Portable Terminal Input Discrimination for Compact Display Efficiency

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing portable terminals with touch panels face challenges in efficiently utilizing limited display space for multifunctional operations, as existing methods require specialized hardware, increase the number of operations needed, or lack universality, especially when handling background applications.

Innovation Solution

A portable terminal with a storing unit, display unit, input detecting unit, and control unit that discriminates between first and second inputs to execute predefined functions, allowing for multifunctional operations without increasing the number of operations required, using a general input device and enabling background application handling without additional hardware.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If a touch panel is used to reduce terminal size and integrate functions, then the terminal achieves compactness and multifunctionality, but the display space becomes limited making it difficult to display all necessary operation objects

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveterminal sizeVSAvoiddisplay space

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a third dimension by implementing a virtual keyboard that can be displayed on demand overlaying the touch panel. This allows the interface to transition between 2D display modes and a layered 3D mode where the virtual keyboard appears as an additional layer, effectively increasing available display space without physically expanding the terminal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The virtual keyboard is designed to be dynamically displayable and hidden based on operational context. The control unit determines whether to display the virtual keyboard based on the current application state, allowing the interface to adapt its layout dynamically rather than being fixed, thus optimizing display space utilization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If the virtual keyboard is always displayed to facilitate input operations, then input efficiency improves, but the display space for other application content is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinput efficiencyVSAvoiddisplay space for application content

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The virtual keyboard is implemented as a dynamic element that appears and disappears based on contextual needs. The control unit monitors the current operation state and selectively displays the virtual keyboard only when input operations are required, otherwise keeping the full application content visible, thus balancing input efficiency with display space utilization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The virtual keyboard function is extracted as a separate, optional layer rather than being permanently integrated into the main display. This allows the keyboard to be taken out (displayed) only when needed for input operations, and retracted otherwise, preventing it from permanently occupying display space needed for application content.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If soft key sizes are increased to prevent wrong operations, then operational accuracy improves, but the number of soft keys that can be displayed decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational accuracyVSAvoidnumber of available soft keys

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The virtual keyboard provides an additional dimension for input operations, allowing users to input characters without relying solely on soft keys. This alternative input method maintains operational accuracy while preserving the ability to display more soft keys, as the keyboard serves as a supplementary input layer rather than replacing soft key functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The virtual keyboard serves multiple functions: it provides character input capability, acts as an alternative to soft key input, and can be configured to work with different applications. This multi-functionality allows the system to maintain operational accuracy through various input methods while maximizing the number of simultaneously available soft keys.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS8997015B2Portable terminal and control method therefor

Publication Date: 2015.03.31 KYOCERA CORP

AI summary

When it is discriminated by an input-means determining unit 8 that an input to display unit is a first input by a pen, a function of an application 3 allocated in advance to an area on a screen of the application 3 specified by an input coordinate of first input means determined by an input-position determining unit 11 is executed on the basis of the first input. When it is discriminated that the input to the display unit is a second input by a finger, the execution of the function of the application 3 allocated in advance on the screen of the application 3 is prohibited and a predetermined function not allocated to the area on the screen of the application 3 is executed on the basis of the second input.