Pressure Sensor Digital Signage for Pedestrian Tracking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing digital signage systems using cameras face limitations in improving pedestrian visibility due to complex and heavy processing, insufficient data acquisition, frame rate constraints, sensitivity to environmental changes, and dead angles, especially in dynamic and complex scenarios.

Innovation Solution

A digital signage system incorporating a transducer that converts pressure into electrical signals, a control apparatus that adjusts content based on signal intensity, and an output apparatus projecting information in synchronization with pedestrian movement, allowing for improved visibility and dynamic content display.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If cameras are used to detect pedestrian position and motion, then the system can dynamically adjust content display, but the processing becomes complicated and heavy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedynamic content displayVSAvoidprocessing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the optical-mechanical camera system with a pressure sensor system. Instead of using cameras to detect pedestrian position and motion through image processing, the system uses pressure sensors to detect the presence and position of pedestrians through pressure changes on the display surface. This substitution eliminates the need for complex image processing, color extraction, and contour analysis while achieving the same adaptive content display functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If frame rate is increased to improve data acquisition for quick motion, then pedestrian visibility improves, but process data increases excessively

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemotion detection accuracyVSAvoidprocess data volume

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the frame-rate-dependent camera system with a pressure sensor system that continuously measures pressure changes without requiring high frame rates. The pressure sensors detect pedestrian presence and motion through continuous pressure monitoring, eliminating the trade-off between frame rate and data acquisition. This allows accurate motion detection without the excessive data volume associated with high frame rate video processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Area of stationary object

If multiple cameras are used to detect pedestrian position, then coverage area increases, but dead angles occur in complicated passages

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection coverage areaVSAvoiddead angles

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the camera-based detection system with a pressure sensor system embedded in the display surface. The pressure sensors are distributed across the entire display area, providing uniform detection coverage without dead angles. Since the sensors are physically present on the surface where pedestrians interact, they can detect pressure changes from all directions and positions, eliminating the dead angle problem inherent in camera-based systems, especially in complicated passages and crowded environments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Adaptability or versatility

If camera-based detection is used, then the system can respond to pedestrian movement, but it is sensitive to ambient brightness and color changes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepedestrian tracking capabilityVSAvoidenvironmental sensitivity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the optical-based camera system with a pressure sensor system that detects pedestrian presence and motion through mechanical pressure changes. This substitution eliminates sensitivity to ambient brightness and color changes, as pressure sensors measure physical pressure rather than optical properties. The system can reliably detect pedestrians in various lighting conditions, including strong light, rain, and other environmental variations that would interfere with camera-based detection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

Enhances pedestrian visibility and engagement by accurately tracking and responding to pedestrian movement, reducing environmental impact and avoiding dead angles, while maintaining a lightweight processing load.

Implementation Method 1

a transducer configured to transform a pressure to an electrical signal

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPiezoelectric effect: Piezoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentEP3091529B1Digital signage system

Publication Date: 2020.04.08 RICOH CO LTD

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Figure 3A~3C

AI summary

A digital signage system includes a transducer (10) configured to transform a pressure to an electrical signal; a control apparatus (20) configured to change information in association with the intensity of the electrical signal; and an output apparatus (30) configured to output the information to an output target based on a command of the control apparatus (20).