Setting value change device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing setting value change devices for refrigeration and hot water supply systems, such as those using touch operations for temperature or hot water amount adjustments, are cumbersome and prone to errors due to the need for precise path tracing with drag inputs, leading to burdensome and often erroneous inputs.
Innovation Solution
A setting value change device with a display and touch sensor system that includes a controller to manage a drag button and area, allowing for a larger drag area than the movement path, enabling the drag button to be moved to a crossing point based on a reference point, thus facilitating correct temperature or hot water amount adjustments even with rough operations, and includes features like expandable input detection areas and cancel zones to prevent unintended changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the drag button is constrained to move only along the movement path, then the input precision is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates as users must carefully trace the movable path
Solution Approach 1:
The touch sensor is divided into two functional areas: a movement path area that guides the drag button and a drag area that allows free finger movement. This segmentation enables the system to distinguish between guiding constraints and free input zones, resolving the contradiction by allowing precise measurement along the path while maintaining ease of operation in the drag area.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller acts as an intermediary that maps the drag operation position in the drag area to the movement path. It calculates the crossing point where a line from the reference point through the drag operation position intersects the movement path, thereby translating free finger movements into precise path-aligned button positions.
2Ease of operation
If the drag area is set larger than the movement path display range, then the ease of operation is improved by allowing rougher inputs, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the drag area parameters based on the displayed movement path. The drag area is set larger than the movement path display range, and the controller modifies the mapping parameters (reference point, crossing point calculation) to accommodate this larger area while maintaining accurate temperature setting value assignment.
3Ease of operation
If the drag operation position can deviate from the movement path, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to erroneous inputs
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides visual feedback by displaying both the movement path and the drag area, allowing users to see where their drag operation will be mapped. The controller continuously calculates and applies the crossing point mapping, providing feedback that translates rough drag movements into reliable, path-constrained results.
Solution Approach 2:
The reference point is pre-positioned off the movement path at a location optimized for mapping drag operations. This preliminary setup ensures that drag operations in the expanded area are systematically mapped to correct positions on the movement path, preventing erroneous inputs before they occur.
4Adaptability or versatility
If operation buttons are displayed near the movement path, then the functionality is improved, but the reliability deteriorates when drag operations may accidentally trigger them
Solution Approach 1:
The touch sensor has different detection characteristics in different areas: the drag area allows free drag operations with crossing-point mapping, while operation button areas maintain precise tap detection. This local quality differentiation enables operation buttons to be displayed near the movement path for versatility while preventing accidental activation during drag operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A setting value change device is provided whereby change operations to correct temperature setting values or hot water amount values by drag operations are easy. A controller causes a display to display a drag button and a movement path on which the drag button moves. Additionally, the controller provides, on a touch sensor, a drag area for detecting a drag input on the drag button and a reference point disposed at a location off the movement path. Moreover, the controller is configured to set the drag area larger than the display range of the movement path, move the drag button to a crossing point where a straight line or specific curve connecting the reference point to a drag operation position in the drag area crosses the movement path, and change the temperature setting value to the value corresponding to the position of the drag button.