Tactile Input Resolution for Aircraft Cockpit Displays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern aircraft cockpit displays often have limited viewable areas, leading to inefficiencies and errors when selecting information due to overlapping elements, requiring pilots to pan or zoom, which is time-consuming and distracting.
Innovation Solution
A system that identifies and classifies tactile user inputs based on temporal characteristics to determine the intended graphical element selection, using a prioritization scheme to automatically select the most relevant element, reducing the need for manual panning or zooming.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If multiple graphical elements are displayed in close proximity to provide comprehensive information, then the quantity of information is improved, but the ease of selection deteriorates due to overlapping elements requiring manual panning and zooming
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically resolves ambiguous tactile inputs by using temporal characteristics (touch duration) to determine user intent. When multiple graphical elements are within the touch threshold, the system self-determines which element was intended based on whether the touch was brief (select nearest element) or prolonged (select center element), eliminating the need for manual panning or zooming operations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of touch duration from a simple binary detection to a discriminative temporal characteristic. By measuring whether the tactile input exceeds a predetermined time threshold, the system transforms the selection mechanism from purely spatial (which requires precise positioning) to temporal-spatial hybrid (which allows tolerance for imprecise positioning while maintaining accurate element identification)
2Device complexity
If the display viewable area is limited, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ease of operation deteriorates as users must manually pan and zoom to access information
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs automatic element resolution and selection without requiring user-initiated panning or zooming operations. The tactile input processing automatically determines the intended graphical element based on temporal characteristics, making the system self-sufficient and eliminating the need for complex manual navigation operations
3Measurement precision
If manual panning and zooming operations are required to select elements, then the measurement precision of element selection is improved, but the loss of time increases due to additional navigation steps
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically determines the intended graphical element based on temporal characteristics of the tactile input. When multiple elements are within the touch threshold, the system self-resolves the ambiguity by comparing touch duration against a predetermined threshold, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual panning and zooming operations while maintaining accurate element identification
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-establishes the selection criteria based on temporal characteristics before the user completes their input. By having the resolution logic ready and automatically applying it to tactile inputs, the system eliminates the need for sequential manual navigation steps, reducing the time required to reach the desired selection
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems are provided for resolving a selected graphical element corresponding to a tactile user input associated with a graphical user interface display on a display device associated with a vehicle, such as an aircraft. The tactile user input is classified based on its temporal duration, and the classification of the tactile user input influences the identification of the selected graphical element or other response to the tactile user input.