Automatic Magnification for Text-Based Images
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing reading and writing magnifiers for impaired individuals require frequent manual adjustments for varying font sizes, are complex and expensive, and lack user-friendly interfaces, making them cumbersome and costly.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that automatically adjusts magnification and other display settings once personalized, eliminating the need for manual controls and interface buttons, using a camera with automatic focus and a processor to maintain consistent font size and enhance readability with customizable features like font conversion and color correction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If manual control adjustment is used to change magnification for different font sizes, then the reading magnifier can adapt to varying typeface sizes, but the operation becomes cumbersome and requires frequent user intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The reading magnifier automatically detects font size and adjusts magnification without user intervention. The system serves itself by continuously monitoring the text being viewed and autonomously changing magnification settings, eliminating the need for manual controls while maintaining adaptability to different typeface sizes
Solution Approach 2:
The magnifier incorporates a feedback mechanism that continuously monitors the font size of the text being viewed and automatically adjusts magnification accordingly. This closed-loop system detects changes in text size and responds by modifying magnification settings, providing both adaptability and ease of operation
2Extent of automation
If scanning and recognition processing is used to convert text images to displayed format, then automatic font display magnification is achieved, but the system becomes complex and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential function needed for automatic magnification - detecting font size and adjusting magnification ratio - while eliminating complex text scanning, recognition, and conversion processes. This selective approach achieves automatic font display magnification without the complexity and cost of full OCR systems
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of processing and converting text through complex recognition systems, the patent creates a simplified copy of the text image and applies magnification directly to this copy. The system maintains the original text format while simply enlarging it, avoiding the need for text-to-display-format conversion
3Adaptability or versatility
If adjustable magnification is obtained by changing camera distance to alter angle of view, then magnification can be adjusted for different font sizes, but the user must manually operate controls whenever font size changes
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically adjusts magnification by detecting font size changes and modifying magnification ratio without requiring the user to manually change camera distance or operate controls. The reading magnifier serves itself by autonomously adapting to different typeface sizes, eliminating time loss from manual adjustments
Solution Approach 2:
The magnification system dynamically adjusts magnification ratio based on real-time detection of font size. Rather than requiring static manual adjustment, the system continuously adapts magnification settings to match the current text size, providing seamless transitions between different typeface sizes
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
Provides a simple, inexpensive, and instantly operating solution that automatically adjusts magnification and display settings, reducing user effort and enhancing readability for impaired readers by maintaining consistent font size and offering customizable enhancements.
Implementation Method 1
a camera for capturing a view of the text based source
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
Method and apparatus for capturing a text based source image 5, 5A provided on an object 3 supported on a surface. Positioned above the object 3 is a camera 7 for capturing a view of the text based image 5, 5A. The camera 7, through lens 9 generates a focused image of at least part of the object 3 and transmits this image to a processor 11 for magnification of the image captured by the camera 7 to a size specified for display on a display device 15. In the processor 11 the magnification is effected to a rate that is controlled by the second predefined size for display 19, 19A of the font to appear on the display 15 and is independent of the first font size.