Virtual Input Device Adapting Keyboard Layout to Hand Size
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable electronic devices with limited screen sizes face challenges in user input efficiency due to the constraints of soft keyboards, leading to reduced speed, accuracy, and increased typing errors, especially for users with larger hands or those unfamiliar with electronic devices.
Innovation Solution
A virtual input device that uses sensors to detect user hand characteristics, such as number, size, and gesture, to dynamically project a customizable virtual input layout on any surface, allowing for flexible and efficient input methods tailored to individual users.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If a soft key is displayed on a smartphone with a limited screen size (4 inches to 6 inches), then the device remains portable and easy to carry, but the input speed and accuracy significantly drop compared with using a general keyboard
Solution Approach 1:
The patent projects the virtual keyboard from the 2D touchscreen surface onto a 3D physical surface (such as a table or desk) in front of the user. This dimensional transition allows the keyboard to extend beyond the limited screen boundaries, providing a larger typing area that accommodates users with larger hands while maintaining device portability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a projector as an intermediary device that bridges the gap between the small touchscreen and the user's hands. The projector transforms the digital keyboard into a physical projection on an external surface, enabling users to type with natural hand positions without being constrained by the small screen size.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a soft key is displayed on a tablet PC to support various functions, then the device can perform multiple tasks, but the area of the screen for displaying content is reduced and input efficiency is significantly reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual keyboard is projected onto a separate physical surface in front of the tablet, effectively moving the input interface from the display area to an external space. This allows the full screen to be dedicated to content display while the projected keyboard provides a dedicated input zone, thereby maintaining both versatility and input efficiency.
3Area of stationary object
If the screen size of a tablet PC is increased to 10 inches to improve content display, then more content can be shown, but users with relatively large hands still make typing errors due to constraints of the screen size
Solution Approach 1:
By projecting the keyboard onto a 3D surface in front of the user, the patent creates a physical typing space that is independent of the screen dimensions. This allows users with larger hands to type comfortably with proper finger spacing, eliminating typing errors that occur even on large 10-inch screens when the keyboard occupies too much display area.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the user needs to change key layout or key type on a smartphone or tablet PC, then various input layouts can be supported, but the user needs to operate settings which is very inconvenient and difficult especially for elderly people unfamiliar with electronic devices
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically detects the user's hand characteristics (size, shape, number of fingers) using the sensor and autonomously selects and projects the most appropriate virtual keyboard layout. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for users to manually navigate settings menus, making the system equally accessible to elderly users who are unfamiliar with electronic device configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates a sensor that detects user hand characteristics and provides feedback to the processor, which then automatically adjusts the virtual keyboard projection accordingly. This closed-loop feedback system enables the keyboard to adapt to different users and situations without requiring manual intervention, simplifying the operation for all users regardless of their technical familiarity.
5Reliability
If a virtual input layout is projected on a large surface area to accommodate users with larger hands, then typing accuracy improves, but the device portability is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a lightweight projector as an intermediary to create the large virtual keyboard on an external surface rather than integrating a large physical keyboard into the device. This approach provides accurate typing for users with larger hands while keeping the device itself compact and portable, as the projection capability is separate from the device body.
Data Source
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AI summary
A virtual input device using a projector and a method for receiving a user input using the same are provided. The virtual input device includes a first sensor configured to detect at least one user hand, a processor configured to determine a virtual input layout based on the detected at least one user hand, a projector configured to optically project the determined virtual input layout on a user input plane, and a second sensor configured to detect a user input through the projected virtual input layout.