Presence Sensor Display Power Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Timer-based power management for displays leads to privacy issues and resource wastage, as devices may enter lower power states prematurely, wasting energy when users return shortly after the idle threshold is reached, and enforcing IT policies to keep displays unattended is difficult.
Innovation Solution
Implementing presence sensors, such as time-of-flight sensors, to detect user proximity and automate screen dimming and authentication processes, ensuring power savings and enhanced productivity by dynamically adjusting display brightness based on user presence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If timer-based power management is used to save power when user activity is absent, then power consumption is reduced, but privacy issues arise and resources are wasted when users return shortly after the idle threshold
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses presence sensors (camera, microphone, motion sensors) to continuously monitor user presence and provides feedback to the power management system. This feedback mechanism allows the system to detect when a user returns to the device and adjust power states accordingly, preventing premature transitions to low-power modes and eliminating energy wastage while maintaining privacy through automated detection rather than manual policies.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the system enters lower power states when idle threshold is reached, then power savings are achieved, but productivity is reduced when users need quick access to the device
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by proactively detecting user presence through sensors before the user needs to interact with the device. When presence is detected, the system pre-activates the display and other components, ensuring immediate availability when the user arrives. This eliminates waiting time and maintains productivity while still allowing power savings during genuine idle periods.
3Reliability
If IT policies require displays to remain unattended, then security is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates as users cannot leave displays open for extended periods
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides self-service security by using sensors to automatically detect user presence and absence. When no user is detected, the system automatically locks the display and initiates screen dimming without requiring manual user action or strict IT policy enforcement. This maintains security requirements while allowing users to leave devices unattended naturally, improving ease of operation without compromising security.
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 approach effectively reduces power consumption by accurately detecting user presence, minimizing unnecessary power usage and enhancing security through automatic authentication, while maintaining user convenience and privacy.
Implementation Method 1
Implementing presence sensors, such as time-of-flight sensors, to detect user proximity
Data Source
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Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
A method includes sensing, with a sensor, a distance of a user from a display of a computing device. The method further includes comparing, with the computing device, the sensed distance to a threshold distance, and determining, with the computing device, whether the user is present at the display based at least in part on the comparison.