Smart Flashlight Directional Guidance via Illumination Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
In low-light conditions, users navigating unfamiliar areas face safety risks due to the inconvenience of frequently checking compasses on smart devices, as the low light makes it difficult to discern directional information.
Innovation Solution
A smart flashlight system that determines the user's moving direction and adjusts illumination configurations, such as color, brightness, or strobe frequency, based on pre-stored relationships to provide directional guidance without requiring the user to constantly check a compass.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If users check the compass on smart devices in low light conditions, then directional information can be obtained, but the operation becomes inconvenient and safety risks increase due to difficulty in discerning information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a flashlight as an intermediary tool that projects directional information (N, S, E, W indicators) onto the ground or surface. This mediator transfers the compass information from the device screen to the external environment, allowing users to see directional guidance without needing to look at the device screen in low light conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical/optical compass viewing method (requiring screen visibility) with a light-based projection system. The flashlight LED illuminates directional indicators that are projected externally, substituting the need for visual inspection of the device display with optical projection onto the surrounding environment.
2Measurement precision
If users frequently check the compass to avoid getting lost, then directional accuracy is maintained, but time is lost and concentration on road conditions is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables continuous display of directional information through the projected flashlight indicators on the ground. Instead of intermittent checking of the device screen, the directional guidance (N, S, E, W indicators) remains continuously visible in the projected light, allowing users to maintain directional awareness without repeatedly stopping to check the compass.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides self-service directional guidance by automatically projecting the compass indicators through the flashlight. The directional information serves itself by being externally projected rather than requiring active user engagement with the device interface, thereby reducing the need for repeated user actions to check direction.
3Illumination intensity
If the compass display is made visible in low light, then directional information becomes discernible, but the device complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the flashlight illumination function with the compass display function into a single integrated system. The same flashlight LED that provides lighting also projects the directional indicators, combining two functions (illumination and information display) into one component, thereby avoiding the need for separate high-power display illumination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies illumination locally only where needed for directional information projection rather than illuminating the entire device screen. The flashlight projects light and directional indicators only onto the immediate ground area in front of the user, concentrating energy locally rather than requiring full-screen display illumination in low light conditions.
Data Source
Figure 1A~2A
Figure 2B~3
Figure 4~7
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a method and a device for controlling a smart flashlight. The method includes: determining a present moving direction when the smart flashlight is in a preset mode; reading a pre-stored relationship between moving directions and illumination configurations to determine a present illumination configuration corresponding to the present moving direction; and illuminating according to the present illumination configuration.