Touch panel operation switch, facility management device, and facility management screen generation method

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing touchscreen operation systems for equipment management, such as those used in large commercial facilities, often require multiple steps to prevent erroneous operations, which complicates the operation process for administrators.

Innovation Solution

A touchscreen operation switch that includes a display-information generator, a touchscreen, and an action-control-information generator, which allows administrators to perform intended operations on icons with a single slide operation starting within a designated area and passing a detection line within the icon's outer frame.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple steps are required to change equipment operational state, then erroneous operations are prevented, but operation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprevention of erroneous operationsVSAvoidoperation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The icon is divided into multiple functional areas: a first area for initiating operations and a second area for confirming operations. This segmentation allows the system to distinguish between intentional and accidental touches, preventing erroneous operations while maintaining simple user interaction through spatial differentiation within the icon structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different areas of the icon are assigned different functions: the first area triggers operation initiation while the second area confirms the operation. This local quality differentiation enables the system to implement multi-step verification for error prevention without requiring the user to navigate through multiple screens or complex menus, thus maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of operation

If a single touch operation is used, then ease of operation is improved, but erroneous operations may occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimplicity of operationVSAvoidaccuracy of intended operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The icon is divided into multiple functional areas: a first area for initiating operations and a second area for confirming operations. This segmentation allows the system to distinguish between intentional and accidental touches, preventing erroneous operations while maintaining simple user interaction through spatial differentiation within the icon structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The second area of the icon acts as an intermediary confirmation mechanism. When a user touches the first area, the system waits for additional confirmation through touch on the second area before executing the operation. This intermediary step filters out accidental touches while maintaining the simplicity of touch-based interaction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If icon areas are expanded for easier selection, then ease of operation is improved, but precision of operation control is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of icon selectionVSAvoidprecision of operation intent
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The icon is divided into multiple functional areas: a first area for initiating operations and a second area for confirming operations. This segmentation allows the system to distinguish between intentional and accidental touches, preventing erroneous operations while maintaining simple user interaction through spatial differentiation within the icon structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different areas of the icon are assigned different functions: the first area triggers operation initiation while the second area confirms the operation. This local quality differentiation enables the system to implement multi-step verification for error prevention without requiring the user to navigate through multiple screens or complex menus, thus maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3748485B1Touch panel operation switch, facility management device, and facility management screen generation method
Publication Date: 2025.06.04 CARRIER JAPAN CORP
  • EP3748485B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3748485B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3748485B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided is a tablet terminal (50) as an equipment management device associated with at least one of multiple pieces of equipment in a building under management, the tablet terminal (50) including a display-information generator (53), a touchscreen (51), and an action-control-information generator (54). The display-information generator (53) generates display information on a management screen wherein a plurality of icons are arranged, each of the icons including a rectangular outer frame and a first area set at one end along the major axis within the outer frame. The touchscreen (51) displays the generated management screen display information and receives an input of information relating to an operation performed on the management screen. Upon detecting that a slide operation has been performed on one of the icons of the management screen displayed on the touchscreen from the first area through a first slide-operation detecting line set inside the outer frame excluding the first area, the action-control-information generator (54) generates action control information that switches the power supply of the corresponding equipment on or off.