Face-Aware Display Orientation Control for Portable Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current portable electronic devices struggle to maintain landscape view orientation when a user is in a horizontal position, as automatic adjustments based on gravity are unreliable, leading to inconvenient orientation locking requirements.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a display orientation control module with sensors like front-facing cameras, magnetometers, and accelerometers to detect the user's face orientation and automatically set the display screen to landscape view, ensuring an upright landscape view alignment with the user's face regardless of the device's position.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If automatic orientation adjustment based on gravity is used, then the display screen can automatically adjust orientation in upright position, but it fails to maintain landscape view when user is lying down in horizontal position

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomatic orientation adjustmentVSAvoidorientation maintenance in horizontal position

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the gravity-based mechanical detection system with a camera-based visual detection system. The camera detects the user's face orientation and determines display orientation accordingly, eliminating the limitation of gravity-based systems that cannot detect horizontal positioning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a camera as an intermediary between the display screen and the user. The camera captures images of the user's face, and the processor analyzes these images to determine orientation, serving as a mediator that enables reliable orientation detection in all positions including horizontal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If landscape view is locked to maintain upright orientation, then the display shows more characters per line, but the user must manually orient themselves to see the correct view

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation display densityVSAvoidmanual orientation requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The display system performs self-adjustment by automatically detecting user orientation through camera capture and processing. The system serves itself by autonomously determining the correct display orientation based on face detection, eliminating the need for manual user orientation while maintaining optimal information density.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a feedback loop where the camera continuously monitors user face orientation, the processor analyzes the orientation data, and the display automatically adjusts accordingly. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures the display remains optimally oriented without manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If multiple sensors are added to detect face orientation, then accurate landscape view maintenance is achieved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveface orientation detection accuracyVSAvoidsensor system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the camera multi-functional by using it for both standard imaging purposes and face orientation detection. This eliminates the need for dedicated orientation sensors, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining detection accuracy through the camera's existing capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 solution provides a user-friendly experience by maintaining an upright landscape view orientation based on the user's face detection, eliminating the need for manual locking and ensuring optimal viewing angles for images and videos.

Implementation Method 1

one or more front facing cameras

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

one or more magnetometers

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic field detection: Magnetic Field

Implementation Method 3

one or more accelerometers

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentUS20240036638A1Portable electronic devices and methods of using the same

Publication Date: 2024.02.01 NANJING EASTHOUSE ELECTRIC CO LTD

AI summary

Aspects of present disclosure relates to portable electronic devices (PED). In certain embodiments, PED includes: a set of display event detection sensors for detecting display events on a display screen of PED and a display orientation control module for setting display orientation according to orientation of a user's face when at least one display event is detected by display event detection sensors. The display orientation control module includes a processor, and a non-volatile memory storing an operating system and a display orientation control application having an event detection module and a display module. Display orientation control application performs: detecting orientation of the user's face, setting orientation of the display screen of PED to always maintain a landscape view for the PED according to orientation of user's face, and setting orientation of display screen according to orientation of the user's face, when at least one display event is detected.