Dynamic Shadow Rendering via Overlapping Objects

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current electronic devices lack the capability to display realistic shadow effects for graphical objects, which limits the immersive experience and realism in user interfaces, especially when considering the location of a light source and time information.

Innovation Solution

The method involves overlapping multiple second objects, obtained by changing the attributes of a first object in the direction corresponding to a light source or time information, to create a more realistic shadow effect on a display, allowing for dynamic adjustments based on light source location and time, and providing a user with a more immersive environment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If a shadow of an object is displayed on a display in consideration of the location of a light source, then the graphical object is expressed more realistically, but the device complexity increases due to multiple overlapping objects

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshadow effect realismVSAvoiddisplay structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The shadow effect is segmented into multiple discrete objects (second objects) that are overlapped to form the complete shadow. Each second object represents a portion of the shadow cast by the first object at different positions along the light source direction, allowing the complex shadow effect to be constructed from simpler individual elements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The shadow effect is created by adding a spatial dimension to the display - instead of rendering a shadow as a single 2D graphical element, the patent uses multiple 2D objects arranged in a 3D-like spatial configuration along the light source direction, giving the shadow depth and realism without requiring full 3D rendering

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Illumination intensity

If multiple second objects are overlapped to create a shadow effect, then the shadow realism is improved, but the loss of time increases due to processing multiple objects

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshadow effect realismVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The multiple second objects that form the shadow are pre-generated and stored in memory before being displayed. This preliminary creation of shadow components allows the shadow effect to be rendered quickly during display without requiring complex real-time calculations, reducing the processing time loss

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The second objects are copies of the first object, modified to represent shadow portions. By using copying instead of creating entirely new complex graphical elements, the processing time is reduced while still achieving the realistic shadow effect through attribute modifications

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS9881414B2Electronic device and method for displaying overlapping objects

Publication Date: 2018.01.30 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

Disclosed is a method for displaying an object by an electronic device. The method for displaying an object includes overlapping a plurality of second objects obtained by changing an attribute of a first object in a direction corresponding to the location of a light source, displaying the plurality of overlapping second objects and displaying the first object on the plurality of overlapping second objects.