Audio-Video Sensor Actuation for Privacy Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Audio-video apparatuses integrated into electronic devices pose privacy risks due to their front-facing positioning, allowing unauthorized access to image and audio sensors, and existing solutions lack flexibility in selectively activating these sensors.

Innovation Solution

An audio-video apparatus with a base member mounted behind the display and an actuation unit that allows users to manually activate either the audio sensor or both sensors, swinging them upwards for user access while keeping them hidden otherwise, preventing unauthorized access.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the AV unit is positioned on the front side of the electronic device for easy access, then the ease of operation is improved, but the user's privacy is compromised due to unauthorized access risks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess to AV unitVSAvoidunauthorized access to sensors

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The AV unit is designed to be movable between a retracted position (hidden behind the display) and an extended position (visible and accessible). The actuation unit enables dynamic repositioning, allowing the system to switch between privacy protection mode and operational mode, thus resolving the contradiction between accessibility and privacy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a switch is used to activate the AV device for security, then the harmful factors are reduced, but the flexibility to selectively activate audio or video sensors is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveunauthorized sensor accessVSAvoidselective sensor activation

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The actuation unit is divided into separate actuation elements that can independently control the audio sensor and video sensor activation. This segmentation allows selective activation of individual sensors while maintaining security through the retracted position, thus resolving the contradiction between security and versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the AV unit is kept hidden behind the display for privacy, then unauthorized access is prevented, but the ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveunauthorized sensor accessVSAvoidaccess to AV unit

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The actuation unit serves as an intermediary mechanism between the user and the AV unit. It provides a convenient interface for activating the sensors while enabling the AV unit to move to an accessible position only when needed, thus resolving the contradiction between privacy protection and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11272084B2Audio and image sensors' activation

Publication Date: 2022.03.08 HEWLETT PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LP

AI summary

Examples of an audio-video (AV) apparatus are described herein. In an example, the AV apparatus includes a base member. The AV apparatus further includes an AV unit including an image sensor and an audio sensor. The AV unit being actuated to move, with respect to the base member, either in a first direction and activate the audio sensor or in a second direction and activate the image sensor and the audio sensor.