Touch Panel Display Input Device Automatic Image Reduction Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Image forming apparatuses face issues where displayed images are automatically simplified or hidden against the user's intention, leading to unintended changes in the display, affecting usability and viewability.

Innovation Solution

The apparatus includes a control unit that manages the display of images on a touch panel, allowing users to intentionally redisplay full versions of images and setting options to prevent automatic simplification, respecting user intentions and improving usability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If the system automatically hides operation images after a certain time to improve screen viewability, then screen viewability is improved, but the user's intended display state is changed against their intention

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescreen viewabilityVSAvoiduser intention accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system monitors user operations and provides feedback by adjusting display behavior accordingly. When a user manually redisplay an operation image, the system learns from this action and modifies its automatic hiding behavior to respect the user's preference, creating a feedback loop that adapts to user intentions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by proactively hiding operation images before the user would naturally need them, based on time-based predictions. However, it prepares to reverse this action when user input indicates the images should remain visible, balancing automated efficiency with user control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple operation images are displayed on the screen to provide comprehensive functionality, then operational completeness is improved, but screen viewability deteriorates due to clutter

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational completenessVSAvoidscreen viewability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The display configuration is made dynamic rather than static. Operation images are automatically hidden or shown based on real-time conditions such as user proximity detected by sensors, current operational context, and elapsed time since last interaction, allowing the interface to adapt its complexity to immediate needs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The display content is segmented into different operational contexts. Instead of showing all operation images simultaneously, the system divides them into relevant and irrelevant groups based on the current task, displaying only the segmented subset that is currently useful to the user.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Illumination intensity

If the system hides operation images presumed unnecessary to improve screen viewability, then screen viewability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to repeated manual redisplay operations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescreen viewabilityVSAvoidoperational convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides self-service by automatically managing the display state of operation images based on learned user preferences and contextual cues. Once the system learns that certain images should remain visible, it autonomously maintains their display without requiring repeated user commands, thereby improving ease of operation over time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements periodic evaluation of display necessity based on time intervals and usage patterns. Instead of making one-time decisions about hiding images, it periodically reassesses whether images should remain hidden or be redisplayed, creating a rhythm of automatic management that reduces manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP3495934B1Display input device, image forming device, and method for controlling display input device
Publication Date: 2021.07.21 KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC
  • EP3495934B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3495934B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3495934B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A display input device (1) includes a display panel (11), a touch panel (12), and a panel control unit (10). The panel control unit (10) performs the following control: when display of an item selection screen is started, a normal navigation image (6) for selecting a category is displayed; when a wait time has elapsed since the start of displaying the normal navigation image (6), a reduced navigation image (7) is displayed in place of the normal navigation image (6); when an expansion key (K8) is operated while reduction display is performed, the normal navigation image (6) is redisplayed; and the normal navigation image (6) is continuously displayed even when the wait time has elapsed since the start of redisplaying the normal navigation image (6).