Touch Panel Operation Direction Control for Flick Recognition

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional touch panel control methods often misinterpret the operation direction due to incorrect angle detection, leading to unintended device control and potential malfunctions.

Innovation Solution

An information processing apparatus that accurately determines the direction of flick operations by analyzing the horizontal and vertical components of touch panel movements, using a CPU to differentiate between flick and drag operations and assign appropriate controls based on precise direction recognition.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the operation direction is determined based on the angle of the locus of touched positions, then the control can be executed according to the user's touching operation, but the operation direction may be misinterpreted when the touching angle is incorrect, leading to unintended device control

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperation direction controlVSAvoidoperation direction recognition accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the operation direction determination into multiple independent determination processes, each evaluating a specific directional component (horizontal, vertical, diagonal) separately. This allows the system to identify the user's intended direction more accurately by considering multiple aspects of the touch locus independently, rather than relying on a single angle measurement that can be misinterpreted.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter used for operation direction determination from a single angle value to multiple parameter combinations involving horizontal components, vertical components, and diagonal components. By evaluating these parameters together and comparing them against predetermined thresholds, the system achieves more reliable operation direction recognition that is less susceptible to angular measurement errors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If equal conditions are set for multiple operation directions, then the control can be executed for each direction, but the system cannot distinguish between intended and unintended operations when the touching angle is wrong

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemulti-directional control capabilityVSAvoidoperation direction determination accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by assigning different evaluation criteria to different directional components. Instead of using uniform conditions for all directions, the system evaluates horizontal, vertical, and diagonal components with specific predetermined conditions tailored to each direction. This allows the system to maintain versatility in handling multiple operation directions while improving measurement precision by using direction-specific evaluation criteria.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamic evaluation by continuously monitoring the touch locus and comparing the actual movement against predetermined conditions for each direction. The system dynamically adjusts its determination based on the actual touch pattern observed, rather than relying on static angle thresholds. This dynamic approach enables the system to adapt to varying user input patterns while maintaining accurate direction recognition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If the touch locus is analyzed to determine operation direction, then the control can respond to user input, but the system may execute unintended operations when the locus components are ambiguous

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresponse speed to user inputVSAvoidoperation execution accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-establishing predetermined conditions for horizontal, vertical, and diagonal operation directions before the user completes their touch input. The system continuously compares the touch locus components against these pre-set conditions during the input process, enabling rapid determination of the intended direction without requiring post-processing analysis. This preliminary preparation allows the system to respond quickly while maintaining high reliability in operation execution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2339439B1Information processing apparatus and control method therefor
Publication Date: 2018.06.27 CANON KK
  • EP2339439B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2339439B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2C
  • EP2339439B1 patent drawingFigure 3~3A

AI summary

An information processing apparatus acquires a plurality of touching positions on a locus of touching operations (S304), determines an operation direction of an operation by using a determination condition set based on the plurality of acquired touching positions (S314), and performs an action predetermined in association with the determined operation direction (S318, S323). In addition, the information processing apparatus stores the determined operation direction on a memory (S319, S324) and changes the determination condition based on the operation direction stored on the memory to determine an operation direction of a touching operation executed after the operation for which the operation direction has been determined and stored (S312, S313).