Overlay Capacitive Keyboard on 7-Segment Display for Compact UI
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial network devices often rely on cost-effective but limited 7-segment displays with mechanical keyboards, which restrict user interaction due to space constraints, leading to reduced intuitiveness and increased complexity in accessing functions, especially in industrial settings where graphic displays with capacitive keyboards are deemed too costly.
Innovation Solution
An interactive touch display assembly combining a 7-segment LED display with a capacitive keyboard, where the capacitive keyboard is overlaid on the display, allowing gestures such as touching and sliding to navigate and interact with the device, eliminating the need for predefined physical keys and reducing the number of capacitive sensors, thus enhancing user interaction and information display without increasing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a 7-segment display with mechanical keyboard is used, then cost is reduced, but user interaction intuitiveness and efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the display surface and keyboard input surface into a single integrated capacitive touch display assembly. The capacitive keyboard is overlaid on the 7-segment display, allowing both information display and user interaction on the same surface area, thereby improving interaction intuitiveness while maintaining cost-effectiveness for industrial applications
Solution Approach 2:
The capacitive touch display serves multiple functions simultaneously: it displays information through the 7-segment display and accepts user input through gesture recognition. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate mechanical keyboard components, reducing overall system complexity and cost while enhancing user interaction capabilities
2Ease of operation
If a graphic display with capacitive keyboard is used, then user interaction intuitiveness is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using a 7-segment display specifically for industrial data presentation where this format is sufficient and cost-effective, while overlaying a capacitive keyboard only in the necessary interaction zones. This selective approach provides enhanced user interaction intuition precisely where needed without incurring the full cost of a complete graphic display system
3Ease of manufacture
If separate mechanical keyboard and display are used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but space efficiency and interaction efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the display and keyboard into a single integrated assembly where the capacitive keyboard is overlaid on the 7-segment display. This merging eliminates the need for separate mechanical keyboard components and reduces the overall space required for the user interface, while the manufacturing process remains relatively simple through the use of layered construction
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
This solution provides a more intuitive and efficient user interface that allows complex interactions on a shared surface, overcoming the limitations of traditional static systems by enabling dynamic management of commands and information, improving user experience while maintaining minimal costs and adhering to confined space requirements.
Implementation Method 1
capacitive keyboard, where the capacitive keyboard is overlaid on the display, allowing gestures such as touching and sliding to navigate and interact with the device
Data Source
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AI summary
An interactive touch display assembly is provided and includes a circuit board and a user interface. The circuit board includes a first control module. The user interface includes a 7-segment display and a first capacitive keyboard. The 7-segment display is connected to the circuit board. The first capacitive keyboard is overlaid on at least a portion of the 7-segment display and includes a capacitive sensing layer having capacitive sensing elements. States of the capacitive sensing elements changes based on gestures provided by a user of the interactive touch display assembly. The first control module is configured to control operation of the 7-segment display based on detected changes in the states of the capacitive sensing elements.