Touch Sensor Cursor Control via Segmented Display Interface

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Solution Overview

Problem

In electronic devices with touch sensors, users face difficulties in accurately operating cursors due to visual interference caused by their fingers or input devices, especially during fine adjustments, which hinders the editing experience.

Innovation Solution

The electronic device implements a method to reduce visual interference by activating a touch pad UI mode, allowing for improved cursor operation through size change and movement modes, using distance thresholds and speed criteria to guide the user's touch inputs, thereby enhancing accuracy and usability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a user directly touches the display with a finger for input, then the operation is intuitive and simple, but visual interference occurs as the finger hides displayed content

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveintuitiveness of input operationVSAvoidvisibility of displayed content
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a virtual cursor as an intermediary between the user's touch input and the displayed content. Instead of directly touching the display area where content is shown, the user touches a separate cursor control area, and the virtual cursor moves to represent the input position. This mediator (virtual cursor) allows the user to indirectly control the display without their finger obscuring the content.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of information

If a virtual cursor is introduced to avoid visual interference, then visibility of displayed content is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisibility of displayed contentVSAvoidcomplexity of input mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a virtual copy (cursor) that mirrors the user's touch input position on the display. This virtual cursor is a simplified representation that follows the user's touch movements, allowing complex positioning functionality to be achieved through a simple touch interface. The copying principle reduces the apparent complexity by using a straightforward virtual element rather than a complex mechanical or optical system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Measurement precision

If fine cursor adjustment is required for document editing, then editing precision is improved, but the operation becomes more difficult due to visual interference

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecursor positioning accuracyVSAvoiddifficulty of cursor control
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the display into separate functional areas: a cursor control area where the user performs touch inputs, and a content display area where the document is shown. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each area - the control area can be designed for precise input detection while the display area remains unobstructed for viewing. Fine adjustments are made by touching specific positions within the segmented control area, translating to precise cursor positioning without visual interference.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3948482B1Electronic device including display device including touch sensor
Publication Date: 2024.10.23 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3948482B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3948482B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3948482B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Disclosed is an electronic device including a display device including a touch sensor and a processor electrically connected to the touch sensor and the display device, wherein the processor is configured to control the electronic device to: display content and a cursor on a first area of the display device, display a touch pad user interface configured to receive a touch input on a second area of the display device, and control the cursor on the first area based on the touch input received through the touch pad user interface displayed on the second area.