Transparent Pointer Click Region for Mobile Terminal Touch Input
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge in mobile terminals is to control operations efficiently on small screens without obstructing the view, as users find it difficult to select objects on a small screen using touch input due to limited space and the finger covering the touched area, and conventional input schemes are not intuitive for mobile devices without a PC mouse.
Innovation Solution
A mobile terminal and method that utilize a pointer with a partially transparent click region, allowing users to control operations through touch input without obscuring the screen content, using a combination of proximity and touch sensors to detect and move the pointer, enabling intuitive operation on small screens.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a touch input scheme is used on a small screen, then the user interface is simple and direct, but the user cannot easily select specific objects because the finger covers the touched area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a pointer as an intermediary element that represents the touch location on screen. The pointer includes a transparent click region that allows users to see through it to accurately identify which object is being selected, while the finger remains visible through the transparent region. This mediator resolves the conflict between direct touch input and precise object identification.
Solution Approach 2:
The pointer's click region is designed to be at least partially transparent, allowing the underlying screen content to be visible. This transparency property enables users to see through the pointer to identify the target object while still indicating the selection location, solving the visibility problem during touch input.
2Volume of moving object
If the screen size is kept small for portability, then the mobile terminal is compact and portable, but the user interface space is restricted making object selection difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The pointer is segmented into distinct functional regions: a transparent click region for accurate visual identification and an indication region for showing the current selection state. This segmentation allows the pointer to provide comprehensive feedback within a compact area, enabling precise object selection without requiring larger screen space.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional input key scheme is used, then PC mouse functions can be implemented, but the operation is not intuitive for mobile terminals and takes a long time to master
Solution Approach 1:
The pointer system provides universal input functionality that works across different mobile terminal contexts without requiring device-specific input keys. It combines the selection capability of a mouse with the simplicity of direct touch, making it adaptable to various mobile applications while maintaining intuitive operation through natural finger gestures.
Data Source
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AI summary
A mobile terminal and a method for controlling the operation of the mobile terminal are provided. In the method, an operation screen is displayed on a display module and a pointer including a click region, which is at least partially transparent, is displayed on the operation screen. An operation corresponding to an object indicated by the pointer is performed when an input of touching the click region has been made. This method allows the user to correctly select a desired object using the pointer including the transparent click region to perform an operation associated with the object.