Touchpad Display Integrating GUI With Cursor Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional personal computers face challenges with cluttered displays due to multiple open programs, leading to a need for additional display space while maintaining portability and avoiding the inconvenience of increasing display screen sizes, which can obstruct user focus and require rearrangement of other features.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device with a touchpad that includes a touch sensor and a touchpad display, allowing for a graphical user interface (GUI) with virtual buttons, providing program-specific information without requiring additional screen space, and enabling users to interact with active programs directly from the touchpad.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If additional display screens are added to increase display space, then the amount of display space is improved, but the portability and size of the device deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the display function and touchpad function into a single integrated component. The touchpad display serves dual purposes: it provides additional display space for program-specific information while maintaining the touchpad's cursor control functionality. This merging eliminates the need for separate additional display screens, thereby increasing display space without increasing device volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The touchpad display performs multiple functions: it displays program-specific information, notifications, and controls simultaneously with its traditional cursor control role. This multi-functionality allows the device to provide enhanced display capabilities without adding dedicated display components that would increase device size.
2Area of stationary object
If the display screen size is increased to provide more display space, then the display space is improved, but the user focus and concentration deteriorates due to obstructions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the display information by separating program-specific information from the main display area and presenting it on the touchpad display. This segmentation allows users to view detailed program information without it cluttering the main display, thereby maintaining user focus on the primary content while providing access to additional information when needed.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple programs are opened concurrently to increase functionality, then the program capability is improved, but the display clutter and ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The touchpad display acts as an intermediary interface between the user and multiple concurrent programs. It provides program-specific controls, notifications, and information for background applications without requiring users to switch to the main display. This mediator role allows seamless management of multiple programs while maintaining a clean main display and improving operational ease.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device, method and computer program product are provided. The electronic device comprises a memory to store program instructions, one or more processors to execute the program instructions, and a main body unit. The main body unit has a housing comprising a top side. The main body unit further includes a keyboard and a touchpad disposed along the top side of the housing. The keyboard and the touchpad are located in discrete areas. The touchpad includes a touch sensor and a touchpad display covering at least a portion of the touch sensor. The one or more processors display a graphical user interface (GUI) on the touchpad display.