Touchscreen Cursor Offset and Magnification for Occlusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Small touchscreen displays on electronic devices make it difficult for users to accurately select items due to finger occlusion, with existing solutions like magnification windows being cumbersome or unfeasible, especially when items are densely packed or vector graphics are not available.
Innovation Solution
The method involves automatically shifting or scrolling the items on the touchscreen when a user touches it, allowing the cursor to be displayed offset from the touch location, thereby avoiding occlusion and providing a clear view of selection, with optional magnification to facilitate data entry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the display screen size is decreased to make electronic devices smaller, then the portability and compactness are improved, but the ease of operation for touchscreen input deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a third dimension by displaying a magnified view in a separate window above the touchscreen display. This allows the cursor position to be visible in an additional spatial dimension without increasing the physical device size, resolving the contradiction between compact device size and ease of touchscreen operation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary magnified view window that mediates between the user's finger on the touchscreen and the actual cursor position. This intermediary display helps users accurately locate their cursor without requiring a larger touchscreen, thus maintaining device compactness while improving operation ease
2Loss of information
If a magnification window is displayed directly on top of the selectable item to make it viewable under the finger, then the visibility of the selected item is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a simplified copy or representation of the touchscreen display in a magnified window above it. This copy shows only the relevant portion with the cursor, providing visibility without requiring complex transformations of the entire display. The copying approach reduces software complexity compared to full magnification while maintaining item visibility
3Loss of information
If the magnification window is made large enough to be viewable underneath the finger, then the visibility of the cursor position is improved, but the area available for other display content decreases
Solution Approach 1:
By placing the magnified view in a separate window above the touchscreen rather than overlaying it directly on the content, the patent utilizes vertical space (another dimension) to provide cursor visibility. This approach maintains full access to the touchscreen display area below while providing the necessary magnified view, thus resolving the area trade-off
4Measurement precision
If the cursor is displayed at the exact touch location, then the accuracy of cursor placement is improved, but the visibility of the cursor under the finger deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary magnified view window that displays the cursor position indirectly. The cursor remains accurately positioned at the touch location on the touchscreen, while the separate magnified window above provides visibility of the cursor position. This intermediary display resolves the contradiction between accurate cursor placement and cursor visibility under the finger
Data Source
AI summary
A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for facilitating data entry into an electronic device via a touchscreen. As a user places his or her finger on the touchscreen, a cursor may be displayed at a location relative to other items displayed on the touchscreen that is proximate the physical location where the user touched the touchscreen. Because the cursor is likely now obscured by the user's finger, the items displayed on the touchscreen, including the cursor, may then be shifted or scrolled so that the cursor is offset from the physical location where the user touched the touchscreen. At the same time, the items displayed on the touchscreen may be magnified in order to further facilitate data entry. At this point, the user may shift or tilt his or her finger in order to achieve the desired cursor placement.