Touchscreen Character Selection via Virtual Enlargement Area

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Solution Overview

Problem

Touchscreen input methods for character selection are inaccurate due to the lack of tactile feedback, causing users to frequently miss characters as their finger covers multiple characters, leading to inconvenience in selecting the desired character.

Innovation Solution

A method and device that independently display and enlarge characters within a shaded area on the touchscreen, allowing users to select characters by interacting with a preset enlargement area, which improves accuracy by calculating the shaded area and using coordinate transformations to display characters at a larger size for precise selection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If users touch characters directly on the touchscreen, then the operation is simple, but the character selection accuracy is low because the finger covers multiple characters

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperation simplicityVSAvoidcharacter selection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a virtual enlargement area that displays magnified characters in a separate dimension (virtual space) from the original touchscreen interface. This allows users to select characters with higher precision through the enlarged view while maintaining the simplicity of direct touch interaction on the original screen.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The virtual enlargement area acts as an intermediary between the user's finger and the actual character selection. Instead of directly selecting characters on the small touchscreen, users first interact with the magnified characters in the virtual area, which then translates the selection back to the original interface, improving accuracy without complicating the operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Illumination intensity

If the font size is increased to improve visibility, then character visibility improves, but the screen space for other content decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecharacter visibilityVSAvoidscreen space
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a virtual enlargement area that exists in a different dimensional space from the main screen content. This allows characters to be displayed at a larger size for better visibility without physically occupying more screen real estate, as the enlargement is achieved through virtual magnification rather than physical expansion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a copy of the character data in the virtual enlargement area at a larger size. This copy allows users to view and select characters with improved visibility while the original small-scale characters remain on the main screen, preserving screen space for other content.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Measurement precision

If users repeatedly press to locate characters, then character selection accuracy improves, but the time required for input increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecharacter selection accuracyVSAvoidinput time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary magnification of characters in the virtual enlargement area before the user makes a selection. This preliminary action of displaying enlarged characters allows users to locate and select characters accurately on the first attempt, eliminating the need for repeated pressing and significantly reducing input time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The virtual enlargement area provides immediate visual feedback by displaying magnified characters at the location where the user intends to select. This feedback mechanism allows users to see exactly which characters will be selected before confirming, improving accuracy and reducing the need for multiple attempts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP2905689B1Method and apparatus for displaying character on touchscreen
Publication Date: 2021.05.12 ZTE CORP
  • EP2905689B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2905689B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2905689B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5

AI summary

Disclosed are a method and device for displaying a character on a touchscreen. The method comprises: when it is detected that a time period during which the user touches an area, where a character is displayed, on the touchscreen exceeds a preset time threshold, a shaded area formed when the user touches the touchscreen is determined; at least one shaded character in the shaded area is acquired, and independently displayed and enlarged on a preset enlargement area excluding the shaded area on the touchscreen; and the touch of the user on the preset enlargement area is detected, and locating and selecting is performed on the at least one character in the shaded area according to the detected touch. By means of the technical solution of the present invention, the success rate can be improved when a user selects and locates a character, thereby breaking the bottleneck of the accuracy of a smart phone for locating and selecting a character.