Touch Display Focus Guide Dynamic Repositioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

In touch panel apparatuses, the focus guide can be hidden by GUI buttons, making it impossible to operate when the focus guide overlaps with fixed GUI buttons, which cannot be rearranged, hindering the usability of both movable and fixed components.

Innovation Solution

A display control apparatus with a touch detecting unit and a control unit that dynamically manages display regions, allowing the focus guide to be moved and displayed without fixed positions, while ensuring the fixed GUI buttons remain accessible at accustomed locations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of moving object

If the focus guide is displayed in full screen to maximize its size, then the display area of the focus guide is increased, but the focus guide may be hidden by fixed GUI buttons, making it impossible to operate the focus guide

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay area of focus guideVSAvoidoperability of focus guide
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the previously fixed GUI buttons movable. The control unit detects touch operations on the display screen and dynamically repositions both the focus guide and GUI buttons based on the touch input, allowing the layout to adapt flexibly rather than remaining static. This resolves the contradiction by enabling the focus guide to be displayed in full screen while preventing it from being hidden by making the buttons' positions dynamic rather than fixed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses touch operation detection as an intermediary mechanism to mediate between the focus guide and GUI buttons. When a touch operation is detected, the control unit uses this input to coordinate the positioning of both elements, ensuring they don't overlap in a way that hides the focus guide. The touch input acts as a mediator that triggers the repositioning logic, allowing both elements to coexist on the full screen without obscuring each other.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If fixed GUI buttons are positioned at specific accustomed locations, then the ease of operation for fixed components is ensured, but the focus guide cannot be displayed without being hidden when it overlaps with these fixed buttons

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operation for fixed componentsVSAvoidflexibility of focus guide positioning
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms the static positioning system into a dynamic one where both GUI buttons and focus guide can be repositioned based on user touch input. This allows the system to maintain accustomed locations when needed while adapting to prevent overlap when the focus guide needs to be displayed, thus providing both ease of operation and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the position parameter of GUI buttons from fixed to variable based on touch operation detection. By making the position parameter adjustable rather than constant, the system can maintain familiar locations for ease of operation while also adapting positions to prevent the focus guide from being hidden, thus achieving both objectives.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Loss of information

If the display layout is designed to prevent original options from being hidden, then information visibility is improved, but the focus guide still cannot be operated when it overlaps with unchangeable GUI button positions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisibility of informationVSAvoidoperability of focus guide
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the GUI button positions changeable through touch input, which prevents the focus guide from being hidden while maintaining information visibility. The dynamic repositioning ensures that both the focus guide and button information remain visible and operable simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS11009991B2Display control apparatus and control method for the display control apparatus
Publication Date: 2021.05.18 CANON KK
  • US11009991B2 patent drawing
  • US11009991B2 patent drawing
  • US11009991B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A display control apparatus includes a touch detecting unit 102 configured to detect a touch operation on a display screen, and a control unit 104 configured to, in response to a touch operation on an unspecified region of the display screen, display a predetermined item at a position corresponding to the touch operation on the first region, and in response to a touch operation on a specified region of the display screen which overlays the first region, display a plurality of options selectable by a touch operation in the specified region. In a case where a touch operation on the specified region is detected while the plurality of options are not displayed in the specified region, the control unit 104 controls to display the plurality of options in the second region.