Mirror-Display Appearance Capture for Realistic Image Comparison

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional mirrors and camera-based systems fail to convincingly replicate the experience of looking into a mirror, leading to inefficient shopping experiences and other applications where a realistic self-appearance comparison is needed, as they differ in perspective, size, and angle of view.

Innovation Solution

An interactive imaging and display system that includes a mirror-display device capable of operating in both mirror and display modes, using a camera to capture and display images in a way that mimics a mirror's perspective, size, and angle of view, with features like adaptive field of view, image stitching, and real-time image transformation to maintain a consistent user experience.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a camera-based system is used to display user appearance, then real-time feedback and interactive features are improved, but the realism and mirror-like experience deteriorate due to differences in perspective, size, and angle of view

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereal-time feedback capabilityVSAvoidmirror-like experience realism
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the field of view and image transformation parameters based on the user's distance from the display device. As the user moves closer or farther away, the system modifies the captured image's perspective and scale in real-time to maintain a consistent mirror-like appearance, resolving the contradiction between real-time feedback and visual realism

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes key parameters including image scaling factor, perspective transformation, and field of view adjustment based on detected user distance. By dynamically modifying these parameters, the system maintains authentic mirror characteristics while providing real-time interactive feedback

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Area of stationary object

If the field of view is expanded to capture more user appearance, then complete visibility is improved, but distortion and perspective warping worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisible area of user appearanceVSAvoidimage distortion
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the field of view parameters based on the user's distance from the display. When the user is farther away, a wider field of view is used to capture the complete appearance. When closer, the field of view is narrowed to maintain image quality and minimize distortion, thus resolving the contradiction between visibility area and image precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If image transformation is applied to maintain consistent size and angle of view, then mirror-like experience is improved, but processing complexity and computational requirements worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconsistent mirror appearanceVSAvoidimage processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces complex optical-mechanical mirror systems with computational image transformation methods. By using software-based perspective correction, scaling, and field of view adjustment algorithms, the system achieves mirror-like appearance while reducing mechanical complexity and enabling flexible real-time adaptation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Reliability

If distance-based adaptation is implemented to maintain authentic mirror characteristics, then visual realism is improved, but system complexity and control requirements worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveauthentic mirror characteristicsVSAvoiddistance adaptation control
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically detects user distance and independently adjusts image transformation parameters without requiring manual intervention. The distance adaptation control system self-regulates by continuously monitoring user position and applying appropriate scaling and perspective corrections, thus maintaining authentic mirror characteristics while managing complexity through automation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2936439B1Method of capturing and displaying appearances
Publication Date: 2019.02.20 EYESMATCH
  • EP2936439B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2936439B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP2936439B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

Systems, devices and methods enabling appearance comparison. The system includes at least one interactive imaging and display station. The station includes a mirror-display device capable of selectably operating in either or both a mirror mode or a display mode; an imaging device to capture one or more appearances appearing in a field of view in front of the mirror- display device; and/or an image control unit to select the mode of operation of the mirror-display device according to a user command.