Movable Display Tracking User Head Motion for Exercise Visual Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users exercising on devices like treadmills, incline trainers, and elliptical trainers experience poor visual sensing due to multimedia displays being fixed and non-movable, causing discomfort as their head moves during exercise.

Innovation Solution

A device comprising a display unit, a camera unit, and a control unit that utilizes visual servoing techniques to adjust images according to the user's body motion, ensuring the images remain relatively non-moving by synchronizing the display's movement frequency and amplitude with the user's head movement, using a camera to capture motion images and a control unit to adjust the display accordingly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a liquid crystal display device is disposed in a fixed and non-movable manner on or in front of an exercising device, then the device structure is simple and stable, but the user experiences poor visual sensing and eye discomfort due to head movement during exercise

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisual sensing qualityVSAvoiddisplay system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The display device is transformed from a static fixed structure to a dynamic movable structure that can adjust its position and orientation. The display unit is mounted on a movable platform with motors that enable it to move horizontally, vertically, and rotate to track the user's head movements, thereby maintaining optimal viewing conditions throughout the exercise session.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

A camera or sensor system detects the user's head position and movement in real-time, and this information is fed back to the control system which automatically adjusts the display position accordingly. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures the display remains aligned with the user's line of sight despite head movements during exercise.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If the display device is made movable to track user head motion, then visual sensing quality improves, but the device complexity and control difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser viewing comfortVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The display system automatically tracks and adjusts to the user's head movements without requiring manual intervention. The integrated sensors and motors work autonomously to maintain optimal viewing position, making the system self-adjusting and eliminating the need for complex manual control mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple functions are merged into a single integrated system: the camera/sensor for detection, the motors for movement, and the control unit for processing are combined into one cohesive display assembly. This integration simplifies the overall control architecture compared to having separate independent systems for each function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If the display moves synchronously with user head motion, then image stability relative to the user is improved, but energy consumption and mechanical wear increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage stabilityVSAvoiddisplay energy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of continuous movement, the display system uses periodic adjustment cycles where it detects user head position and makes discrete positional corrections at intervals. This approach maintains image stability while reducing energy consumption compared to continuous motor operation, as the system only activates motors when adjustment is needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP2420305B1Device capable of adjusting images according to body motion of a user and performing method thereof
Publication Date: 2020.02.19 NAT TAIWAN UNIV OF SCI & TECH
  • EP2420305B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2420305B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2420305B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A device capable of adjusting images according to a body motion of a user and a performing method thereof are disclosed. The device includes a display unit, at least one camera unit, and a control unit. The display unit functions for displaying images. The camera unit captures at least one motion image of the user. The control unit is electrically coupled to the display unit and the camera unit. The control unit receives the motion image of the user and adjusts the display unit according to the motion image of the user, whereby the images displayed by or on the display unit move as does the user.