Mobile Device Adaptive Visual Output via Distance Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile devices face challenges in providing an unobstructed visual experience due to touch controls, especially on small screens, and existing proximity and motion detection systems are complex, expensive, and power-intensive, making them unsuitable for small portable devices.
Innovation Solution
A mobile device configuration that uses user-facing and away-facing image capture components to detect changes in distance and orientation, adjusting visual output accordingly, such as zooming, panning, and rotating, to maintain an unobstructed view without relying on obstructive touch controls.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If touch controls are used for user interface functions, then ease of operation is improved, but screen real estate is reduced and visual experience deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical touch controls with an optical image-based control system. The mobile device captures images of the user's hand or object, processes these images to detect gestures or object characteristics, and uses this information to control application functions. This substitution eliminates the need for physical touch interaction, allowing users to view the entire screen without obstruction while maintaining ease of operation through intuitive gesture-based controls.
2Measurement precision
If high-fidelity detection systems with range exceeding 50 cm are used, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the mobile device's existing camera to capture images of the user's hand or target object from a distance exceeding 50 cm. Instead of employing complex active sensors, the system creates a visual copy (image) of the target and processes this image data to determine distance, gestures, or object characteristics. This approach achieves high measurement precision while keeping device complexity low by leveraging the already-present imaging components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the mobile device's camera serve multiple functions: capturing images for distance measurement, gesture recognition, and object identification. By using a single imaging component for multiple detection purposes, the system achieves versatile functionality without adding separate specialized sensors, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining measurement capabilities at extended ranges.
3Ease of manufacture
If proximity sensors with nominal range of a few centimeters are used, then ease of manufacture is improved, but adaptability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from static proximity detection (fixed range sensors) to dynamic image-based detection. The camera continuously captures images and processes them to determine distance and gestures in real-time. This dynamic approach allows the system to adapt to varying distances and gestures naturally, providing versatility for different interaction scenarios while maintaining ease of manufacture by using the existing camera hardware.
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 improved usability by allowing users to interact with mobile devices without blocking the screen, providing accurate detection of position changes and enhancing the visual experience on small screens, while reducing the need for complex and power-hungry sensors.
Implementation Method 1
capture a first image and a second image from a user-facing optical or electromagnetic image capturing component disposed on the mobile device
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, storage medium, and methods associated with adaptive visual output on a mobile device are disclosed herein. In embodiments, a storage medium may have instructions to enable the mobile device to determine a change in a distance between the mobile device and a user of the mobile device. The instruction may also enable the mobile device to operate an end-user application that may adaptively present a visual output based at least in part on a result of the change in the distance. Other embodiments may be disclosed or claimed.