Eye Tracking Mobile Device Power Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional mobile devices face challenges in controlling user functions and conserving power, as they often enter power save mode at undesirable times due to fixed elapsed times, leading to inconvenience and battery waste, especially in devices with larger displays.
Innovation Solution
A method and mobile device that utilize eye tracking to control user functions by activating a camera unit to acquire images, measure the user's gaze angle, and adjust the execution state of functions accordingly, such as turning e-book pages or managing display brightness, based on the user's gaze, thereby adapting to the user's interaction and environment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a fixed elapsed time is used to trigger transition to power save mode, then the device can automatically conserve battery power, but the device may enter power save mode at undesirable times when the user still wants to use it
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses gaze detection as feedback to continuously monitor user engagement with the device. When the gaze detector determines the user is not looking at the display, it triggers the transition to power save mode. This feedback mechanism allows the device to adapt to actual user behavior rather than relying on fixed time intervals, preventing premature transitions to power save mode when the user still intends to use the device.
Solution Approach 2:
The device automatically adjusts its power state based on detected user gaze patterns without requiring explicit user commands. The system monitors gaze data, determines user engagement status, and autonomously transitions between normal and power save modes, eliminating the need for users to manually wake the device and reducing the inconvenience associated with fixed timeout periods.
2Ease of operation
If the elapsed time for transitioning to power save mode is set too long, then user convenience is improved, but battery power is wasted in the period after the user stops viewing the display
Solution Approach 1:
The gaze detection system provides real-time feedback on user engagement by monitoring whether the user is looking at the display. This allows the device to transition to power save mode promptly after the user actually stops viewing, rather than waiting for a fixed elapsed time. The feedback mechanism enables the system to balance user convenience with energy conservation by adapting the transition timing to actual user behavior patterns.
3Loss of energy
If gaze detection capabilities are continuously active to enable adaptive power management, then power save mode transitions are optimized, but energy is consumed by the gaze detector itself
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuously operating the gaze detector, the system uses periodic or event-driven activation. The gaze detector is activated at specific intervals or triggered by specific events (such as when the device is woken from sleep mode), rather than running continuously. This periodic operation reduces the energy consumption of the gaze detector while still providing sufficient data to optimize power save mode transitions.
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
This approach allows for efficient and adaptive control of user functions without additional operations, improving user convenience and reducing battery waste by ensuring power save modes are triggered only when the user is not actively engaging with the device.
Implementation Method 1
executing an eye tracking function in which a gaze angle of a user's eye is acquired from an image acquired via the camera unit
Data Source
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AI summary
An eye tracking based user function controlling method and a mobile device adapted thereto are provided. A camera unit of a mobile device is activated while a specific user function is executed. An eye tracking function acquires a gaze angle of a user's eye from an image acquired via the camera unit. An execution state of a user function is controlled according to the gaze angle.