Camera-Based Privacy LED Tamper Detection Through Cover Glass
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wearable devices lack effective mechanisms to prevent surreptitious tampering of privacy indicators, such as LED recording alerts, which hinders the widespread use of video and audio recording capabilities due to public concerns over privacy violations.
Innovation Solution
A wearable device system with a camera, light emitting device, and light pipe configuration that transmits light through a cover glass to form an overlap area with the camera's field of view, allowing detection of blockages and automatic cessation of recording when tampering is identified.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a privacy indicator (LED) is provided to alert onlookers during recording, then privacy protection is improved, but the device becomes vulnerable to tampering that goes undetected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the camera system and privacy indicator into a single integrated optical assembly where the camera monitors the privacy indicator's operational status. This merging allows the system to detect tampering with the privacy indicator using the camera's existing imaging capabilities, rather than adding separate detection hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by having the camera continuously monitor the privacy indicator's light emission status and provide this information back to the processing system. When the camera detects that the privacy indicator is blocked or tampered with, the system responds by stopping recording, creating a closed-loop feedback mechanism that enhances reliability.
2Measurement precision
If the camera field of view is used to monitor the privacy indicator, then tamper detection capability is improved, but the optical design becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The camera serves multiple functions: it records the external scene for immersive reality purposes and simultaneously monitors the privacy indicator for tamper detection. This multi-functionality allows the system to use the camera's field of view for dual purposes, improving tamper detection precision without requiring dedicated monitoring hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own camera to monitor its own privacy indicator, making the system self-monitoring. The camera's optical path naturally captures both the external scene and the privacy indicator, allowing the device to detect tampering using resources already available within the system.
3Illumination intensity
If the privacy indicator is made visible through the cover glass, then onlooker awareness is improved, but the risk of surreptitious tampering increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system takes preliminary anti-action by continuously monitoring the privacy indicator's visibility through the camera before and during recording. The camera detects if the indicator is blocked or tampered with, and the system preemptively stops recording when tampering is detected, preventing privacy violations before they can occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The camera acts as an intermediary between the privacy indicator and the system's control logic. It translates the physical state of the privacy indicator (visible or blocked) into detectable image data, allowing the system to indirectly monitor the indicator's status and respond to tampering attempts.
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
Ensures tamper-proof video recording by detecting and responding to blockages of the camera's field of view, thereby enhancing privacy protection and enabling widespread adoption of recording features in wearable devices.
Implementation Method 1
a light pipe inside the barrel and configured to receive a light from the first light emitting device and to transmit the light through an overlap area on the cover glass and outside of the wearable device
Implementation Method 2
a processor configured to identify a blockage of the camera field of view within the portion of the overlap area
Data Source
AI summary
A system for recording video in a wearable device is provided. The system includes: a barrel to provide mechanical support for one or more components in the system, a camera, disposed inside the barrel, wherein the camera includes a front lens with a field of view pointed to an onlooker outside of the wearable device, a cover glass mounted on the barrel, the cover glass configured to protect the front lens and one or more components in the system, a light emitting device, disposed inside the barrel, and a light pipe configured to receive a light from the light emitting device and to transmit the light through an overlap area on the cover glass and to the onlooker, when the camera is recording a scene outside of the wearable device, within the field of view, wherein the camera field of view comprises at least a portion of the overlap area.