Motion-Controlled Appliance Using Zone-Based Video Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing remote control methods for electronic appliances like television sets are inconvenient when the remote controller is not present, as they require users to search for and manually operate the device, leading to errors and increased complexity, especially for tasks like power control and menu navigation.
Innovation Solution
An electronic appliance equipped with a video camera and a detection unit that divides the screen into zones, using timing pulses and signal generators to accurately detect simple motions and control the appliance without noise interference, enabling motion-based control through a video camera.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a dedicated infrared sensor and special image sensor are used to detect hand motion and shape, then motion recognition accuracy is improved, but apparatus size increases and compatibility with other image recognition devices is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a standard video camera that can serve both as a general-purpose imaging device and as a motion detection sensor. The video camera records images that are processed to extract motion information, allowing the same device to fulfill multiple functions without requiring dedicated infrared or special image sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces dedicated optical sensors with a video camera system that uses standard imaging technology. By recording video frames and processing them to detect motion through frame comparison, the system substitutes specialized hardware with a more universal imaging device combined with signal processing.
2Ease of operation
If simple motions like circular motion, vertical motion, and horizontal motion are used for control, then ease of operation is improved, but erroneous recognition increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides visual feedback by displaying the user's hand image on the screen and showing detection zones. This allows the user to see what motion is being detected and adjust accordingly, reducing erroneous recognition while maintaining simple motion patterns.
Solution Approach 2:
The detection zones are dynamically adjusted based on the detected hand position. The system divides the screen into multiple detection zones and moves these zones to track the hand, allowing simple motion patterns to be reliably distinguished from other movements.
3Measurement precision
If the detection screen is divided into multiple zones with multiple detectors, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the video screen into multiple detection zones (e.g., upper, middle, lower zones) and assigns detectors to each zone. This segmentation allows precise determination of hand position and motion direction by comparing which zones contain the hand in successive frames.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the video screen itself as an intermediary to display detection zones and hand images. Rather than requiring separate physical detectors in space, the system uses the display screen to visualize and define detection regions, simplifying the physical detection system while maintaining precision.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a pointing device operation similar to personal computer is used, then control functionality is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates for users unfamiliar with personal computer operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the control interface homogeneous with the television display itself. The detection zones and hand images are displayed on the same screen that shows the program content, creating a unified interface that requires no transition to a different control paradigm. Users interact with the television display directly rather than requiring knowledge of personal computer pointing device operations.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic appliance includes a display. A screen of the display on which an image from a video camera is displayed is divided horizontally by N and vertically by M, to define a plurality of detection zones. A detection unit of the electronic appliance includes detectors assigned to the detection zones, respectively. In response to a motion conducted by an operator, the detectors generate first detection signals. From the first detection signals, a signal generator of the electronic appliance generates second detection signals. Each of the second detection signals is accumulated. If any one of the cumulative values exceeds a threshold, a flag is set. A plurality of detectors including the detector related to the flag-set cumulative value are chosen to receive timing pulses from a timing pulse generator.