Translucent Menu Overlay for Small Screen Visibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
In the context of factory automation, image processing apparatuses with limited screen size face challenges in displaying both the processing target image and the image processing menu simultaneously without impairing visibility, making it difficult for users to operate effectively.
Innovation Solution
The image processing apparatus displays a menu image in a translucent state overlapped with the target object image, allowing for switching of the menu image's size and visibility based on user instructions, enabling efficient operation even on small screens.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the processing target image and image processing menu are displayed on the same screen simultaneously, then the user can check the image while operating the menu, but the area for each display area becomes small on limited screen size devices
Solution Approach 1:
The menu image is displayed in a translucent state overlapped with the target object image, transitioning from a traditional side-by-side two-dimensional layout to a layered three-dimensional spatial arrangement. This allows both the processing target image and menu to occupy the same screen space without mutually excluding each other, effectively utilizing the Z-depth dimension to resolve the area conflict.
Solution Approach 2:
The menu image is rendered with translucency, allowing the target object image to be visible through the menu layers. This transparency effect enables simultaneous visibility of both elements, maintaining the display area for the target image while providing menu access, thus resolving the contradiction between operational ease and display area.
2Ease of operation
If the menu image occupies a large area on the screen, then the menu is more accessible and easier to operate, but the visibility of the target object image is impaired
Solution Approach 1:
The menu image is displayed with translucency, allowing the target object image to be visible through the menu layers. This transparency effect enables simultaneous visibility of both elements, maintaining the display area for the target image while providing menu access, thus resolving the contradiction between operational ease and display area.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the display state between showing the translucent menu overlapped with the target image and showing only the target image, based on user interaction needs. This dynamic switching allows the menu to occupy more visual space when needed while preserving target image visibility when menu interaction is not required.
3Loss of information
If the menu image is displayed in a non-translucent state, then the menu is more visible and easier to read, but the target object image becomes obscured
Solution Approach 1:
The menu image is displayed with translucency, allowing the target object image to be visible through the menu layers. This transparency effect enables simultaneous visibility of both elements, maintaining the display area for the target image while providing menu access, thus resolving the contradiction between operational ease and display area.
Data Source
AI summary
An image is displayed without impairing visibility, even in the case of a screen having a limited size. A display setting unit includes a target image display unit that displays an image of a workpiece on an LCD, an image selection unit that, in accordance with a selection operation, selects all or part of the image of the workpiece displayed on the LCD, a menu display unit that displays a menu image so as to be overlapped with the image of the workpiece in a translucent state, the menu image being made up of a plurality of parts that are partial images for displaying information or receiving an input operation, and a display switching unit that, in accordance with a switching instruction given via the operation unit, switches the size of the area occupied by the menu image on the LCD.