Vision Pixels for Mobile Terminal Gesture Control

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current mobile terminal control methods rely heavily on hardware interfaces like keypads and touchscreens, which are limited and consume excessive power when using vision recognition schemes that process large amounts of unnecessary pixel information, leading to increased operation time and battery consumption.

Innovation Solution

Designating a subset of pixels in an image sensor as 'vision pixels' for low-power vision recognition, allowing for efficient detection of user interactions without direct input, using a configuration that includes a Bayer pattern color filter and converting optical information into digital signals for fast processing and reduced power usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If vision recognition scheme processes all pixels from captured image, then vision recognition accuracy is improved, but power consumption increases and operation time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevision recognition accuracyVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the image sensor pixels into two distinct groups: vision pixels (first pixel group) dedicated to vision recognition tasks and imaging pixels (second pixel group) dedicated to full-image capture. This segmentation allows the system to process only necessary pixels for vision recognition, reducing computational load and power consumption while maintaining recognition accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts and isolates only the necessary pixel information for vision recognition by designating specific pixels as vision pixels. This extraction principle enables the system to disregard unnecessary pixel data, thereby reducing processing time and energy consumption while preserving the essential information needed for accurate vision recognition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Measurement precision

If vision recognition scheme processes all pixels from captured image, then vision recognition accuracy is improved, but operation time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevision recognition accuracyVSAvoidoperation time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the image sensor pixels into two distinct groups: vision pixels (first pixel group) dedicated to vision recognition tasks and imaging pixels (second pixel group) dedicated to full-image capture. This segmentation allows the system to process only necessary pixels for vision recognition, reducing computational load and operation time while maintaining recognition accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial action by processing only a subset of pixels (vision pixels) rather than all pixels in the captured image. This partial processing approach is sufficient for vision recognition tasks, significantly reducing operation time and computational resources while maintaining adequate recognition accuracy for the intended application.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Ease of operation

If hardware UI (keypad, touchscreen) is used for control, then direct user input is achieved, but control flexibility and user experience are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedirect user inputVSAvoidcontrol flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical UI elements (keypad, touchscreen) with a vision-based control system. By using vision pixels to detect user interactions such as hand gestures or presence, the system eliminates the need for physical input devices, thereby enhancing control flexibility and user experience while maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

Enables intuitive control of mobile terminals with reduced power consumption and faster operation by selectively using vision pixels for vision recognition, improving user experience and convenience while minimizing battery usage.

Implementation Method 1

an image sensor... converts optical information including a large number of pixels into image data

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotoelectric Effect: Photoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentEP2624537B1Method and apparatus for controlling a mobile terminal using user interaction
Publication Date: 2020.02.19 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP2624537B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2624537B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method and apparatus for controlling a mobile terminal through use of user interaction are provided. The method includes operating in a vision recognition mode that generates a vision recognition image through use of a signal output from a second plurality of pixels designated as vision pixels from among a plurality of pixels of an image sensor included in the mobile terminal; determining whether a predetermined object in the vision recognition image corresponds to a person; determining a gesture of the predetermined object when the predetermined object corresponds to the person; and performing a control function of the mobile terminal corresponding to the gesture of the predetermined object.