Navigation Map Scale Switching for Pinch and Swipe Gestures

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing navigation systems face operability issues when changing display scale by pinch-in/out due to false detection of swipe operations, requiring users to reset the reference scale manually.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a navigation apparatus with a control unit that distinguishes between pinch-in/out and swipe operations by ensuring the vehicle position is within the scroll window or the display range overlaps, thereby preventing incorrect scale changes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If one finger touches the screen first to initiate pinch-in/out operation, then the display scale can be changed, but the operation is wrongly detected as a swipe operation causing incorrect current-location scale setting

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay scale change operationVSAvoidoperation detection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of the first finger touch and anticipates a potential pinch-in/out operation. By pre-positioning the other finger detection and validating the gesture pattern before executing the scale change, the system prevents false swipe detection while maintaining smooth operation flow.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring finger positions and gesture patterns during the pinch-in/out operation. When the gesture is detected as incomplete or erroneous (resembling a swipe), the system provides feedback by canceling the operation and maintaining the original scale, preventing incorrect current-location scale setting.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If the system detects swipe operation during pinch-in/out, then scrolling is prevented, but legitimate swipe operations are also blocked

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperation type identificationVSAvoidgesture operation flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts its gesture recognition criteria based on the operational context. During pinch-in/out operations, the system temporarily modifies swipe detection sensitivity and thresholds, allowing it to distinguish between legitimate swipes and erroneous detections with higher accuracy without blocking valid gestures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes detection parameters such as swipe threshold, finger movement speed, and gesture duration during pinch-in/out operations. By adjusting these parameters dynamically, the system can reliably differentiate between intended swipe operations and false detections caused by pinch gesture initiation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If the current-location button is pressed after false swipe detection, then the display returns to previous state, but the reference scale is reset requiring manual re-adjustment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay state restorationVSAvoidscale re-adjustment time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-service by automatically preserving and restoring the current-location scale setting after a false swipe detection. When the current-location button is pressed, the system automatically re-applies the previous scale setting without requiring user intervention, thereby eliminating the need for manual re-adjustment and reducing time loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4120055B1Navigation apparatus
Publication Date: 2025.12.17 ALPS ALPINE CO LTD
  • EP4120055B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4120055B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4120055B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An issue to be solved by the present invention is to provide a navigation apparatus capable of improving operability when a display scale is changed by pinch-in/out. A navigation apparatus (1) includes: an own vehicle position calculation unit (41), a scroll processing unit (45), and a map drawing unit (42) that display a map image of an own vehicle position and its surroundings as a current-location window at a current-location scale, and when swiping of the screen by a user's finger is detected using a touch panel (22), display a map image of which display range is moved in response to this swipe operation as a scroll window at a scroll scale; a scale setting unit (44) that changes the current-location scale and the scroll scale in response to pinch-in/out; and a scale determination unit (46) that, when display of the current-location window is instructed by the user and a predetermined condition is satisfied, updates the current-location scale using the scroll scale, and in other cases, maintains the previous current-location scale.