Touchscreen Slider for Precise Radio Frequency Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current multifunction operating devices for car radios are cumbersome and time-consuming for selecting radio programs, especially when multiple programs are encoded in a frequency range, as manual frequency changes often result in imprecise selection due to high-speed frequency changes during automated searches.
Innovation Solution
A multifunction operating device with a touchscreen and a touch-sensitive sensor unit features a sliding control element, allowing users to select radio frequencies by moving a graphic element along a scale, enabling precise and intuitive parameter selection by linking different positions to specific functions or actions, and restricting graphic representations to facilitate two-dimensional movement for selecting programs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If automated channel search is used to select radio programs, then frequency selection speed is improved, but selection precision deteriorates due to high-speed frequency changes making it impossible to end exactly at the desired transmitter
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the automated electronic frequency scanning system with a manual touchscreen slider system. Users directly control frequency selection by dragging a graphical slider to the desired position on a visual frequency scale, eliminating the high-speed automated scanning mechanism that caused precision problems.
Solution Approach 2:
The touchscreen slider acts as an intermediary between the user and the frequency selection system. It provides visual feedback showing the current frequency position on a scale, allowing users to precisely target desired frequencies without the overshooting problems of automated scanning.
2Measurement precision
If manual frequency adjustment using arrow keys is used, then selection precision is improved, but operating time increases making the process time-consuming and complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the one-dimensional sequential arrow key navigation into a two-dimensional visual frequency scale with a slider. Users can directly position the slider at the target frequency along the visual scale, reducing the number of steps required and providing intuitive visual feedback throughout the adjustment process.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a large number of radio programs are broadcast in a frequency range, then program variety is improved, but selection complexity increases making manual selection time-consuming and complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses visual display elements on the touchscreen to represent different radio programs and their frequencies. The graphical slider and frequency scale provide visual feedback that simplifies navigation through multiple programs, allowing users to see program information and frequency positions simultaneously.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for operating a multifunction control device and the multifunction control device (1) for a motor vehicle, comprising a display device (2) designed as a touchscreen with a display surface (3) and a touch-sensitive, spatially resolving sensor unit coupled to the display surface, wherein graphic elements (4-1 to 4-10, 5) can be displayed on the display surface (3), to which actions and/or functions are assigned that can be triggered by actuating the graphic elements (4-1 to 4-10, 5), wherein a distinguished graphic element (5) of the graphic elements (4-1 to 4-10, 5) is designed as a movable control element, which can be moved by means of a touch of the touch-sensitive, spatially resolving sensor unit in the area of the graphic representation of the distinguished graphic element (5) by an actuating object, in particular a finger,and a subsequent sliding movement of the actuating object over the display surface (3) can be actuated without interrupting contact with the sensor unit, wherein the function and/or action associated with the distinguished graphic element (5) depends on the current position of the actuating object during actuation or on the last position of the actuating object during actuation.