MEMS Wind Turbine Gesture Wake-Up for Portable Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional portable devices face difficulties in recognizing user gestures, especially when the user's finger is wet or when attempting to perform gestures with the same hand holding the device, leading to missed calls and a poor user experience.

Innovation Solution

Integration of MEMS wind turbines in portable devices to detect gestures and wake up the device without additional user interaction, using air flow generated by movement to rotate and generate signals for gesture recognition and power activation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional button presses or screen swipes are used to wake up the device, then the device can be activated, but the operation becomes difficult when the user's finger is wet or when attempting to perform gestures with the same hand holding the device

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of device activationVSAvoidreliability of gesture recognition

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical touch-based input systems (buttons, touch screens) with an air flow detection system using MEMS wind turbines. The wind turbines convert air flow caused by device movement into rotational motion that triggers device activation, eliminating the need for direct finger contact with wet or contaminated surfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces air flow as an intermediary between the user's intent and device activation. Instead of direct finger contact, the user creates air flow by moving their hand or device, which then rotates the MEMS wind turbines to trigger the wake-up function, serving as a clean intermediary that avoids direct contact issues.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If touch-screen devices require the touch screen to be powered on to recognize gestures, then gesture recognition can be enabled, but additional power is consumed and the device cannot detect gestures in sleep mode

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegesture detection capabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent positions the MEMS wind turbines in a state where they can immediately respond to air flow even when the device is in sleep mode. The wind turbines are pre-configured to rotate with minimal air flow, allowing them to detect gestures before the main processor or display is fully activated, enabling low-power gesture detection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The MEMS wind turbines serve themselves by converting kinetic energy from air flow directly into mechanical rotation that can trigger device wake-up. This self-powered mechanism requires no external power source to detect gestures, allowing the system to remain in sleep mode while still detecting user intentions through air flow patterns.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If MEMS wind turbines are integrated to detect air flow and rotate for gesture recognition, then hands-free operation is enabled, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehands-free operation capabilityVSAvoiddevice structural complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates the MEMS wind turbines within the existing device housing and air flow pathways. The wind turbines are nested within the device structure, utilizing existing spaces and air flow channels, which minimizes additional structural complexity while enabling hands-free operation through air flow detection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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

Enables reliable gesture detection and device activation without requiring button presses or screen swipes, improving user experience by allowing hands-free operation and reducing missed calls.

Implementation Method 1

air flow substantially parallel to a plane formed by the blades of the MEMS wind turbine causes the MEMS wind turbine to rotate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAir flow: Wind

Implementation Method 2

the MEMS wind turbine can be integrated in a portable device such that air flowing substantially parallel to a plane formed by the blades of the MEMS wind turbine causes the MEMS wind turbine to rotate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS9898309B2Wake-up trigger using MEMS wind turbines

Publication Date: 2018.02.20 MOTOROLA MOBILITY LLC

AI summary

A portable device includes micro-electro-mechanical systems (“MEMS”) wind turbines integrated in the portable device. A gesture detection module receives signals generated by the MEMS wind turbines based on movement of the portable device that causes a wind force to be applied to the MEMS wind turbines. The gesture module then recognizes a gesture based on the signals generated from the wind force and initiates an action of the portable device that corresponds to the gesture (e.g., the device is awakened).