Display Shadow Effect via Optical Sensor Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current display devices lack the ability to dynamically adjust their brightness based on external light conditions, resulting in an unnatural appearance when used as frames, as they fail to replicate the shadow effects caused by external light sources.

Innovation Solution

An electronic device equipped with optical sensor units that determine the intensity and direction of external light across various regions of the display, allowing the processor to adjust the brightness of specific areas to create a shadow effect, mimicking the appearance of external shadows on the display.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If the display device uses uniform brightness across the entire display area, then the device structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the display appears unnatural when used as a frame because it cannot replicate shadow effects

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebrightness uniformityVSAvoidframe mode realism
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The display area is divided into multiple regions, each controlled by separate optical sensors that detect external light conditions independently. This segmentation allows different brightness levels to be applied to different regions, creating realistic shadow effects while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the display are assigned different brightness characteristics based on local external light conditions detected by optical sensors. This local quality adjustment enables the display to replicate natural shadow effects in specific areas while maintaining uniform brightness in other regions, enhancing frame mode realism without requiring complete non-uniformity across the entire display.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Measurement precision

If multiple optical sensor units are arranged to correspond to multiple regions of the display, then shadow effects can be accurately replicated, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight intensity detection accuracyVSAvoidsensor arrangement complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The display area is divided into multiple regions, each controlled by separate optical sensors that detect external light conditions independently. This segmentation allows different brightness levels to be applied to different regions, creating realistic shadow effects while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The optical sensor units serve multiple functions: they detect external light intensity, determine shadow regions, and provide data for brightness adjustment algorithms. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional specialized components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity despite the use of multiple sensors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the display adjusts brightness dynamically based on external light, then realism in frame mode is enhanced, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedynamic brightness adjustmentVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The optical sensors and processor operate periodically to detect external light conditions and adjust display brightness dynamically. This periodic operation allows the system to achieve realistic shadow effects while consuming energy only when adjustments are needed, rather than continuously, thereby limiting overall power consumption despite the enhanced adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

4Measurement precision

If the processor determines shadow regions by analyzing light intensity and direction, then shadow effect accuracy is improved, but processing time and computational load increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshadow region detection accuracyVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of external light conditions and shadow regions using optical sensors before rendering images. By pre-identifying shadow regions and their characteristics, the processor can apply brightness adjustments more efficiently during image rendering, reducing overall processing time while maintaining high shadow effect accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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

The solution enables the display device to convincingly mimic real-world shadow effects, enhancing its frame mode functionality by providing a more realistic visual experience that blends with surrounding objects.

Implementation Method 1

determine an intensity and a direction of external light incident to each of the plurality of regions divided on the display, by using the plurality of optical sensor units

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight detection: Photoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 2

control the display to provide a shadow effect by adjusting a brightness of the determined shadow region

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBrightness control:

Data Source

PatentEP3737106B1Electronic device and operating method therefor
Publication Date: 2023.03.22 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3737106B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3737106B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3737106B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided are an electronic device and an operating method thereof. The electronic device includes a display, a plurality of optical sensor units arranged to respectively correspond to a plurality of regions divided on the display, a memory storing one or more instructions, and a processor configured to execute the one or more instructions stored in the memory, in which the processor is further configured to, by executing the one or more instructions, determine an intensity and a direction of external light incident to each of the plurality of regions divided on the display, by using the plurality of optical sensor units, determine a shadow region on the display, based on the determined intensity and direction of the external light corresponding to each of the plurality of regions, and control the display to provide a shadow effect on the determined shadow region, overlappingly with an image that is currently displayed on the display.