Touch Panel Print Controller for Label Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional label printers require users to perform cumbersome operations to select character strings and templates, making the printing process inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A touch panel-based information processing device that discriminatively detects operations, allowing users to select and load print files through a start-up icon, displaying file information, creating interpretable print data, and transmitting it to the printer, thereby simplifying the printing process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional label printer is used with multiple character string and template candidates, then the user has selection flexibility, but the user must perform troublesome operations before printing
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by automatically obtaining and preparing print files with multiple character strings and templates before the user needs to print. The print controller proactively fetches candidate data from the server, so when the user initiates printing, the options are already ready for selection without requiring prior manual configuration or search operations.
Solution Approach 2:
A server acts as an intermediary between the print controller and the multiple character string/template candidates. Instead of the user directly searching through multiple local files or configurations, the server mediates by providing a unified interface to access and select from numerous print files, simplifying the user's interaction while maintaining access to diverse printing options.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the user manually selects character strings and templates from multiple candidates, then the printing can be customized, but the printing process becomes inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by automatically obtaining and preparing print files with multiple character strings and templates before the user needs to print. The print controller proactively fetches candidate data from the server, so when the user initiates printing, the options are already ready for selection without requiring prior manual configuration or search operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service by automatically managing the acquisition and organization of multiple print files. The print controller autonomously obtains character strings and templates from the server, organizes them into selectable candidates, and prepares them for printing without requiring the user to manually search, download, or configure each element, thus maintaining customization while improving efficiency.
3Ease of operation
If the touch panel discriminatively detects multiple operations, then the user interface becomes more powerful, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple detection capabilities (contact detection, approach detection, and load detection) into a single integrated touch panel system. Instead of using separate sensors for each function, the touch panel combines these detection modes to distinguish between different user intentions (such as selecting versus deleting) based on the pattern and intensity of touch interactions, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining rich interface functionality.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution reduces user labor by enabling efficient selection and printing of label data, providing quick access to desired data and ensuring compatibility with the printer, while also allowing for timely recognition of printing issues and editing status.
Implementation Method 1
a touch panel configured to discriminatively detect a first operation and a second operation applied by a pointing body to the touch panel, the first operation being an operation of at least one of contacting and approaching the pointing body to the touch panel, the second operation being an operation of applying load, by the pointing body, equal to or greater than a particular threshold load value to the touch panel
Data Source
AI summary
A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium containing computer-readable instructions which cause an information processing device, when executed by a controller thereof, to obtain print file including print object data in accordance with a particular obtaining condition in response to application of the second operation to the start-up icon, display file information which is at least a part of information included in the print file as obtained, create, in response to a pointing operation which is at least one of the first operation and the second operation with respect to the displayed file information, print data having a data form interpretable by the printer based on the print object data included in the print file corresponding to file information subjected to the pointing operation, and transmit the print data as created to the printer through the communication interface.