Time-Dependent Key Selection for Multi-Language Label Printing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing tape printing devices face challenges in accommodating accented characters for European languages, leading to larger keyboards, increased complexity, and higher production costs due to the need for multiple keyboards and memory chips for different languages.

Innovation Solution

A printing device with a memory that stores multiple character sets, including principle and additional characters with accents, allowing users to select characters using a single key by maintaining activation for a predetermined time, and a controller to access and display the corresponding characters, enabling efficient access to accented characters without additional keys.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If additional text character keys are provided for accented characters, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity and keyboard size increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of character selectionVSAvoidkeyboard size

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Each character key is designed to perform multiple functions: selecting the base character when pressed briefly, and selecting accented characters when held for a predetermined time. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate keys for each accented character, reducing keyboard size while maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The character selection mechanism is made dynamic by introducing time-dependent key activation. The system detects the duration of key presses and responds differently: short presses select base characters while prolonged presses select accented characters. This dynamic response allows a single key to access multiple characters without requiring additional physical keys.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If different keyboards are provided for different European languages, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelanguage-specific character accessVSAvoidproduction cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

A single universal keyboard design is created that can accommodate multiple European languages through software configuration. The character sets and accented characters are stored in memory and can be programmed to match different language requirements, eliminating the need to manufacture separate keyboards for each language while maintaining language-specific functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The keyboard's character output is made programmable and reconfigurable. By changing the software parameters and character set mappings in memory, the same physical keyboard can be adapted to support different European languages with their specific accented characters, significantly reducing manufacturing complexity and cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple memory chips and microprocessors are used for different languages, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity and production cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelanguage support capabilityVSAvoidcomponent variety

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A single microprocessor and memory system are designed to handle multiple European languages through programmable character sets. The memory stores multiple character sets that can be loaded and configured to support different languages, allowing one hardware platform to provide multi-language adaptability without requiring separate microprocessors or memory chips for each language.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS7857531B2Printing device including a user input section having time dependent selection keys

Publication Date: 2010.12.28 DYMO (BVBA)

AI summary

A printing device for printing labels comprising: a memory for storing one or more character sets, each character set including at least a principle character and an additional character which is associated with the principle character; user input means having character selection keys for selecting a character set to define an image to be printed by the printing device; and a controller for accessing characters from the memory to be displayed and printed which correspond to characters selected at the user input means; wherein actuation of a character selection key selects the principle character in the selected character set and maintaining activation of the character selection key for a predetermined time period selects the associated additional character.