Interactive Kiosk Mirror Assembly Document Reading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing interactive kiosks for document reading in public spaces, such as airports, face challenges with unreliable document recognition due to incorrect document orientation and the need for expensive or bulky equipment, leading to inefficiencies and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
The interactive kiosk incorporates a mirror assembly to reflect light from the underside of the transparent platform to the camera, allowing for adjustable optical path length without requiring the camera to be positioned directly below, and includes a second camera above the platform to read documents placed with the readable side facing upwards, enabling simultaneous reading of dual-sided documents and reducing space requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a camera is disposed directly below the transparent platform to read documents, then document reading reliability is improved, but the kiosk size and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an optical path that extends in a different spatial dimension by using mirrors to reflect light at angles. Instead of placing the camera directly below the platform (vertical dimension only), the optical path bounces off mirrors to reach the camera positioned at an angle, effectively using both vertical and horizontal dimensions to achieve the same reading function with reduced depth requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces mirrors as intermediary elements between the document and the camera. These mirrors mediate the optical path, allowing light reflected from the document to reach the camera indirectly rather than requiring a direct line of sight. This intermediary mechanism enables space optimization while maintaining reading functionality.
2Measurement precision
If expensive or bulky reading equipment is used to ensure reliable document reading, then document reading accuracy is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses optical copying principles where light reflects off the document surface and is captured by the camera through the mirror system. This creates an optical copy or image of the document that can be processed digitally, allowing standard cameras rather than specialized expensive reading equipment to achieve accurate document capture and recognition.
3Measurement precision
If the optical path length between the platform and camera is increased for better reading, then document reading quality is improved, but the space required below the platform increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by changing the spatial configuration of the optical path from a direct vertical arrangement to an angled path using mirrors. This allows the optical path to extend longer in terms of distance traveled while occupying less vertical space, as the light travels diagonally through the available volume rather than straight down.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs curved or angled mirror surfaces to redirect light along a bent optical path. This curved reflection approach allows the light to travel a longer effective distance for better image quality while fitting within a more compact physical footprint, as the path follows a curved trajectory rather than a straight line.
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 design enhances the kiosk's ability to accurately read documents regardless of orientation, reduces space and cost constraints, and improves efficiency by allowing for smaller kiosk size and more efficient data extraction, while minimizing the impact of ambient light on the reading process.
Implementation Method 1
a mirror assembly comprising at least one mirror disposed below the transparent platform, the mirror assembly being arranged to reflect light from the underside of the transparent platform to the lens of the first camera
Data Source
AI summary
An interactive kiosk for reading a document, the kiosk comprising: a transparent platform for supporting a document; a first camera disposed below the transparent platform; a mirror assembly comprising at least one mirror disposed below the transparent platform, the mirror assembly being arranged to reflect light from the underside of the transparent platform to the lens of the first camera; and a control unit connected to the first camera, the control unit being configured to receive content from the first camera and extract data from a document disposed on the transparent platform.