Transparent Touch Screen Remote Control for Intuitive Device Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing remote control devices are non-intuitive, require multiple devices for different appliances, and have high power consumption due to touch screen displays, making them costly and inconvenient to use.
Innovation Solution
A remote control system with a transparent touch screen that captures touch-based actions to determine the target device and user intent, allowing for intuitive control via a single device by transmitting control signals wirelessly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a regular touch screen is used in the remote control device, then the user interface becomes more intuitive and interactive, but the power consumption increases and the cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a transparent touch-sensitive coating on a transparent substrate that can change its optical properties. The coating includes conductive particles arranged in a pattern that becomes visible or detectable when touched, allowing the interface to remain transparent at rest but provide tactile feedback and visual indication when activated, thus maintaining intuitiveness while reducing overall power consumption compared to a always-on display
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a virtual representation of the target device's interface elements on the transparent touch screen. Instead of using physical buttons or a power-intensive display, the system captures touch actions on the transparent surface and translates them into control signals that replicate the functionality of the target device's native interface, providing intuitive control without the cost and power of a full display
2Ease of operation
If a display screen is added to the remote control device, then the user can see and select controls more easily, but the device becomes more expensive and consumes more power
Solution Approach 1:
The transparent touch-sensitive coating changes its optical properties when touched or activated, providing visual feedback without requiring a full display screen. This allows users to see control options and select them easily through the transparent surface, maintaining clarity of control selection while avoiding the cost and complexity of traditional display screens
Solution Approach 2:
The transparent substrate serves multiple functions: it acts as the structural base of the remote control, provides a touch-sensitive interface for user input, and allows users to see through to the target device or background. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate display components, reducing device complexity and cost while maintaining ease of operation
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple remote control devices are used for different devices, then each device can have optimized controls, but the user needs to remember multiple sets of buttons and manage multiple devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal remote control that can control multiple different devices through a single transparent touch interface. The system identifies the target device and adapts the control options displayed on the transparent surface to match that specific device's functions, providing device-specific control optimization while maintaining operation simplicity through a consistent interface paradigm across all devices
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure relates generally to remotely controlling devices, and more particularly to system and method for remotely controlling devices using a transparent touch screen based remote control device. In one embodiment, a method is provided for remotely controlling a target device. The method comprises capturing a touch based action performed by a user on a transparent touch screen of the remote control device, determining the target device from a plurality of remotely controllable devices, determining an intent of the user with respect to the target device based on the touch based action, and controlling the target device based on the intent by transmitting a control signal to the target device.