Mobile Terminal Menu List End Feedback Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Mobile terminals lack effective feedback mechanisms to inform users when they reach the end of a displayed menu list during scrolling, which can lead to user confusion and inconvenience in navigating and searching through extensive lists.

Innovation Solution

A mobile terminal with a display unit and a controller that provides visual, audible, or tactile feedback when the user scrolls to the end of a list, using graphic effects, sounds, or vibrations to indicate the list's termination, enhancing user interaction and convenience.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If a list is scrolled without feedback mechanism, then the scrolling operation is simple, but the user cannot know when reaching the end of the list

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveUser awareness of list endVSAvoidFeedback mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies color changes to the display background or list items when the user reaches the end of the list. The controller detects the scrolling position and changes the display color (e.g., from white to yellow or red) to provide visual feedback, informing the user they have reached the list end without adding complex mechanical components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs vibration feedback through the mobile terminal's vibration motor. When the scrolling reaches the list end, the controller activates the vibration motor to produce tactile feedback, allowing the user to sense the list boundary through touch without requiring additional display elements or complex mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #18Mechanical vibration

2Ease of operation

If graphic effects are displayed to indicate list end, then user feedback is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveUser interaction feedbackVSAvoidDisplay energy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic or temporary graphic effects rather than continuous display. The color change or graphic effect is activated only momentarily when the list end is reached, then returns to the normal state. This periodic activation provides necessary user feedback while minimizing energy consumption compared to continuous display effects.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP2034399B1Scrolling method of mobile terminal
Publication Date: 2019.06.05 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP2034399B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2034399B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2034399B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A mobile terminal having a touch screen or a touch pad is disclosed. In a user environment, when a displayed menu list is moved according to a flicking operation, a feedback indicating the reaching of the end (the last item) of the menu list is issued in a visible, audible or tactile manner to a user, thereby increasing the user convenience of menu searching and the durability of the mobile terminal.