Eco-Friendly Mobile Device UI for Solar Charging Motivation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current mobile devices lack effective mechanisms to motivate users towards eco-friendly behaviors, such as energy conservation and environmental awareness, despite advancements in technology.

Innovation Solution

A mobile device and method that includes measuring and displaying solar recharging amounts or times, calculating user steps, and providing environmental information, with features like eco-mode, virtual world maps, and environmental data display to encourage sustainable practices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If mobile devices use traditional charging methods, then charging speed is fast, but environmental friendliness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenvironmental friendlinessVSAvoidcharging speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides real-time feedback to users about their charging behavior and environmental impact through a dedicated UI. It monitors charging sources (solar vs. grid), calculates carbon footprint, and displays eco-scores that give users immediate feedback on their environmental performance, motivating them to choose greener charging options.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary layer (the eco-friendly UI system) between the user and the charging process. This intermediary monitors, analyzes, and presents environmental information without interfering with the actual charging function, allowing users to make informed decisions about their charging behavior.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of information

If mobile devices provide detailed environmental information, then environmental awareness is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenvironmental awarenessVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The environmental information system is segmented into distinct functional modules: a monitoring module that collects charging data, a calculation module that processes environmental metrics, and a display module that presents information through the UI. This segmentation allows the system to provide comprehensive environmental information while maintaining manageable complexity through modular design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Loss of energy

If mobile devices monitor and display charging behavior, then eco-friendly motivation is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveeco-friendly motivationVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The monitoring and display functions operate periodically rather than continuously. The system checks charging sources and updates environmental metrics at intervals, reducing the constant power consumption associated with continuous monitoring while still providing timely feedback to motivate eco-friendly behavior.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic 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 provides users with feedback and motivation to use solar charging systems, reduce power consumption, and increase awareness of environmental issues, thereby promoting eco-friendly behaviors.

Implementation Method 1

a solar panel for receiving solar energy and for converting the solar energy into electrical energy for charging a battery

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotovoltaic effect: Photovoltaic Effect

Data Source

PatentEP2534564B1Mobile device and method for providing eco-friendly user interface
Publication Date: 2019.10.09 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP2534564B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2534564B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2534564B1 patent drawingFigure 3(a)~3(b)

AI summary

Methods and mobile devices for providing various eco-friendly User Interfaces (UIs) are provided. In one method for providing the eco-friendly UI, the mobile device measures a recharging amount or time, displays the recharging amount or time, and determines whether the recharging amount or time is more than a predefined critical amount or time. If the recharging amount or time is more than the critical amount or time, the mobile device is transitioned into an executable state of a specific application. This may give a user motivation to use a solar charge system and thereby reduce battery consumption of the mobile device.