Touch Panel Menu Switching via Wireless Terminal Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image processing apparatuses face difficulties in determining the correct mobile information terminal for wireless communication due to unclear connection states with multiple devices in range, leading to user confusion and misinterpretation of terminal placement as button presses, especially with larger devices like mobile phones or PDAs, which obstruct the touch panel UI and impair operability.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus with a display input unit that generates signals upon contact and a wireless communication unit for communication with mobile information terminals, featuring a discrimination unit to identify whether the contacting object is a mobile terminal and a display control unit to adjust the display accordingly, allowing for appropriate menu switching and reduced user interaction errors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If wireless communication is used to connect mobile information terminals to the image processing apparatus, then cable connection troubles are eliminated and user freedom is improved, but the connection state becomes unclear and it becomes difficult to determine which terminal should communicate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a display unit as an intermediary that visually represents the communication relationship between the image processing apparatus and mobile information terminals. The display unit shows icons or indicators that clearly indicate which terminal is connected and communicating, providing visual feedback that resolves the ambiguity of wireless connection states without requiring physical cable connections.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a list of mobile information terminals is displayed for user selection, then communication partner selection is enabled, but the user still has difficulty determining the desired terminal from simple identifiers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs visual differentiation on the display unit, such as using different colors, icons, or graphical representations to distinguish between multiple mobile information terminals. Instead of relying solely on simple text identifiers, the display unit presents terminals with distinctive visual characteristics that make them easily recognizable and selectable by users.
3Ease of operation
If the display surface is used as a touch panel UI, then user interaction is enabled, but placing a mobile information terminal on the display surface is misinterpreted as a button press
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the display surface into functionally distinct zones: one area serves as the touch panel UI for user interaction, while another designated area serves as the terminal placement zone. By segmenting the display surface into these separate functional regions, the system can distinguish between intentional touch inputs and terminal placement actions, preventing misinterpretation of input signals.
4Reliability
If larger mobile information terminals are placed on the display surface, then wireless communication can be established, but the touch panel UI is obstructed and operability is impaired
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional touch panel interface to a three-dimensional arrangement by designating a specific physical zone on the display surface for terminal placement. This spatial differentiation creates a dedicated placement area that does not interfere with the UI display areas, allowing terminals to be placed without obstructing the user interface while maintaining clear visual distinction between the two functions.
Data Source
AI summary
In an image processing apparatus which generates an input signal when a mobile information terminal contacts a display surface and makes a wireless communication with the contacting mobile information terminal, it is difficult to make an appropriate display by discriminating whether a contact object is a mobile information terminal or a user's finger. To accomplish this, when a mobile information terminal (200) is placed on a touch panel (104), this placement is recognized based on a wireless communication response (701), and a processing menu for the terminal is displayed. On the other hand, if the user's finger (300) is placed, since no wireless communication response (701) is detected, it is recognized that the contact object is not the mobile information terminal (200), and a general manipulation menu is displayed.