Multi-Proximity Sensor Input for Precise Touchless UI Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Proximity sensors in modern computing devices are limited to binary output, restricting their ability to provide nuanced and precise user interfaces, as they can only determine the presence or absence of an object rather than measuring distances or velocities accurately.
Innovation Solution
An application programming interface (API) is developed to allow applications to request and receive distance measurements from multiple proximity sensors, enabling more precise user interactions by using sequences of distance and velocity values, which can be combined with data from other sensors like accelerometers to enhance user interface options.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If proximity sensors are limited to binary output by the operating system or programming interface, then the device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but the measurement precision and user interface nuance are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the proximity sensing capability into multiple discrete proximity sensors positioned at different locations on the device. Each sensor provides independent distance measurements, allowing the system to achieve higher measurement precision through spatial segmentation rather than through complex processing of a single sensor's output.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of having the operating system limit proximity sensors to binary output, the patent inverts the approach by allowing applications to directly access continuous distance measurements from multiple sensors. This reverses the traditional control hierarchy, enabling precise measurements while maintaining simple binary-level processing where needed.
2Adaptability or versatility
If only a single proximity sensor is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the adaptability and user interface options are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the proximity detection function across multiple sensors positioned at different locations on the device. This segmentation enables the system to detect objects from multiple spatial perspectives, significantly increasing user interface versatility while keeping each individual sensor simple.
Solution Approach 2:
Each proximity sensor in the array serves multiple functions: individual distance measurement, collaborative spatial mapping, gesture recognition, and contextual awareness. This multi-functionality approach increases adaptability without requiring each sensor to be highly complex.
3Loss of information
If continuous distance and velocity values are captured from proximity sensors, then the measurement precision and user input sensitivity are improved, but the loss of information and processing requirements are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential information from continuous proximity sensor data - specifically distance and velocity values - while discarding redundant information. This extraction approach retains critical input information for precise control while maintaining processing efficiency by avoiding unnecessary data handling.
Solution Approach 2:
The system captures continuous distance and velocity data from proximity sensors (excessive action) but only processes the specific portions needed for control purposes (partial action). This allows full information retention where needed while maintaining processing efficiency by not unnecessarily processing all captured data.
Data Source
AI summary
An application programming interface is provided that allows applications to request and receive distance measurements from multiple proximity sensors arranged on a computing device such as a smart phone or tablet. Users can input ranges of values to the applications by moving objects such as hands and fingers towards and away one or more of the multiple proximity sensors. Applications can use the ranges of values provided by the proximity sensors to allow for more nuanced and precise user interfaces than what is typically available using the binary output associated with a capacitive display. The values provided by the proximity sensors can be combined with values from one or more other sensors such as accelerometers to provide additional user interface options.