Gaze-Validated Operation Buttons for Error Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing gaze detection technologies in devices do not effectively differentiate between operation buttons that can and cannot be repaired from incorrect operations, leading to inconvenience for users who need to constantly view the screen, especially for critical operations where errors cannot be rectified.

Innovation Solution

An image processing apparatus and operation display device that classify operation buttons into 'gaze necessity' and 'gaze non-necessity' buttons, where critical operations require direct gaze validation while non-critical operations allow validation regardless of gaze direction, using a management table to set validity/invalidity based on operator gaze detection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If gaze detection is used to validate all key operations, then wrong operations can be prevented, but user convenience deteriorates because users cannot operate without constantly viewing the display

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperation validityVSAvoiduser convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments operation buttons into two categories: display-side buttons (requiring gaze validation) and non-display-side buttons (not requiring gaze validation). This segmentation allows the system to apply gaze detection selectively only where needed, preventing wrong operations on critical display controls while allowing convenient operation of non-critical buttons without constant viewing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different quality requirements to different button locations. Display-side buttons (located on the display surface) require gaze validation to ensure users are consciously operating them, while non-display-side buttons (located outside the display surface) do not require gaze validation, allowing users to operate them conveniently without constantly viewing the display

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If gaze detection is applied uniformly to all buttons, then wrong operations are prevented, but device complexity increases due to continuous gaze monitoring requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperation accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent simplifies the system by segmenting buttons into display-side and non-display-side categories, applying gaze detection only to display-side buttons. This reduces the complexity of continuous gaze monitoring compared to uniform application across all buttons, while still maintaining operation accuracy for critical controls

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies gaze detection partially rather than excessively to all buttons. By limiting gaze validation requirements to only display-side buttons, the system achieves sufficient operation accuracy for critical functions without the excessive complexity of monitoring all button operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP2833254B1Operating device and image processing apparatus
Publication Date: 2019.09.04 KONICA MINOLTA INC
  • EP2833254B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2833254B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2833254B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed is an operating device including: an operating unit having a plurality of operation buttons; a gaze detection unit configured to detect a gaze of an operator who operates the operating unit; and a judgement unit configured to judge whether an operation for a predetermined operation button of the operating unit is valid or invalid when the operation is received from the operator, wherein in case that the gaze of the operator is not within a predetermined area relating to the predetermined operation button when the operation for the predetermined operation button is received from the operator, the judgment unit judges that the operation is invalid.