Touch Panel Character Input with Multi-Point Gesture Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional character input apparatuses with touch panels face inefficiencies in entering different types of characters due to limited display space, requiring additional operations to switch between character types, such as Hiragana and Katakana, or case types in alphabets, which complicates the input process.
Innovation Solution
A character input apparatus that utilizes a touch panel with a display and detectors to differentiate character entries based on single-point or multi-point touches, allowing users to change character types by varying the number of fingers, and optionally detects proximity to preview character types before touching, enabling intuitive entry of different character types.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If character buttons for all candidate characters are displayed simultaneously, then all characters can be entered directly, but the operation surface size becomes too large
Solution Approach 1:
The character set is segmented into multiple groups (basic kanas, dakuon, handakuon, small-sized kanas, upper case letters, lower case letters). Each group is displayed separately on the operation surface, allowing all character types to be accessible without displaying all characters simultaneously, thus maintaining a manageable operation surface size while preserving input efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a temporal dimension to character selection by enabling multi-point touch operations. Users can select characters from different character groups by touching multiple points simultaneously, effectively adding a new dimension (touch point count) to the interface that allows access to expanded character sets without increasing the physical display area.
2Area of stationary object
If only frequently-used characters are displayed, then the operation surface size remains small, but additional operations are required to enter other character types
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds a new dimension of interaction by utilizing multi-point touch capability. Users can access different character types (dakuon, handakuon, small-sized kanas, different case letters) by touching multiple points simultaneously, transforming a multi-step switching operation into a single multi-point gesture, thereby simplifying the operation without increasing display area.
Solution Approach 2:
The character buttons serve multiple functions: they can be touched with a single point to select the basic character, or touched with multiple points to select alternative character types. This multi-functionality allows the same displayed characters to provide access to multiple character sets, reducing operation complexity while maintaining compact display.
3Adaptability or versatility
If character type switching is required to enter different character types, then character type versatility is achieved, but the number of operations increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the character selection and character type selection operations into a single multi-point touch gesture. By combining multiple touch points with a single character button, users can simultaneously specify both the character position and the desired character type, eliminating the need for separate switching operations and reducing the time required to access diverse character types.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the dimension of touch point count to encode character type information. Instead of requiring sequential operations to switch character types, the system interprets the number of touch points (single-point vs. multi-point) as a direct selector for different character types, enabling rapid access to various character types without time-consuming switching steps.
Data Source
AI summary
A plurality of characters that are candidates for entry are displayed on a display surface of a display corresponding to an operation surface of a touch panel as character buttons. A touch detector judges whether a user touches the operation surface either with a single point or plural points, and detects a position touched by the user. An input receiver receives an entry of a character associated with a character button in the position touched by the user among the plurality of characters displayed on the display surface of the display. Then, the input receiver receives the entry of the character which varies in type depending on whether the user touches an area in the operation surface corresponding to an identical character button with a single point or plural points.