One-Dimensional Measuring Machine Intuitive Origin Display
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing one-dimensional measuring machines lack intuitive means for users to identify the selected origin, requiring effort and ability to grasp the used origin from displayed information.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a display unit that shows a scale bar with origin marks and color-coded probe marks to visually indicate the used origin, allowing users to intuitively identify the selected origin and its position within the measurement range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a display shows only numerical values or text labels for origin positions, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ease of operation deteriorates because users cannot intuitively grasp the used origin
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color-coded markers to indicate different origin types on the display screen. The used origin is highlighted with a distinct color or visual marker, allowing users to intuitively identify which origin is currently being used without complex text labels or numerical interpretation. This visual differentiation resolves the contradiction by enhancing ease of operation through intuitive color-based identification while maintaining relatively simple display hardware.
2Ease of operation
If detailed information about origin positions is displayed, then the loss of information is reduced, but the ease of operation worsens due to increased cognitive effort required to interpret the information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential visual information needed for origin identification and presents it in a simplified graphical format. Instead of displaying all possible origin position data in detail, the system extracts and highlights the critical element - the used origin marker - making it immediately recognizable. This reduces cognitive effort while preserving the most important information needed for operation.
Solution Approach 2:
By using color-coded visual markers to represent different origin types and the currently used origin, the system conveys multiple pieces of information (origin position, origin type, and active status) through intuitive visual cues rather than requiring users to process detailed numerical or textual data. This maintains information completeness while dramatically reducing cognitive interpretation effort.
3Ease of operation
If visual markers are added to indicate origin positions on the display, then the ease of operation improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a simplified visual representation (copy) of the measurement range and origin positions on the display screen. Instead of requiring complex physical indicators or mechanical markers, the system uses graphical software rendering to display origin positions as visual markers on a digital scale bar. This approach improves ease of operation through clear visual feedback while avoiding the complexity of additional physical hardware components.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
There is provided a one-dimensional measuring machine that allows a user to intuitively grasp a used origin. The one-dimensional measuring machine includes a probe, a movement mechanism, a detector 16, a measurement unit 222, a display unit 30, and a display control unit 223. The probe contacts an object to be measured in one direction. The movement mechanism movably supports the probe in the one direction. The detector 16 is configured to detect a current position of the probe in the one direction. The measurement unit 222 is configured to take a selected origin as a used origin among a plurality of the origins including an absolute origin and a relative origin set in a measurement range in the one direction in which the probe is permitted to be disposed. The measurement unit 222 is configured to measure a distance between the used origin and the current position of the probe detected by the detector 16. The display unit 30 includes a display screen. The display control unit 223 is configured to display a scale bar indicative of the measurement range on the display screen. The display control unit 223 is configured to display an origin mark at a position corresponding to the used origin on the scale bar.