Touch Panel GUI for Compact Device Operability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Compact size information devices face limitations in input means, leading to poor operability during advanced information processing tasks.
Innovation Solution
An input device with a touch panel covering the display, converting finger or thumb contact information into operations, and displaying a GUI screen image corresponding to the user's finger positions, allowing for intuitive operation similar to a game console controller.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the device size is reduced to make it compact and portable, then portability is improved, but the input means become limited and operability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from traditional physical input controls (buttons, joysticks) to a two-dimensional touch panel interface. By mapping control functions to specific regions on the display screen, the system enables complex operations on a compact form factor. The touch panel detects finger contact positions and converts them into operational commands, effectively utilizing the display area as a control surface without adding physical bulk.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a virtual representation of controller functionality on the display screen. GUI elements such as virtual buttons, directional controls, and action buttons are rendered as graphical copies of traditional controller interfaces. This allows users to interact with familiar control paradigms through touch contact on the screen, maintaining operational familiarity while eliminating the need for additional physical controls.
2Ease of operation
If more input controls are added to improve operability, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The touch panel serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as the display interface, the input control surface, and the operational interface. By detecting contact position, contact duration, and contact intensity, the single touch panel component replaces what would traditionally require multiple separate physical controls (directional pad, action buttons, select buttons). This multi-functional approach provides comprehensive input capabilities without increasing device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A user operates a GUI with a thumb and an index finger while holding an information processing device with left and right hands. The GUI screen image displays a directional keys input area at the lower left on the screen image, a button input area at the lower right on the screen image, an L1/L2 button input area at the upper left on the screen image, and an R1/R2 button input area at the upper right on the screen image. The L1/L2 and the R1/R2 button input areas are in the form of circle sectors, whereby the center angles of the circle sectors are at right angles of the two upper corners of the screen, and by internally dividing the center angles further so as to divide the sectors into two sectors respectively, the L1 and L2 buttons, and the R1 and R2 buttons are distinguished.