Single Button Menu Navigation for Image Devices
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Image-recording devices with limited physical buttons struggle to provide users with sufficient functionality, especially in settings where touch screens are unavailable, leading to restricted user experience and increased learning costs due to the correlation between button count and available functions.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for controlling an image-recording device using a single control button, where a first preset press type (short or long press) selects an action instruction by sliding through a menu page, and a second preset press type (long or short press) executes the selected instruction and closes the menu page, allowing for multiple functions to be accessed without increasing the number of physical buttons.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple physical buttons are used to provide sufficient functionality, then the available functions increase, but the device exterior becomes complex and user learning cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The single control button is designed to perform multiple functions including mode switching, photo capture, video recording, and menu navigation. By making the button universal rather than dedicating separate buttons to each function, the device achieves multiple capabilities while maintaining a simple exterior with minimal buttons
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple physical buttons are used to provide sufficient functionality, then the available functions increase, but the user learning cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control button utilizes different pressing parameters (press duration, press intensity) to trigger different functions. This allows a single button to provide multiple functions while maintaining intuitive operation, as users can distinguish between functions through the varying press characteristics rather than learning multiple button locations and functions
3Device complexity
If a single control button is used to maintain simple device design, then the device exterior remains simple, but the available functions become limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a menu page dimension that expands the functional capabilities of the single control button. By combining the physical button with a software-based menu system that displays multiple action instructions, the device achieves multiple functions while maintaining exterior simplicity, as the additional functionality exists in the software/interface dimension rather than adding physical components
Data Source
AI summary
System and method for controlling an image-recording device are disclosed. The image-recording device includes a control button. The method may include: starting a menu page, the menu page having a plurality of action instructions; receiving a press on the control button; when the press is a first preset press type, selecting one of the plurality of action instructions based on a sliding operation on the menu page, wherein one action instruction is selected at each time of sliding; and when the press is a second preset press type, executing a currently selected action instruction and closing the menu page. The first preset press type is one of a long press and a short press. The second preset press type is the other one of a long press and a short press. The long press has a longer pressing time than the short press.