Foldable Mobile Cover for Ambient-Light-Shielded Pupil Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing techniques for estimating autonomic nerve activity using a smartphone's camera and light emitter are hindered by ambient light affecting pupil diameter measurements, making it difficult to distinguish between light-induced and nerve activity-induced changes.
Innovation Solution
A foldable mechanism for shielding ambient light using a smartphone's camera and light emitter, forming a cylinder to block ambient light during measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a smartphone camera and light emitter are used to measure pupil diameter for estimating autonomic nerve activity, then measurement speed is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to ambient light interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and isolates the harmful ambient light from the measurement system by introducing a light-shielding structure (cylinder or hood) that physically separates the camera lens from ambient light sources. This allows the system to maintain fast measurement speeds while blocking external light interference that would otherwise contaminate the pupil diameter measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary light-shielding structure (cylinder or hood) between the ambient light and the camera lens. This intermediary element blocks ambient light from reaching the lens while allowing the light emitter to illuminate the pupil, thus mediating the measurement process to eliminate harmful environmental factors.
2Device complexity
If no light shielding structure is used, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to ambient light affecting pupil diameter
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the light-shielding structure multi-functional by integrating it with the smartphone case or cover. The same structure that shields ambient light also serves as a protective cover for the device, eliminating the need for separate components and maintaining simplicity while improving measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a flexible or thin light-shielding structure that can be integrated into the smartphone case. This thin-film or shell approach provides effective ambient light blocking without adding significant bulk or complexity to the device, maintaining a simple overall design while achieving the measurement precision requirement.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a light-shielding cylinder is formed by folding the cover, then ambient light interference is reduced, but device complexity increases due to the folding mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the cover structure into multiple portions that can be folded relative to each other to form the light-shielding cylinder. This segmentation allows the cover to transform from a flat state to a three-dimensional shielding configuration, effectively blocking ambient light while using simple folding actions rather than complex mechanical mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a dynamic folding mechanism that allows the cover to transition between different states (flat and cylindrical). This dynamic structure enables the light-shielding function to be activated only when needed during measurement, avoiding permanent complexity while providing effective ambient light interference reduction during use.
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 mechanism effectively reduces the impact of ambient light on pupil diameter measurements, enabling accurate estimation of autonomic nerve activity using a smartphone.
Implementation Method 1
a part of a member in the mobile terminal cover is folded to form a cylinder for shielding light from a lens of the camera
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile terminal cover for covering a mobile terminal comprising a camera and a light emitter is configured to form a cylinder for shielding light from a lens of the camera by folding a part of a member in the mobile terminal cover.