Touch and Acceleration Gesture Interface for Handheld Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Handheld electronic devices with limited display sizes and space for user input devices face challenges in providing intuitive and simple methods for users to select functions, as existing motion-controlled devices are complex and require navigation through menus.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus with a touch-sensitive display and an accelerometer that detects acceleration, allowing users to select items and perform functions by combining touch inputs and acceleration gestures, such as shaking, without needing to navigate through menus.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If motion-controlled devices are used to select functions, then users can control the apparatus, but the devices become complex and require navigation through menus

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunction selectionVSAvoidmenu navigation

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines touch input device and accelerometer into a single integrated system where touch selection is merged with acceleration-based function execution. Users touch an item to select it, then perform a simple shake gesture to execute the function, eliminating the need for separate menu navigation steps and reducing operational complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of requiring users to navigate through multiple menu levels to find and select functions, the patent inverts the approach by allowing direct function execution through acceleration gestures after simple item selection. The function selection process is reversed from traditional menu-based navigation to gesture-based direct execution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Area of moving object

If display size is limited, then handheld devices are portable, but space for user input devices is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay sizeVSAvoiduser input

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent adds the dimension of motion detection to the traditional 2D touch interface. By incorporating accelerometer-based gesture recognition, the system extends user input capability into the third dimension (spatial motion), allowing functions to be executed through shake gestures without requiring additional physical buttons or keyboard space on the limited display device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables users to easily select and control functions on handheld devices using intuitive touch and acceleration inputs, improving usability and reducing the need for complex menu navigation, even with limited display space.

Implementation Method 1

a user input device configured to detect an acceleration of the apparatus

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcceleration detection: Accelerometer

Data Source

PatentEP2370889B1Apparatus, method, computer program and user interface for enabling user input

Publication Date: 2020.07.22 NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY

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Figure 3A~3B

AI summary

An apparatus, method, computer program and user interface the apparatus comprising: a display configured to display a first item; a touch sensitive user input device configured to detect a touch input; a user input device configured to detect an acceleration of the apparatus; and a controller configured to select the first item in response to detection of the touch user input and to perform a first function on the selected first item in response to detection of the acceleration of the apparatus.