Industrial Vehicle Touchscreen Widget Layout for Gloved Operators

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Solution Overview

Problem

Industrial vehicle operators face difficulties in navigating through multiple screens and menus, especially when wearing gloves in cold environments, leading to inefficiencies in accessing needed information.

Innovation Solution

A graphical user interface that automatically moves desired widgets to a designated space upon icon activation, allows menu portions to be displayed on demand, and changes widget states upon vehicle function completion, enhancing flexibility and reducing manual navigation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If operators manually navigate through multiple screens and menus to access information, then comprehensive information access is possible, but operator time and efficiency are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperator timeVSAvoidmanual navigation difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by automatically displaying the most recently used widget on the main display area before the operator needs it. The widget manager pre-loads and positions frequently accessed widgets based on usage history, eliminating the need for operators to manually search through menus and screens.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The widget management system provides self-service functionality by automatically detecting operator needs and managing widget display positions without manual intervention. The system serves itself by tracking usage patterns and autonomously repositioning widgets to optimize accessibility, reducing operator workload.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If operators wear gloves in cold environments, then safety and protection are improved, but the ability to interact with the interface is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperator protectionVSAvoidinterface interaction difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges the icon display area with the main display area, allowing icons to be positioned anywhere on the screen including directly over widgets. This integration eliminates the need for separate control areas, making the interface more accessible to gloved operators who cannot precisely manipulate small controls.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system adds a temporal dimension to widget positioning by implementing automatic movement based on time-based usage patterns. Widgets are not only positioned spatially but also temporally optimized to appear when and where needed, creating a more intuitive interface that requires less precise manual interaction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Adaptability or versatility

If widgets are manually positioned on the display, then custom layout flexibility is achieved, but operator time and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewidget layout flexibilityVSAvoidmanual positioning complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The widget management system implements dynamic positioning where widgets automatically move between the main display area and icon tray based on usage patterns and system state. This dynamic behavior replaces static manual positioning, allowing the interface to adapt automatically while maintaining flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates feedback mechanisms by tracking widget usage patterns and operator interactions. This feedback informs the widget manager's decisions about which widgets to display prominently and where to position them, creating an adaptive system that learns from operator behavior without requiring manual reconfiguration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

4Loss of information

If comprehensive information is displayed across multiple screens, then information completeness is improved, but navigation time and operator burden increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation accessibilityVSAvoidnavigation time

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The interface is segmented into functional areas (main display area and icon tray) with clear roles. The main display area shows active widgets while the icon tray provides quick access to additional widgets. This segmentation allows comprehensive information availability while reducing navigation burden through contextual positioning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS12405722B2User interface device for industrial vehicle

Publication Date: 2025.09.02 CROWN EQUIP CORP

AI summary

A processing device comprising a graphical user interface in an industrial vehicle is provided. The processing device comprises a touch screen display that receives touch gesture commands from a vehicle operator, memory storing executable instructions, and a processor in communication with the memory. The processor when executing the executable instructions: defines a plurality of widgets, wherein each widget comprises a visual representation of a current state of an associated function of the vehicle, displays a subset of the plurality of widgets on a portion of the touch screen display defining a plurality of widget spaces, and displays an icon tray on the touch screen display comprising one or more icons, in which at least one of the one or more icons corresponds to a respective one of the plurality of widgets.