Optical Fiber Display State Detection for TV Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing audience measurement systems face challenges in accurately determining the operational status of television sets, as independently powered set-top boxes can continue to supply signals even when the TV is off, leading to invasive and costly monitoring techniques that may damage the TV and do not guarantee operational status.
Innovation Solution
A display monitoring device optically coupled to the TV's light energy source via an optical fiber, using an optical-to-electrical converter and signal processing circuit to generate a control signal indicating the TV's on or off state, optimizing data collection by the metering device and reducing memory requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If monitoring techniques are used to determine TV operational status, then data collection accuracy is improved, but the risk of TV damage increases due to invasive installation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an optical fiber as an intermediary element that couples to the TV's light energy source. This optical fiber serves as a mediator that allows monitoring of TV operational status without direct electrical or physical intrusion into the TV's internal circuitry, thereby eliminating the risk of damage while maintaining accurate detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces invasive mechanical/electrical monitoring methods with an optical-based detection system. By using an optical fiber to detect light energy from the TV's light source, the system substitutes physical/electrical contact with optical detection, eliminating the harmful effects of invasive installation while preserving measurement accuracy.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If STB is independently powered and remains on, then signal supply continuity is improved, but data collection accuracy deteriorates because TV may be off while STB is on
Solution Approach 1:
The optical fiber acts as an intermediary that directly monitors the TV's light energy source, providing accurate real-time information about TV operational status independent of STB state. This allows the system to distinguish between STB being on and TV actually being on, resolving the data accuracy problem caused by independent STB powering.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the optical detection of light energy from the TV's light source as feedback to determine actual TV operational status. This feedback mechanism ensures that data collection accurately reflects whether the TV is truly on or off, regardless of the STB's independent power state, thereby maintaining measurement precision.
3Measurement precision
If invasive monitoring circuitry is installed in TV, then operational status detection is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the monitoring function from the TV itself by using an optical fiber that couples to the TV's existing light energy source. Instead of installing circuitry within the TV, the monitoring capability is extracted externally through the optical fiber, simplifying the overall system while maintaining detection accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical fiber serves as a simple intermediary that bridges the monitoring system and the TV's light source without requiring complex installation or modification of the TV's internal circuitry. This intermediary approach reduces device complexity compared to invasive monitoring methods while preserving accurate operational status detection.
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
Enables accurate detection of TV operational status, optimizing data collection and reducing memory needs by ensuring that only displayed signals are counted, thereby improving audience measurement accuracy and reducing potential TV damage.
Implementation Method 1
A display monitoring device optically coupled to the TV's light energy source via an optical fiber
Implementation Method 2
using an optical-to-electrical converter and signal processing circuit to generate a control signal
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus to detect an operating state of a display are disclosed. An example device to detect an operating state of a display includes an optical fiber, an optical-to-electrical converter, and a logic circuit. The optical fiber is optically coupled to a light source of the display. The light energy source is configured to emit light. The optical-to-electrical converter is coupled to the light source via the optical fiber and configured to convert light from the light source into an electrical signal. The logic circuit is coupled to the optical-to-electrical converter and configured to generate an output signal indicative of the operating state of the display based on the electrical signal.