Face Unit Eye Alignment for Natural Gaze in Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication apparatuses with movable eyes can create an unnatural impression when the lines of sight are directed towards a communication partner, affecting communication quality, especially when the partner is close to the device.
Innovation Solution
A communication apparatus with a face unit that includes a detection unit to determine the distance and direction of a communication partner and a control unit to adjust the mechanical movement or display of the eyes to ensure their viewpoints are directed towards the partner, improving the natural alignment and thus communication quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If both lines of sights of right and left eyes move by the same shift angle, then the communication apparatus can direct its gaze toward the communication partner, but the communication partner perceives an unnatural impression when close to the apparatus
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the line of sight adjustment asymmetric between the right and left eyes. Instead of moving both eyes by the same shift angle, the right eye is moved by a first line of sight shift amount and the left eye by a second line of sight shift amount that is different from the first. This differential adjustment creates a more natural stereoscopic effect that matches human vision, thereby improving communication quality while maintaining directional accuracy.
2Ease of operation
If the lines of sight are directed towards the communication partner using equal shift angles, then the apparatus can maintain simple control logic, but the natural alignment of viewpoints is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of line of sight shift amount from being equal for both eyes to being different for each eye. The control unit is configured to move the right eye by a first line of sight shift amount and the left eye by a second line of sight shift amount, where these amounts differ based on the detected position and distance of the communication partner. This parameter differentiation maintains control functionality while significantly improving the naturalness of the gaze direction.
3Device complexity
If the communication apparatus uses a single line of sight shift amount for both eyes, then the device structure remains simple, but the stereoscopic effect and naturalness are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the line of sight control into independent adjustments for the right eye and left eye. Instead of applying a unified shift angle to both eyes, the control unit independently determines and applies a first line of sight shift amount to the right eye and a second line of sight shift amount to the left eye. This segmentation enables differential control that enhances the stereoscopic effect and naturalness of communication without requiring complex additional hardware.
Data Source
AI summary
A communication apparatus that can improve communication quality is provided. A communication apparatus including a face unit for achieving a configuration simulating right and left eyes by a mechanical movement or a display. The communication apparatus includes a detection unit configured to detect a distance to and a direction of a communication partner, and a control unit configured to control the mechanical movement or the display of the configurations in such a way that viewpoints of the right and left eyes are directed to the distance and the direction detected by the detection unit.