Mirror Display Gaze Control for Adaptive Presence Sensing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing display apparatuses with mirror and display functions lack efficient mechanisms to adapt their operation based on user presence, gaze, and environmental conditions, leading to suboptimal user experience and energy consumption.

Innovation Solution

An electronic apparatus with a mirror display and sensor that switches between horizontal and vertical orientations, using user presence and gaze detection to control the mirror display state, adjust reflectance, and manage power states, including ambient image display and dynamic content presentation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the mirror display continuously monitors user presence and gaze to enable adaptive control, then user interaction quality is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser interaction qualityVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses periodic sensing with variable intervals - monitoring user presence and gaze at different frequencies depending on the current state and time since last detection. This allows the display to maintain responsiveness to user interaction while reducing continuous monitoring to conserve energy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The display apparatus autonomously adjusts its operation mode based on sensor inputs detecting user presence and gaze direction. The system self-determines when to switch between mirror mode and display mode without requiring explicit user commands, thereby improving interaction quality while managing energy consumption through intelligent automation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Adaptability or versatility

If the mirror display switches between mirror state and display state based on user presence, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational adaptabilityVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The mirror display is designed to perform multiple functions - acting as both a reflective mirror surface and a display surface. By integrating sensor detection capabilities and automated control logic, the single device adapts to different usage scenarios (private viewing, public display, energy saving modes) without requiring separate dedicated devices, thereby improving versatility while managing complexity through functional integration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Illumination intensity

If the display adjusts reflectance dynamically during state transitions, then visual quality is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisual qualityVSAvoidreflectance control precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The mirror display incorporates dynamic reflectance adjustment capability that allows the surface to change its optical properties between mirror-like reflection and display visibility. This dynamic adaptation enables smooth transitions between states with optimized visual quality, while the system manages manufacturing precision requirements through controlled adjustment mechanisms rather than requiring static perfect precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4711907A1Electronic device and control method therefor
Publication Date: 2026.03.18 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP4711907A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4711907A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4711907A1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

An electronic apparatus including a mirror display configured to be operated in a mirror state and a display state; a sensor; and at least one processor configured to switch an operation state of the electronic apparatus from a horizontal state, in which the mirror display is operated in a horizontal orientation, to a vertical state, in which the mirror display is operated in a vertical orientation, and, while the operation state of electronic apparatus is the vertical state, identify, based on data acquired through the sensor, whether a user is located within a predetermined distance of the electronic apparatus for a predetermined time, and, when it is identified that the user is located within the predetermined distance of the electronic apparatus for the predetermined time, control the mirror display to be operated in the mirror state based on a user gaze location.