Proximity-Sensing Display Window for Alternate View Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional touch-sensitive displays on devices like tablets and smartphones can only show one view of information at a time, limiting user interaction and exploration of complex data sets such as maps or diagrams.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system where a computing device detects a user's finger or object proximity to the screen, rendering alternate views within a window that follows the user's finger movement, allowing for dynamic switching between views based on distance and position, enabling the display of multiple layers or formats of information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If only one view is displayed at a time on the screen, then the display is simple and easy to understand, but the user cannot explore multiple layers or formats of information simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The display is segmented into multiple layers, with each layer representing a different view or format of information. The sensor system is also segmented into multiple sensors positioned at different locations. This allows simultaneous display of multiple views while maintaining organizational simplicity through layer separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a spatial dimension to the display by using depth information from sensor arrays. Instead of displaying multiple views sequentially or in a single plane, the system uses the depth dimension to determine which view to display, creating a multi-layered display experience that resolves the contradiction between versatility and complexity.
2Loss of information
If multiple views are displayed simultaneously on the screen, then the user can explore complex data sets more effectively, but the display becomes cluttered and harder to navigate
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions or layers of the display have different qualities or information densities. The system displays different views in different spatial layers, allowing users to access detailed information when needed while maintaining a clean base view. This local differentiation enables comprehensive information access without overwhelming the entire display.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor array acts as an intermediary between the user and the multiple views. By detecting finger proximity and depth, the sensor system mediates which view is displayed, automatically managing the complexity of multiple views without requiring manual user control. This intermediary handles the navigation complexity while providing full information access.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the display system supports multiple views and layers, then the functionality is enhanced, but the system complexity and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor array serves multiple functions: detecting finger presence, determining finger depth, identifying which view to display, and tracking finger movement across layers. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each function, thereby managing system complexity while enabling versatile view switching capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The display system automatically determines which view to display based on sensor input without requiring manual user commands. The system self-adjusts the displayed view based on finger proximity and depth, eliminating the need for complex user interface controls and reducing the operational complexity despite enhanced functionality.
4Ease of operation
If the window follows finger movement in real-time, then the user experience is enhanced, but the processing load and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuously tracking finger movement, the system uses periodic sampling of sensor data to detect finger presence and movement. The view switching occurs in discrete steps based on sensor triggers, rather than continuous real-time updates. This periodic approach maintains responsive user experience while significantly reducing processing load and energy consumption compared to continuous tracking.
Data Source
AI summary
Approaches are described which enable a computing device (e.g., mobile phone, tablet computer) to display alternate views or layers of information within a window on the display screen when a user's finger (or other object) is detected to be within a particular range of the display screen of the device. For example, a device displaying a road map view on the display screen may detect a user's finger near the screen and, in response to detecting the finger, render a small window that shows a portion of a satellite view of the map proximate to the location of the user's finger. As the user's finger moves laterally above the screen, the window can follow the location of the user's finger and display the satellite views of the various portions of the map over which the user's finger passes.