Orientation-Sensitive Touchscreen Controller for In-Flight Entertainment
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Solution Overview
Problem
In-flight entertainment (IFE) systems' control devices lack intuitive and adaptive interfaces that allow users to easily switch between different modes of operation and content navigation, leading to a cumbersome user experience.
Innovation Solution
A control device with an orientation detection mechanism, such as a gyroscope, that generates and displays a navigation menu on a touchscreen display in response to changes in orientation, enabling users to control the display device by swiping or tapping actions, allowing for seamless switching between content and navigation modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a control device with multiple independent input mechanisms is used, then the device can perform multiple functions, but the interface becomes complex and difficult to operate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by enabling a single touchscreen interface to perform multiple functions through orientation-based mode switching. The control device uses one unified touchscreen that can display different interfaces (navigation menu, content display, controls) depending on the device's orientation, eliminating the need for multiple separate input mechanisms while maintaining versatility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics by making the interface adaptive to the device's orientation. The system dynamically changes the displayed content and interaction mode based on whether the device is held in portrait or landscape orientation, allowing the same physical interface to serve different purposes without requiring additional hardware
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate keypads are used for different functions, then each function can be controlled independently, but the overall device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate input mechanisms (keypads for movies, games, etc.) into a single unified touchscreen interface. The touchscreen displays different virtual keyboards and controls depending on the selected mode and orientation, combining the functionality of multiple physical keypads into one adaptive surface
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds the dimension of orientation to the interface design. By utilizing the spatial dimension of device orientation (portrait vs. landscape), the system can present different input mechanisms and layouts on the same touchscreen, effectively creating multiple independent control schemes without adding physical components
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances user interaction by providing an intuitive and adaptive interface that simplifies content navigation and control, improving the overall user experience in IFE systems by allowing easy switching between different modes of operation and content display.
Implementation Method 1
the orientation detection mechanism is a gyroscope
Data Source
AI summary
There are disclosed control devices (30, 300, 600) for controlling a display device (80, 380, 680). According to one embodiment, the control device (30) is operable in multiple orientations. In response to detecting the change of orientation of the control device (30), a navigation menu (920) in relation to content (810, 820, 830) displayed by the display device (80) is generated in a processor (60) of the control device (30). The navigation menu (920) generated by the processor (60) is then displayed on a control device display (90) of the control device (30) to facilitate controlling the display device (80). There are also disclosed methods of controlling a display device using the aforementioned control devices (30, 300, 600).