Occlusion Component Control for Lens Security and Privacy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic devices with image capture capabilities are vulnerable to unauthorized access and data privacy breaches due to remote hacking, as there is no effective mechanism to prevent the lens from being activated when the device is in a dormant state or when no user is present.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device incorporating a physical button, distance sensor, occlusion component, and control circuit that automatically controls the occlusion component to occlude or expose the lens based on user interaction, ensuring the lens is only activated when a valid user is present and intentionally using the device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the lens is always exposed for convenience, then the ease of operation is improved, but the security against unauthorized access deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The occlusion component is positioned to cover the lens in advance before the device is activated. This preliminary occlusion state ensures that the lens cannot be accessed by hackers until the user intentionally triggers the unocclusion action through the physical button, thus resolving the contradiction between convenience and security.
Solution Approach 2:
A physical button serves as an intermediary mechanism between the user and the lens activation. This intermediary requires deliberate physical interaction to trigger the unocclusion component, preventing remote hacking while maintaining user convenience. The distance sensor acts as another intermediary to detect user presence and coordinate the occlusion/unocclusion timing.
2Reliability
If the occlusion component is always in position to secure the lens, then the reliability is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically controlling the occlusion component's movement based on sensor inputs. The distance sensor detects user presence and the control circuit automatically unoccludes the lens when appropriate, eliminating the need for manual intervention while maintaining security. This resolves the contradiction by making the system both secure and convenient.
Solution Approach 2:
The distance sensor provides feedback about user presence to the control circuit, which then adjusts the occlusion component's position accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures the lens remains secured when no user is present while automatically becoming accessible when a user approaches, thus resolving the contradiction between security and ease of operation.
3Ease of operation
If software-based lens activation is used, then the ease of operation is improved, but the vulnerability to hacking increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces software-based lens activation with a hardware-based mechanism involving a physical button and occlusion component. This mechanical substitution eliminates the security vulnerability to remote hacking while maintaining user convenience through simple physical interaction. The lens activation is now controlled by physical presence and deliberate button pressing rather than software commands.
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
This solution provides fully automatic lens security control, preventing unauthorized image capture by maintaining the lens in a secure state when the device is dormant or not in use, while ensuring convenience and proper functionality when the user is actively operating the device.
Implementation Method 1
detect a target object in front of the lens through the distance sensor
Data Source
AI summary
A control method for an occlusion component and an electronic device are disclosed. The method includes: in a first status of the electronic device, controlling the occlusion component to be located at a first position on the electronic device to occlude a lens of the electronic device; in a second status of the electronic device, detecting a trigger signal and a target object in front of the lens, wherein the trigger signal is generated by triggering a physical button of the electronic device, and the first status is different from the second status; and in a situation where the trigger signal is detected and the target object exists, controlling the occlusion component to move to a second position on the electronic device to expose the lens.