Retractable Camera Shutter for Unobtrusive User Authentication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional camera-based authentication systems intimidate individuals and raise privacy concerns due to their visibility and intrusive nature, necessitating a need for unobtrusive image-based user authentication.
Innovation Solution
A camera-based authentication system with a retractable shutter or smart barrier that conceals the camera until a triggering event occurs, allowing temporary visibility for user identification and returning to a concealed state after authentication is complete or a predetermined time has elapsed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the camera is continuously visible for authentication, then authentication functionality is available, but user anxiety and privacy concerns increase
Solution Approach 1:
The camera system dynamically changes its visibility state between concealed and visible based on authentication requirements. The camera remains concealed during normal operation and only becomes visible when authentication is needed, creating a dynamic system that adapts its state to functional needs rather than remaining statically visible.
Solution Approach 2:
The camera is extracted from its traditional visible position and concealed behind a shutter mechanism. This removes the camera from the user's direct line of sight during non-authentication periods, separating the authentication function from the visual presence of the camera itself.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the camera is concealed to reduce intrusiveness, then privacy concerns are reduced, but authentication response time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of user presence or authentication requests before requiring camera visibility. When a user approaches or an authentication event is detected, the system proactively reveals the camera in advance, ensuring the authentication process can begin immediately without unnecessary delays.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from presence detectors or authentication requests to control camera visibility. When the presence detector senses a user or an authentication event occurs, this feedback signal triggers the camera to reveal itself, creating a responsive feedback loop that minimizes unnecessary camera visibility while ensuring rapid authentication response when needed.
3Productivity
If the camera remains visible, then authentication is immediately accessible, but the system appears intrusive and intimidating
Solution Approach 1:
The camera system transitions from a static visible state to a dynamic concealed-and-revealed state. The camera remains concealed during normal operation to avoid appearing intrusive, then rapidly reveals itself when authentication is needed, maintaining productivity while eliminating unnecessary intrusiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The camera is extracted from its traditional visible position and concealed behind a shutter mechanism. This removes the camera from the user's direct line of sight during non-authentication periods, separating the authentication function from the visual presence of the camera itself.
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
The system reduces anxiety and privacy concerns by minimizing the camera's visibility, providing a user-friendly and compliant authentication process.
Implementation Method 1
a retractable shutter or 'smart' barrier that can change its state from translucent to transparent and vice versa
Data Source
AI summary
Representative embodiments of performing a camera-based user authentication include determining whether a triggering event for authentication occurs; upon determining that the triggering event has occurred, causing a camera that is invisible to the user prior to occurrence of the triggering event to be visible to the user; causing the now-visible camera to acquire images associated with identifying information of the user; and based on the acquired identifying information, determining whether to authenticate the user.