Watch Terminal Touch Area Control for Small Displays

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Solution Overview

Problem

Mobile terminals with small display units face challenges in providing intuitive control options without visual information, as their limited screen space restricts the display of visual feedback, making it difficult for users to navigate and interact effectively.

Innovation Solution

A watch-type terminal equipped with a sensing unit to detect touch area changes and a controller that executes specific functions based on these changes, allowing users to control operations such as navigating menus, selecting items, and managing screen information without visual feedback, using touch area increases and decreases to perform actions like zooming, canceling functions, and switching between applications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the display unit size is reduced to make the terminal wearable, then the terminal can be worn on the user's body for convenience, but the display of visual information is restricted

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovewearabilityVSAvoiddisplay area
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces visual display-based interaction with touch-based interaction. The sensing unit detects touch inputs and the controller executes operations based on touch area changes, substituting the visual feedback mechanism with a tactile feedback mechanism that works effectively on small wearable displays.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Device complexity

If visual information is limited on the display, then the terminal can be made compact and wearable, but user control and navigation become difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveterminal sizeVSAvoiduser control
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses the touch input itself to determine the operation to be executed. By analyzing the change in touch area, the system automatically determines the user's intent and executes the corresponding operation, eliminating the need for complex visual interfaces or multiple confirmation steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter used for control from visual display elements to touch area characteristics. The controller detects changes in touch area and maps these changes to specific operations, creating a new control paradigm that is independent of visual feedback and works effectively on small displays.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If the display area is increased to provide visual feedback, then user control becomes easier, but the terminal can no longer be worn comfortably

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisual feedbackVSAvoidterminal weight
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent substitutes the visual feedback system with a touch-based control system that provides feedback through the act of touching itself. The sensing unit detects touch area changes and the controller executes operations accordingly, eliminating the need for large visual feedback displays while maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP3376743B1Watch-type terminal and method for controlling same
Publication Date: 2020.05.27 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3376743B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3376743B1 patent drawingFigure 1B~1C
  • EP3376743B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The present invention relates to a watch-type terminal enabling touch input sensing and a method for controlling the same. The watch-type terminal comprises: a display unit; a sensing unit for sensing the touch surface area of a touch input applied to the display unit; and a control unit for detecting the direction of changes in the touch surface area of the touch input which has been sensed and, in response to the changes in the touch surface area, for executing a particular function connected to the direction of changes of the touch surface area among a plurality of functions for controlling the operation of a watch-type terminal.