Symbol Queue Scrolling with Synchronized Visual-Haptic Feedback

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing computing devices lack effective methods to provide synchronized visual and haptic feedback during user interface scrolling, leading to a less immersive and engaging user experience, especially when users are unable to visually perceive the scrolling process.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that animates symbols in a symbol queue on a screen while generating synchronized haptic feedback when a threshold of visual content is displayed, using haptic pulses to enhance user interaction during scrolling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If visual feedback is provided during scrolling, then user interface information is communicated, but user experience is insufficient when visual feedback is obscured

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisual feedback visibilityVSAvoiduser experience
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces haptic feedback as an intermediary channel to convey scrolling information when visual feedback is unavailable or insufficient. The haptic pulses serve as a mediator between the scrolling action and user perception, allowing users to sense scrolling progress through tactile sensations even when visual feedback is obscured or unavailable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If haptic feedback is added to scrolling, then user experience is enhanced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser experienceVSAvoidfeedback system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges visual and haptic feedback systems into a unified multi-sensory feedback mechanism. By combining these feedback modalities and synchronizing them, the system enhances user experience while managing complexity through integration rather than separate independent systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The haptic feedback is implemented as periodic pulses synchronized with the scrolling animation. This periodic action provides rhythmic tactile feedback that corresponds to the visual scrolling progress, creating a predictable and manageable feedback pattern that reduces system complexity through regular intervals.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Reliability

If haptic pulses are synchronized with visual animation, then feedback effectiveness is improved, but control complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefeedback synchronizationVSAvoidsynchronization control
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements synchronized feedback where haptic pulses are triggered based on the state of visual animation during scrolling. The haptic feedback loop is coordinated with visual feedback, creating a unified multi-sensory experience where both feedback types reinforce each other through temporal synchronization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3602249B1Haptic feedback of user interface scrolling with synchronized visual animation components
Publication Date: 2025.09.10 GOOGLE LLC
  • EP3602249B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3602249B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3602249B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Apparatus and methods related to visual and haptic feedback on mobile devices are provided. A computing device can present a symbol queue that includes a particular symbol on a screen. The computing device can receive user input to move through the symbol queue. In response to the user input, the computing device can: animate the particular symbol on the screen by at least presenting an expanded item display that includes at least the particular symbol and a particular informational item associated with the particular symbol, and generate haptic feedback that is synchronized with animating the particular symbol on the screen.