Mute Control Peripheral With Light Guide for Video Conferencing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face challenges in quickly and accurately using keyboard shortcuts or GUI controls for video conferencing, particularly during calls with multiple participants, due to the difficulty in locating and utilizing the mute control and uncertainty about the mute status.
Innovation Solution
A computer peripheral device with a microcontroller, actuator, and light guide that sends peripheral device command signals, such as mute on/off signals, allowing users to easily configure and operate software applications like video conferencing tools by pressing a single actuator and providing a clear visual indicator of the mute status through a light signal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users rely on keyboard shortcuts or GUI controls for video conferencing, then the device complexity remains low, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in locating and utilizing controls quickly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a physical peripheral device with an actuator and light guide as an intermediary between the user and the video conferencing software. This mediator provides tactile and visual feedback that bridges the gap between simple hardware and complex software controls, enabling easy operation without increasing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide provides visual feedback to indicate mute status, allowing users to quickly understand the current state without navigating through software interfaces. This feedback mechanism simplifies operation by providing immediate, intuitive information about system state.
2Productivity
If users use keyboard shortcuts for muting, then the device complexity remains low, but the productivity deteriorates due to the time required to locate and press multiple keys
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential mute control function from the complex software interface and implements it in a dedicated physical device. This extraction allows users to perform muting operations with a single actuator press, significantly improving productivity during video calls without requiring navigation through multiple keys or menu options.
3Reliability
If the mute status indicator is integrated into the software interface, then the device complexity remains low, but the reliability deteriorates due to uncertainty and difficulty in locating the status indicator
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide utilizes color changes or light presence/absence to provide unambiguous visual feedback about mute status. This optical indication system enhances reliability by providing clear, always-visible feedback that cannot be missed, eliminating the uncertainty users experience with traditional software indicators.
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
The device simplifies the process of muting and unmuting by allowing users to easily toggle microphone status with a single action and provides a clear visual indication, reducing errors and improving user experience during video conferencing.
Implementation Method 1
the bushing is designed and configured as a light guide that receives light incident at the bottom side emitted from the at least one light emitting element and uniformly emits the light along the top side of the bushing
Data Source
AI summary
Computer peripheral devices designed and configured to generate and send peripheral device command signals for controlling software applications. In some examples the peripheral device command signals are designed to be the same as command signals generated by a keyboard in response to pressing one or more keyboard keys corresponding to a keyboard shortcut for a software application control function. The peripheral devices may be selectively configured into one of a plurality of configurations for selectively generating peripheral device command signals by selecting a position of at least one command signal group selector switch operably coupled to the peripheral device.