Smart Mirror Display Blur Control to Reduce Eye Refocusing Fatigue
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current smart mirror systems cause eye fatigue and distraction during personal care activities due to the need for continuous refocusing between the reflective image and displayed information, as the focal distances for these two elements differ, leading to unwanted shifts in focus.
Innovation Solution
A mirror assembly with a display unit that overlaps the reflective portion, controlled to display visual or blurred effect elements with a blur region larger than the display resolution, ensuring seamless integration with the reflective image to avoid refocusing, using sensors to determine optimal blur regions based on user distance, pupil diameter, and ambient conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If information is displayed directly behind the mirror surface, then the visual information is provided in the field of view, but the focal distance difference causes continuous refocusing and eye fatigue
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the blur region size of displayed visual elements based on the user's viewing distance. Sensors detect the user's position and the controller modifies the blur parameter of the display unit to match the depth of field of the reflective image, thereby eliminating the focal distance difference that causes eye fatigue.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a blur effect as an intermediary between the display unit and the user's visual system. By applying a controlled blur region to visual elements, the system mediates the focal distance conflict, making displayed information appear at the same depth as the reflective image, thus preventing continuous refocusing.
2Area of stationary object
If the display unit overlaps the reflective portion, then space is utilized efficiently, but the reflective image quality may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the display output into different regions: a blurred region that overlaps with the reflective portion and a sharp region for non-overlapping information. This segmentation allows the display unit to serve dual purposes - providing visual information while preserving the quality of the reflective image by directing sharp edges away from the reflection area.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by varying the blur level across different regions of the display. Visual elements that overlap with the reflective image are rendered with a blur region, while other elements maintain sharp edges. This localized differentiation preserves reflective image quality in overlapping areas while maintaining information clarity in non-overlapping areas.
3Measurement precision
If visual elements are displayed with sharp edges, then information clarity is improved, but unwanted shifts in focus occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamics by making the blur region size adaptive rather than static. The controller continuously adjusts the blur parameter based on real-time sensor data about user position and viewing conditions. This dynamic adjustment ensures that visual elements remain clear enough for information delivery while adapting to prevent focal shifts as the user moves.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the blur parameter of visual elements based on detected user position and viewing distance. By dynamically modifying this optical parameter, the system maintains information clarity when needed while preventing focal shifts that would disrupt the user experience during personal care activities.
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 solution reduces eye fatigue and enhances the user experience by merging the displayed information with the reflective image, preventing distractions and allowing for a more immersive and convenient personal care activity.
Implementation Method 1
a reflective portion configured to reflect incident light
Implementation Method 2
a display unit arranged to overlap the reflective portion, wherein the display unit is configured to display at least one of a visual element and a blurred effect element
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2
AI summary
A mirror assembly (100) comprising: a reflective portion (110) configured to reflect incident light; a display unit (120) arranged to overlap the reflective portion, wherein the display unit is configured to display at least one of a visual element and a blurred effect element; and a control unit (130). The control unit (130) is configured to: receive instruction to display a visual element or instruction to display a blurred effect element; determine, based on the received instruction, a blur region for the visual element or a motion trajectory of the blurred effect element, wherein the blur region or the blurred effect element is larger than a display resolution of the display unit; and control the display unit to display the visual element with the determined blur region or to display the blurred effect element in the determined motion trajectory in a field of view of a user.