Smart Display Panel Gaze Detection Power Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current display panel technologies consume significant power even when users are not actively viewing the screen, leading to inefficient power management due to reliance on predefined timeout periods or user presence detection methods that are not accurate, resulting in either excessive power consumption or premature shutdowns.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a dynamic power control system that uses facial recognition and gaze detection to determine user presence and attentiveness, adjusting the backlight and panel electronics accordingly, and automatically adjusting brightness based on ambient light changes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If predefined timeout periods are used to control display power, then device complexity is reduced, but power consumption efficiency deteriorates due to inaccurate user presence detection

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol system complexityVSAvoidpower consumption efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical timeout-based control with an optical detection system (camera and image processing) to detect user presence and gaze direction. This substitution enables accurate real-time detection of user attention, allowing the display to remain on only when needed, thereby resolving the contradiction between simple control and energy efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Loss of energy

If user presence detection methods are used to reduce power consumption, then power savings increase, but detection accuracy deteriorates leading to premature shutdowns

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoiduser presence detection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary image processing system that captures visual data through a camera, processes it to detect facial features and gaze direction, and uses this information to control display power. This intermediary layer provides accurate real-time detection of user presence and attention, preventing premature shutdowns while enabling power savings when users are absent.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If the display remains on during user inactivity, then user experience is maintained, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser experienceVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic power control that continuously monitors user presence and gaze direction, adjusting display power state in real-time. The display transitions between active and low-power states based on detected user attention, maintaining excellent user experience when needed while significantly reducing power consumption during user absence.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3948492B1Smart display panel apparatus and related methods

Publication Date: 2024.11.20 INTEL CORP

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AI summary

Smart panel display apparatus and related methods are disclosed herein. An apparatus to control a display of an electronic device includes a user presence detector to determine a presence of a user relative to the device based on image data generated by an image sensor of the device. The apparatus includes a gaze detector to determine a direction of a gaze of the user relative to the image sensor based on the image data. The apparatus includes a backlight manager to selectively adjust a display brightness based on the presence of the user and the direction of the gaze of the user.