Mockup-Based Usage Assessment System with Immersive Simulation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for assessing the usage of manually movable consumer products lack the ability to provide comprehensive and immersive feedback, limiting the degree of freedom in testing results and user experience.

Innovation Solution

A system that utilizes a manually movable consumer product mockup combined with a simulation subsystem, including a display unit and tracking subsystem, to immerse users in a virtual or augmented reality environment, allowing for the simulation of properties or features not yet realized in the product, thereby enhancing the assessment of user interaction and feedback.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If pictures or movies are shown to users for assessing the envisaged product, then user feedback about ease of use can be obtained, but the assessment lacks realism and immersion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassessment accuracyVSAvoiduser immersion
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a mockup that copies the physical form and handling characteristics of the envisaged product, combined with simulated content that copies the visual appearance of the contemplated property. This allows users to interact with a realistic replica while viewing simulated properties, achieving both measurement precision and user immersion without building multiple prototypes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Measurement precision

If a prototype is manufactured for live testing, then realistic user feedback can be obtained, but manufacturing cost and time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser feedback qualityVSAvoidassessment efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of manufacturing multiple physical prototypes to test different properties, the system creates a single mockup and uses simulated content to represent different contemplated properties. This copying approach maintains assessment accuracy while dramatically improving productivity by avoiding repeated manufacturing cycles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the simulated content parameters to represent different contemplated properties of the envisaged product. By modifying the simulation rather than the physical prototype, the system enables efficient testing of multiple product variations without manufacturing overhead, thus improving assessment efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple prototypes are manufactured to test different properties, then comprehensive assessment is possible, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetesting coverageVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The mockup serves multiple functions: it provides the physical form for handling, the tracking subsystem enables motion capture, and the simulated content displays different contemplated properties. This universal design allows comprehensive testing coverage with a single system configuration, avoiding the complexity of managing multiple specialized prototypes.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The simulated content acts as an intermediary between the physical mockup and the contemplated properties. It mediates the connection by visually representing properties that don't physically exist on the mockup, enabling comprehensive property assessment without adding physical complexity to the testing system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Device complexity

If traditional assessment methods are used, then simplicity is maintained, but feedback comprehensiveness is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem simplicityVSAvoidfeedback completeness
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system copies the essential physical characteristics of the product in the mockup while copying the visual appearance of contemplated properties in the simulation. This dual copying approach preserves system simplicity by using familiar mockup-based assessment while dramatically improving feedback completeness through immersive simulated content and comprehensive motion tracking.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP3696740B1System for assessing the usage of an envisaged manually movable consumer product
Publication Date: 2024.01.10 BRAUN GMBH
  • EP3696740B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3696740B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3696740B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

The present disclosure is concerned with a system for assessing the usage of an envisaged manually movable consumer product by a user, having a manually movable consumer product mockup intended for being held in at least one of the user's hands during the usage, a simulation subsystem having a display unit for presenting at least partially simulated content and a simulation processing unit for providing the simulated content, a tracking subsystem arranged for tracking at least the motion of the manually movable consumer product mockup with respect to a reference system, the tracking subsystem having at least one tracking data generating unit and a tracking data processing unit for determining position and/or orientation and/or motion data from the tracking data, a data processing subsystem for receiving usage data having at least the position and/or orientation and/or motion data, wherein the simulation subsystem is arranged to simulate at least one property or feature of the envisaged manually movable consumer product and to present this property or feature as simulated content via the display unit; wherein the data processing subsystem is arranged to process at least a portion of the received usage data to compute derived usage data allowing to assess the usage of the envisaged manually movable consumer product, and wherein the data processing subsystem is further arranged to display the derived usage data via the display unit or via a display of a user interaction device..