Rotatable Input Mechanism for Zoom Magnification Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for enlarging and navigating content on small electronic device displays are cumbersome and inefficient, requiring complex user interfaces and consuming excessive time and device energy.

Innovation Solution

A method utilizing a rotatable input mechanism to translate an enlarged view of content on a display, allowing users to navigate without touching the screen, thereby reducing cognitive burden and conserving power.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If keyboard commands or multi-finger gestures are used for zooming, then zoom functionality is achieved, but the user interface becomes complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvezoom operation simplicityVSAvoiduser interface complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the zoom control functionality from the display screen itself and places it on a separate physical rotatable input mechanism. This separation allows the zoom operation to be independent of the content display area, simplifying the user interface by removing the need for complex on-screen gestures or keyboard commands.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The rotatable input mechanism serves as an intermediary device between the user and the zoom function. Instead of directly manipulating the display or using complex gesture sequences, the user interacts with the rotary mechanism which then translates rotational input into zoom magnification changes, simplifying the overall interaction model.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If existing zoom techniques are used, then content enlargement is achieved, but excessive time and device energy are consumed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvezoom operation speedVSAvoidzoom navigation time

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by automatically panning to the center of the content when zoom is activated, and by using the rotary input mechanism to directly translate rotational distance into zoom magnitude. This eliminates the need for users to perform multiple sequential actions (such as tapping multiple times or dragging across the screen), thereby reducing the time required to achieve zoom.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The rotary input mechanism enables continuous zoom adjustment as the user rotates it, rather than requiring discrete steps or multiple gestures. The system continuously updates the zoom magnification based on the rotational input, allowing for smooth and efficient zoom navigation that reduces the time needed to reach the desired zoom level.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Ease of operation

If existing zoom techniques are used, then content navigation is achieved, but cognitive burden on the user increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent navigation easeVSAvoidnavigation interface complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides self-service by automatically centering the content when zoom is activated and by using the rotary input mechanism to simultaneously control both zoom magnification and content panning. This automatic behavior reduces the cognitive burden on the user, as they do not need to understand or remember complex gesture sequences or interface behaviors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Productivity

If existing zoom techniques are used, then zoom functionality is achieved, but device power is consumed faster

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvezoom operation efficiencyVSAvoiddevice power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary centering of the content automatically when zoom is activated, eliminating the need for users to perform additional gestures or operations. This reduces the overall processing time and energy consumption associated with zoom operations, as fewer computational steps and display updates are required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The rotary input mechanism enables continuous and direct control of zoom magnification, allowing the system to efficiently update only the necessary display regions. This continuous action model reduces energy consumption compared to discrete gesture-based approaches that may require multiple separate processing cycles and display refreshes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS10884592B2Control of system zoom magnification using a rotatable input mechanism

Publication Date: 2021.01.05 APPLE INC

AI summary

An electronic device includes a display, a rotatable input mechanism, one or more processors, and memory. The electronic device displays content on the display and detects a first user input. In response to detecting the first user input, the electronic displays an enlarged view of the content that includes displaying an enlarged first portion of the content without displaying a second portion of the content. While displaying the enlarged view of the enlarged first portion of the content, in response to detecting a rotation of the rotatable input mechanism, the electronic device performs different tasks based on the operational state of the electronic device.