Touch Screen Pointer Control via Dual-Touch Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional touch screens in location-based service (LBS) devices face usability issues due to partial obstruction of the screen image by a user's body or tools, making precise control and navigation difficult, especially as device sizes decrease.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus comprising a touch sensing unit, pointer setting unit, coordinate transforming unit, and pressure sensing unit that differentiate between first and second touches, allowing precise control of a pointer's movement and operation on the screen without obstructing the user's view, enabling precise map navigation and operation without enlarging the screen size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a user touches the screen to select a location, then the location can be selected and information can be displayed, but the user's finger obstructs the view of the screen and neighboring locations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a pointer as an intermediary element that represents the user's touch location. Instead of the finger directly interacting with the map display, the finger touches a designated area and a pointer is displayed to indicate the selected location. This mediator (pointer) allows the user to see both the touch control area and the map information simultaneously, resolving the obstruction problem while maintaining ease of operation.
2Volume of moving object
If the screen size is reduced to make devices smaller, then device portability improves, but precise manipulation of the touch screen becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the touch screen interaction into two distinct functional areas: a touch control area for precise input and a map display area for information presentation. By separating these functions spatially and introducing the pointer as a visual indicator, the system allows precise manipulation on small screens without requiring the entire screen to be dedicated to either control or display.
3Measurement precision
If a second touch is added to control pointer movement, then precise map navigation is enabled, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic behavior where the function of the second touch changes based on the state of the first touch. When the first touch is held stationary, the second touch moves the pointer. When the first touch is moved, it automatically updates the pointer position. This dynamic state-dependent behavior enables precise control without requiring complex processing for each touch scenario.
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided are an apparatus and method for improving usability of a touch screen. The apparatus includes a touch sensing unit that senses a first touch and a second touch and detects the touched locations of the sensed touches, a pointer setting unit that sets a pointer to the detected location of the first touch, and a coordinate transforming unit that transforms movement of a touched location, which is caused by movement of the second touch, into movement of a location of the pointer.