Touch-Sensitive Display Control Using Drag Speed and Visual Feedback

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing graphical user interfaces for household appliances with touch-sensitive displays suffer from insufficient user friendliness and low intuitive operability, particularly in controlling settings like heating capacity, which can lead to unintended rapid changes.

Innovation Solution

A graphical user interface that allows setting changes with a single drag interaction on the touch-sensitive display, adapting to user behavior by providing intuitive feedback through synchronized movement-based value changes and reduced symbol displays, ensuring user acceptance and visibility of chosen settings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a touch-sensitive display is used for controlling household appliances, then the appliance can be controlled electronically with multiple settings, but the user friendliness and intuitive operability are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol functionalityVSAvoiduser friendliness
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the interaction parameter from complex multi-touch gestures to a simple single-touch drag gesture. The setting value is determined by the drag distance, transforming a complex control interface into an intuitive physical analogy where users can visually and physically grasp the setting adjustment, thereby improving ease of operation while maintaining control versatility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a visual copy of the physical drag action on the display surface. The touched symbol moves along with the finger drag, and the setting value is displayed as a visual representation that mirrors the physical interaction. This visual copying makes the abstract electronic control tangible and intuitive, resolving the contradiction between electronic functionality and user friendliness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Measurement precision

If multiple touches at different locations are required for setting changes, then precise control is possible, but the control procedure becomes complex and less intuitive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol precisionVSAvoidcontrol procedure
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the selection and adjustment functions into a single continuous drag gesture. Instead of requiring separate touches for selection and setting, the user performs one continuous drag action that simultaneously selects the setting range and determines the precise value based on drag distance. This merging reduces control procedure complexity while maintaining precision through the drag distance measurement

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent adds a spatial dimension to the control interaction by using drag distance as the determining factor for setting value. The control precision is achieved not through multiple discrete touches but through the continuous spatial measurement of how far the user drags the symbol. This dimensional approach simplifies the control procedure while preserving precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Speed

If the setting value changes rapidly with small movements, then responsive control is achieved, but unintended rapid changes can occur against user intention

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresponse speedVSAvoidcontrol accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent displays a value range indication before the user completes the drag gesture. This preliminary display allows the user to see the anticipated setting change based on the current drag position and adjust their drag distance accordingly. This prevents unintended rapid changes by giving the user foreknowledge and control over the final setting value

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements continuous visual feedback during the drag gesture by displaying the setting value that corresponds to the current drag position. The value range indication provides real-time feedback about the relationship between drag distance and setting change, allowing users to modulate their drag speed and distance to achieve the desired setting change rate, thus ensuring both responsiveness and accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3012729B1Graphical user interface
Publication Date: 2023.06.07 ELECTROLUX APPLIANCES
  • EP3012729B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3012729B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3c
  • EP3012729B1 patent drawingFigure 4a~4b

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for controlling a household appliance (1) using a graphical user interface, the user interface comprising a touch-sensitive display (3) and a display control unit for controlling the touch-sensitive display, the method comprising the steps of: - displaying a first graphical representation on the touch-sensitive display (3), the first graphical representation comprising one or more symbols (V1, V2), each symbol (V1, V2) associated with an appliance subunit of the household appliance; - touching a symbol (V1, V2) by a touching means in order to change of a setting value of the appliance subunit associated with the touched symbol (V1) by moving the touching means; - determining the moving speed of the touching means by the display control unit (4); - displaying information at the touch-sensitive display depending on the determined moving speed of the touching means.