Virtual Screen Overlay for Touch Input Precision
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face difficulties in interacting with touch screen terminals, particularly when trying to access distant parts of the screen with one hand, leading to potential erroneous inputs due to the limited touch range and precision.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a virtual screen of smaller size that overlays and interworks with the main screen, allowing for easier touch input by providing software buttons mapped to hardware buttons outside the main screen view, with features like size adjustment, hiding/showing, and enlarged touch points for improved accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the touch screen area is enlarged to improve accessibility, then the user can reach distant parts of the screen more easily, but the device size increases and becomes less portable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a third dimension by displaying a virtual screen that overlays the main screen at different depth layers. The virtual screen can be positioned in front of the main screen, creating a multi-layered display structure that allows users to access distant screen areas without physically expanding the device footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual screen acts as an intermediary between the user's finger and the main screen. It provides a transparent overlay layer that maps touch inputs to corresponding positions on the main screen, enabling users to interact with distant areas through a more accessible foreground interface.
2Ease of operation
If software buttons are mapped to hardware buttons outside the screen, then buttons become more accessible to one-hand operation, but the mapping complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates virtual copies of hardware buttons as software buttons on the virtual screen. These virtual button copies maintain the same functionality as their hardware counterparts but are positioned on the accessible virtual screen layer, allowing users to interact with them through touch without needing to physically access the hardware buttons.
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual screen serves multiple functions: it acts as a transparent overlay for the main screen, provides an additional layer for software buttons, and maps touch inputs to both virtual and hardware button functions. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate physical components while maintaining accessibility.
3Measurement precision
If a virtual screen overlay is added to improve touch precision, then touch input accuracy increases, but the display complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The display system is segmented into multiple independent layers: the main screen layer and the virtual screen overlay layer. Each layer can be independently controlled, positioned, and manipulated. This segmentation allows the virtual screen to provide precision touch input areas without complicating the main screen's display functionality.
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
An electronic device comprises a controller (15) operatively coupled with the display unit (12) and the input unit (11). The controller is configured to display a main screen (310) including a plurality of page indicators respectively indicating a plurality of pages that are included in the main screen (310), wherein displaying the main screen (310) comprises displaying a first page within the main screen (310) among the plurality of pages, and wherein a first page indicator among the plurality of page indicators, that indicates the first page, is highlighted relative to remaining page indicators while displaying the first page within the main screen (310). While displaying the first page within the main screen (310), a first touch input is received on an icon (316) outside of the first page. A virtual screen (320) is displayed that is a smaller version of the main screen (310).