Letterbox Region Adjustment via Guide Image Interaction

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Solution Overview

Problem

The complexity of user interfaces in electronic devices with multiple functions, such as TVs and smartphones, makes it inconvenient for users to intuitively control the letterbox feature, which is used to maintain aspect ratios when displaying images with different ratios, often resulting in truncated images with black stripes.

Innovation Solution

An electronic device and method that allows users to intuitively control the letterbox region through a remote control or user gestures, enabling automatic or manual adjustment of the letterbox size, removal, or display, using guide images and sensors to enhance user interaction and prevent image distortion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If manual adjustment of letterbox window is implemented, then user control capability is improved, but user interface complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser control capabilityVSAvoiduser interface complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically detects the letterbox region in the image and enables self-adjustment through simple user interactions. The control unit identifies the letterbox area and allows users to expand or contract it by selecting specific regions, eliminating the need for complex manual parameter adjustments while maintaining full user control capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit performs preliminary detection of the letterbox region before user interaction. By pre-identifying the letterbox area and preparing the adjustable window, the system reduces the complexity of subsequent user operations, allowing users to simply select and adjust rather than manually configure multiple parameters.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Area of stationary object

If letterbox region is expanded, then image coverage is improved, but image distortion risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage coverageVSAvoidimage distortion
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides visual feedback by displaying the adjustable window overlay on the image, showing users exactly which region will be expanded or contracted. This real-time visualization allows users to monitor image coverage and distortion simultaneously, enabling informed adjustments that maximize image coverage while maintaining image quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The letterbox window is designed to be dynamically adjustable rather than fixed. Users can expand or contract the window size in real-time based on their viewing preferences, allowing the system to adapt the image coverage dynamically while maintaining proper aspect ratios and preventing distortion through controlled adjustments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2985993B1Device and control method for the device
Publication Date: 2019.01.02 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP2985993B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2985993B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2985993B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3C

AI summary

An electronic device including a display unit configured to display a letterbox in a letterbox region and an image in an image display region; and a controller configured to display a guide image at a boundary portion between the letterbox region and the image display region, and change display sizes of the letterbox region and the image display region based on a movement of the guide image.