, leading to incomplete visualization of the string.

Innovation Solution

The system disposes protruding parts of the character string into a virtual area and replaces the string with a simpler version of equal meaning, ensuring the entire string can be visualized within the display area by extending curves or adjusting character size and layout.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If the character string is displayed along the curve in the display area, then the character string can be visualized following the curve path, but the entire character string cannot be displayed when the string length exceeds the display area capacity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecharacter string completenessVSAvoiddisplay area size
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extends the curve into a virtual area beyond the physical display boundaries, utilizing a third spatial dimension (virtual space) to accommodate the complete character string. The curve is mathematically extended beyond the display area, allowing characters to be positioned along this extended path while only the visible portion is rendered on the physical display.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a simplified version of the character string that fits within the display area while preserving the semantic meaning. This involves generating an abbreviated or condensed representation (copy) of the original string that can be displayed along the visible curve portion, maintaining the core information within the spatial constraints.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Quantity of substance

If the character string length is extended to accommodate more text, then more information can be displayed, but the string protrudes out of the display area

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecharacter string lengthVSAvoiddisplay area coverage
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSArea of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The solution creates a virtual extension of the display area by projecting the curve into virtual space beyond the physical display boundaries. This allows the character string to be logically extended to accommodate more text while the physical display only renders the portion that falls within its visible area, effectively decoupling string length from display area coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Loss of information

If the curve is extended to fit the entire character string, then complete string display is possible, but the curve shape becomes distorted or unrealistic

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecharacter string visibilityVSAvoidcurve shape integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the character string display into two distinct parts: the visible portion displayed along the original curve within the display area, and the invisible portion positioned along the extended curve in virtual space. This segmentation allows the original curve shape to be preserved for the visible content while the extended portion handles the additional characters without affecting the aesthetic integrity of the displayed curve.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3879390B1Input display control method, and input display system
Publication Date: 2023.07.26 MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP
  • EP3879390B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3879390B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3879390B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

An input display control device (100) includes: a curve information acquisition unit (9) for acquiring curve information indicating a curve; a character string acquisition unit (10) for acquiring a character string; and a display control unit (12) for generating display information for displaying the character string acquired by the character string acquisition unit (10) along the curve indicated by the curve information acquired by the curve information acquisition unit (9), in which when a part of the character string acquired by the character string acquisition unit (10) protrudes out of a display area of a display (32) since a length of the character string acquired by the character string acquisition unit (10) is long, the display control unit (12) disposes the part of the character string in a virtual area that is an area surrounding the display area.