Ambient Light Sensor Gesture Control for Gloved Hands

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional user interfaces, such as touchscreens and touchpads, can be impractical in certain environments (e.g., dirty or extreme conditions) and for users who prefer or need to keep their hands gloved, as they require direct hand contact, limiting usability.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a device with ambient light sensors (ALSs) that detect touch-less gestures by measuring changes in ambient light intensity, allowing for gesture recognition without direct contact, and combining this with traditional touchscreen inputs for hybrid interaction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional touchscreen or touchpad interfaces are used, then direct hand contact is required for operation, but this limits usability in environments where hands must remain gloved or clean (e.g., oil rigs, operating rooms, extreme cold conditions)

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveusability in various environmentsVSAvoiddirect hand contact requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical contact-based input (touchscreens, touchpads, keyboards, mice) with an optical detection system using ambient light sensors. The system detects hand gestures by measuring changes in ambient light intensity caused by hand movement, eliminating the need for direct physical contact with the device while maintaining intuitive gesture-based control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If touchscreen interfaces are implemented, then familiar touch interaction is provided, but the system becomes unusable when hands are contaminated or protected by gloves

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefamiliar touchscreen interactionVSAvoidoperation in contaminated or extreme conditions

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces ambient light sensors as an intermediary detection mechanism between the user and the device interface. Instead of requiring direct hand-to-screen contact, the system uses light intensity changes as a mediator to detect and interpret hand gestures, enabling reliable operation regardless of hand condition (gloved, contaminated, or clean).

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables intuitive and effective user interaction in various environments without the need for direct hand contact, enhancing usability in settings where traditional interfaces are impractical, such as oil rigs or extreme cold conditions, while maintaining the familiarity of touchscreen functionality.

Implementation Method 1

ambient light sensors (ALSs) that detect touch-less gestures by measuring changes in ambient light intensity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight intensity measurement: Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentUS9405461B2Operating a device using touchless and touchscreen gestures

Publication Date: 2016.08.02 MALIKIE INNOVATIONS LTD

AI summary

A device operable using touch-less and touchscreen gestures and a method and system to operate the device are described. The device includes two or more ambient light sensors arranged at respective surface locations of the device and sensing light intensity at the respective surface locations. The device also includes a processor coupled to the two or more ambient light sensors to identify a touch-less gesture based on the light intensity sensed by the two or more ambient light sensors, receive a touchscreen gesture, and operate the device based on the touch-less gesture and the touchscreen gesture.