Multi-Pen Display Region Segmentation for Simultaneous Input

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional electronic boards with multiple touch pens face a reduction in the drawing region on the display as the number of pens increases, limiting simultaneous input operations.

Innovation Solution

An information processing device and method that detects input information from multiple touch pens, determines the number of active pens, and displays attribute setting objects in a specific region of the display, allowing each pen to set its attributes without narrowing the drawing area.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If multiple identical menu images are displayed in an arbitrary region of the display in accordance with the number of electronic pens, then each user can operate the menu images corresponding to their electronic pen, but the drawing region in the display becomes narrow as the number of electronic pens increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemenu operationVSAvoiddrawing region

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The display region is segmented into two distinct areas: a fixed specific region for displaying menu images and the remaining area for drawing operations. This segmentation allows menu images to be confined to a dedicated space, preventing them from encroaching on the drawing region while still providing access to multiple users with multiple electronic pens.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from displaying menu images in an arbitrary region that competes with the drawing area to placing them in a specific region that is spatially separated. This dimensional reorganization ensures that menu operations and drawing operations occur in distinct spatial zones, eliminating the trade-off between the two functionalities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Productivity

If the number of electronic pens increases to allow more simultaneous input operations, then more users can collaborate, but the drawing region becomes increasingly narrow

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimultaneous input operationsVSAvoiddrawing region

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the display into a fixed menu region and a dynamic drawing region, the system can support multiple electronic pens and simultaneous input operations without the menu images consuming additional drawing space. The drawing region maintains its area regardless of the number of active pens.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The specific region designated for menu images serves as a universal interface for all electronic pens, regardless of the number of users. This multi-functional region handles attribute settings and menu operations for multiple pens simultaneously, eliminating the need to expand menu display areas as more pens are added.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS11086419B2Information processing device, information processing method, and recording medium

Publication Date: 2021.08.10 SHARP KK

AI summary

Provided is a display device including an input detector that detects input information input to an input surface by input devices, an input number determiner that determines, based on the input information detected by the input detector, an input number indicating the number of the input devices of which an input operation on the input surface is enabled, and a display processor that displays an attribute setting object in which an attribute of each of the input devices is settable, based on the input number determined by the input number determiner, in a specific region of the input surface.