Adaptive Thumbnail Scaling for TV Displays

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing display technologies face challenges in making thumbnail displays visible and distinguishable from varying viewer distances and positions, particularly on large screens, leading to poor visibility and difficulty in selecting content without complex remote control operations.

Innovation Solution

A display control apparatus that detects the viewer's position and distance using a pickup image, adjusting the size and number of thumbnails accordingly, allowing for automatic scaling and positioning without requiring remote control operation, and selecting content based on the viewer's line of sight or face orientation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If thumbnail images are scaled down to display many pieces of content on one screen, then the quantity of content displayed increases, but the visibility and distinguishability of content details deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of thumbnails displayedVSAvoidvisibility of content details
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the thumbnail display adaptive rather than static. The display control apparatus dynamically adjusts the number and size of thumbnails based on detected viewer position and distance. When the viewer is close to the display, more thumbnails are shown; when far away, fewer but larger thumbnails are displayed. This resolves the contradiction by allowing the system to optimize between quantity and visibility based on real-time conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes display parameters (number of thumbnails, size of thumbnails) based on viewer distance and position parameters. The system detects viewer parameters using a pickup image and camera, then adjusts display parameters accordingly. This allows the contradiction to be resolved by transitioning between different display configurations rather than being fixed at one setting.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If the display image is scaled up to improve visibility from a distance, then the visibility improves, but the ability to display multiple thumbnails simultaneously deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisibility of contentVSAvoidnumber of thumbnails displayed
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the balance between thumbnail size and number based on viewer distance. When the viewer is far away, the system automatically reduces the number of thumbnails while increasing their size to maintain visibility. When the viewer is close, it increases the number of thumbnails while reducing individual size. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction adaptively.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from the pickup image and camera to detect viewer position and distance, then adjusts the thumbnail display accordingly. This closed-loop control allows the system to respond to actual viewing conditions and optimize the display to resolve the contradiction between visibility and quantity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If manual remote control operation is required to adjust thumbnail display, then precise control is achieved, but the ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol precisionVSAvoidoperation convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-service by automatically detecting viewer position and distance, then autonomously adjusting the thumbnail display without requiring manual remote control operation. The display control apparatus uses the pickup image and camera to determine optimal display parameters and applies them automatically. This resolves the contradiction by eliminating the need for manual intervention while maintaining precise, context-appropriate control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical remote control system with an automated vision-based system. Instead of requiring physical remote control operations, the system uses image processing and camera detection to automatically adjust displays. This substitution eliminates the need for manual operation while achieving precise control through automated detection and adjustment.

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

Data Source

PatentEP2270772B1Display control apparatus and display control method
Publication Date: 2017.05.10 SATURN LICENSING LLC
  • EP2270772B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2270772B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2270772B1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

There is provided a display control apparatus including a pickup image acquisition unit that acquires a pickup image of a viewer viewing a display image, a detection unit that detects a viewing position and a viewing distance of the viewer with respect to the display image based on the pickup image of the viewer acquired by the pickup image acquisition unit, and a display control unit that changes a size of the display image in accordance with the viewing distance of the viewer detected by the detection unit while associating the viewing position of the viewer detected by the detection unit with a display position of the display image.