Adaptive Projected Input Devices for Portable Computing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing information handling systems face challenges in providing a natural and user-friendly interface for projected input and output devices, particularly on small screens where key selection is difficult and consumes display space, often requiring peripheral devices that lack portability and increase size and weight.
Innovation Solution
A system that automatically detects and adapts projected input and output devices based on projection surface conditions, using a depth camera to adjust their size, location, and orientation, and detects objects to avoid projection on them, allowing for intuitive interaction and storage of configurations for rapid recreation across different environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If a touchscreen display is used for input, then portability is improved, but key selection accuracy and usability deteriorate due to small screen size
Solution Approach 1:
The patent projects input devices onto a three-dimensional surface (table or floor) rather than confining input to a two-dimensional touchscreen. This dimensional transition allows users to interact with enlarged virtual keyboards and input surfaces that extend beyond the constraints of a small display screen, thereby improving key selection accuracy while maintaining device portability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a projector to create temporary, disposable virtual input devices that appear on demand. These projected keyboards and input surfaces are not permanent physical components but are generated dynamically through projection, allowing users to access full-size input interfaces without carrying additional permanent peripheral devices.
2Ease of operation
If peripheral devices are used to improve input accuracy, then key selection accuracy is improved, but device portability and size decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The projector serves multiple functions: it projects both input devices (keyboards) and output devices (displays), and can adapt its projection based on detected objects and user needs. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated input and output peripherals, maintaining portability while providing comprehensive input/output capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of carrying physical peripheral devices, the system creates virtual copies of keyboards, mice, and display devices through projection. These projected representations function as full-size input and output interfaces without requiring users to physically transport additional hardware, thereby maintaining device portability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If projected devices are displayed on a fixed surface, then device versatility is improved, but adaptability to different environments deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically detects objects and environmental conditions, then self-configures the projection settings accordingly. When objects are detected, the system automatically adjusts projected device positions, sizes, and orientations without requiring manual user configuration, thereby adapting to different environments while reducing configuration complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The projected devices are dynamically adjusted based on real-time detection of objects and user interactions. The system can change projection position, size, and orientation on the fly to accommodate different surfaces and environmental conditions, providing versatility without requiring fixed complex configuration.
4Ease of operation
If projected devices are always visible, then ease of operation is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The projector operates periodically rather than continuously, activating only when needed to project input or output devices. The system detects user presence and interaction needs to determine when projection should be active, thereby reducing unnecessary energy consumption while maintaining ease of operation when required.
Data Source
AI summary
Projected input and output devices adapt to a desktop environment by sensing objects at the desktop environment and altering projected light in response to the sensed objects. For instance, projection of input and output devices is altered to limit illumination against and end user's hands or other objects disposed at a projection surface. End user hand positions and motions are detected to provide gesture support for adapting a projection work space, and configurations of projected devices are stored so that an end user can rapidly recreate a projected desktop. A projector scan adjusts to limit traces across inactive portions of the display surface and to increase traces at predetermined areas, such as video windows.