Dark Mode GUI Formatting Preservation via Contrast Thresholds

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing dark viewing modes for graphical user interfaces do not effectively preserve user-generated formatting and styles, often resulting in loss of formatting differences and discomfort due to excessive contrast.

Innovation Solution

A method that breaks down content into elements, examines their formatting characteristics, and adjusts them to ensure visibility and preserve original formatting by using reference characteristics and toggle buttons for regional control of dark and bright modes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If the background color and text color of content are converted without regard to preserving original formatting and style, then the dark viewing mode is achieved, but the original formatting differences and user-generated styles are lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebackground brightnessVSAvoidformatting information
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The content is segmented into multiple elements (e.g., paragraphs, headings, highlighted text) based on their formatting characteristics. Each segment is then processed independently to determine its appropriate color conversion, allowing different parts of the content to maintain their distinctive formatting while adapting to the dark theme.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the content are assigned different quality treatments. Elements with specific formatting characteristics (such as highlighted text or different font styles) receive specialized processing to preserve their unique appearance, while standard text elements receive conventional dark mode treatment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the entire screen is converted to dark mode, then glare and brightness are reduced, but the contrast between different text elements and background may become excessive causing discomfort

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveglareVSAvoidexcessive contrast
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors the visual characteristics of converted content elements and adjusts color conversions based on feedback about contrast levels and visibility. This feedback mechanism prevents excessive contrast by modifying the conversion parameters when elements appear too stark against their background.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The color conversion parameters (such as brightness, saturation, and contrast adjustments) are dynamically changed based on the specific characteristics of each content element. This allows fine-tuned control over the final appearance to maintain comfort while reducing glare.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If selective regions are converted to dark mode while leaving other regions light, then glare is reduced to an extent, but the display screen shows inconsistent background colors creating visual discomfort

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveglareVSAvoidbackground consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The dark mode conversion is made dynamic and adaptable rather than static. The system can adjust which regions are converted based on real-time analysis of content characteristics, ensuring consistent and comfortable visual experience across the entire display while still providing dark mode benefits where needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3824639B1Providing a dark viewing mode while preserving formatting
Publication Date: 2024.12.11 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC
  • EP3824639B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3824639B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP3824639B1 patent drawingFigure 1C

AI summary

A method for improving visibility of contents displayed on a GUI by providing a dark viewing mode that preserves user-generated formatting and/or style contained in the contents is disclosed. The method includes receiving content for displaying on the display, parsing the received content into one or more objects, based on at least a formatting characteristic of the objects, and comparing for each object a first color characteristic of the object with a second color characteristic to determine if a contrast between the first color characteristic and the second color characteristic satisfies a threshold requirement. Upon determining that the threshold requirement is not satisfied, the method includes adjusting the first characteristic, and displaying the objects with the adjusted first characteristic.