Mobile Terminal Tap Gesture Control Interface

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Solution Overview

Problem

Mobile terminals face difficulties in providing intuitive user interfaces due to their complex functionalities, making it challenging for users to efficiently operate and control various functions.

Innovation Solution

A mobile terminal equipped with a sensing unit to detect tap gestures and a controller that executes functions based on these gestures, allowing for the execution, termination, or modification of functions depending on the number of points, strength, and target of the taps, enabling a novel user interface for controlling the device.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple functions are integrated into the mobile terminal to provide diversified capabilities, then the functionality and versatility of the device is improved, but the user interface becomes more complex and difficult to operate

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoiduser interface complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the control interface by separating tap gesture recognition from traditional button operations. The sensing unit detects tap gestures on the display surface, and the controller processes these gestures to execute specific functions. This segmentation allows multiple functions to be accessed through a unified, simple gesture-based interface rather than requiring complex menu navigation or multiple physical buttons.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces mechanical button presses with tap gestures detected by the sensing unit. Instead of requiring users to locate and press physical buttons among many functions, the system substitutes mechanical interaction with touch-based tap gestures on the display surface. The controller interprets these gestures to execute functions, thereby simplifying the user interface while maintaining access to diversified capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If traditional button-based control is used for multiple functions, then comprehensive control is achieved, but the number of buttons and interface elements increases complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol capabilityVSAvoidnumber of buttons
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements universality by making the display surface serve multiple functions. The same display area can detect different tap gestures (single tap, double tap, long press) to execute different functions. The sensing unit and controller work together to interpret various tap patterns and route them to appropriate functions, allowing one physical surface to replace multiple dedicated buttons while maintaining comprehensive control capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamics by enabling the display surface to respond differently to varying tap gestures. The sensing unit detects not only the presence of a tap but also its characteristics (number of taps, duration, position), and the controller dynamically adjusts the executed function based on these variations. This dynamic response allows a single static display surface to provide diverse control options without adding physical complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If tap gesture recognition is implemented across the display surface, then user convenience is improved, but the sensing system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser convenienceVSAvoidsensing system
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary layer between the user's tap gesture and the function execution. The sensing unit acts as an intermediary that detects tap gestures on the display surface and converts them into signals the controller can process. This intermediary simplifies the overall system architecture by centralizing gesture detection in a dedicated unit rather than distributing sensing complexity across multiple components, thereby improving user convenience without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3557391B1Mobile terminal and control method thereof
Publication Date: 2020.10.07 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3557391B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3557391B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP3557391B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

A mobile terminal including a wireless communication unit configured to wirelessly communicate with at least one other terminal; a sensing unit configured to sense tapping gestures; a memory configured to store a matching of a plurality of actions to perform with a plurality of tapping gestures; and a controller configured to display a first execution screen on a display unit corresponding to a first function executing on the mobile terminal, and perform a first action on the first function matched with a first type of tapping gestures and perform a second action different than the first action on the first function matched with a second type of tapping gestures.