Touchscreen Aiming System with Embedded Control Zone

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sighting systems with touch interfaces on screens face challenges in accurately aiming at small targets, especially when multiple targets are present or when targets move, as the operator's finger can obscure the target and make it difficult to track or select the correct one.

Innovation Solution

A sighting system with a display control unit and a touch interface that embeds a command zone on the screen, allowing the sighting frame to move based on contacts within this zone, keeping the frame and target visible and enabling easier tracking and selection by modulating movement speed through distinct contact areas.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the operator moves the sighting frame directly by pressing on the screen, then the control is direct and responsive, but the finger obscures the target making it difficult to accurately point at small or moving targets

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedirect control responsivenessVSAvoidaiming accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary control zone between the operator's finger and the sighting frame. Instead of directly moving the frame with finger pressure, the operator presses within a control zone that translates into frame movement. This mediator (control zone) allows the operator to maintain visual contact with the target while still controlling the frame position, resolving the contradiction between direct control and aiming accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If a touchscreen interface is added to the screen surface to improve ergonomics and limit interfaces, then the ease of operation improves, but the target visibility deteriorates when the operator's finger covers it

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterface ergonomicsVSAvoidtarget visibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the screen surface into distinct functional zones: a control zone for touch input and a display area for target visualization. By spatially separating the control interface from the target display area, the operator can interact with the sighting system without their finger obscuring the target, thus maintaining both ergonomic control and target visibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Device complexity

If the sighting frame is moved directly by finger contact on the screen, then the control is simple, but tracking moving targets becomes difficult when the finger blocks the view

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol mechanism simplicityVSAvoidtarget tracking efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The control zone acts as an intermediary that decouples the operator's finger movement from the sighting frame movement. The operator presses within the control zone boundaries, and the system translates this into frame movement, allowing continuous visual tracking of moving targets without finger obstruction while maintaining simple touch-based control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3304269B1Aiming system comprising a screen covered with a tactile interface and corresponding aiming method
Publication Date: 2021.04.07 SAFRAN ELECTRONICS & DEFENSE (FR)
  • EP3304269B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The invention relates to an aiming system (1) comprising a display control unit (2) connected to a screen (3) having a surface which is at least partially covered with a tactile interface, the display control unit being designed so as to embed an aiming frame (4) into images displayed on the screen. According to the invention, the display control unit is designed so as to embed a control region (5) into a portion of the tactile interface and to move the aiming frame on the screen according to a contact applied on the tactile interface in the control region. The invention also relates to an aiming method implemented by such a system.