Wearable Display Mode Switching With Advance User Notification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wearable devices struggle with users being engrossed in displayed images, making it difficult to determine the timing for switching between usage forms, and sudden state changes can be disturbing without user notification.

Innovation Solution

A wearable device and control system that includes a display and a processor to notify users of recommended usage forms based on external environment information, allowing for seamless switching between video and optical modes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the wearable device automatically switches between usage forms without notifying the user, then the switching timing is optimized based on environment, but the user experiences sudden disturbing changes in field of view

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveswitching responsivenessVSAvoiduser disturbance

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The notification unit provides advance warning to the user before the usage form is switched. This preliminary notification allows the user to mentally prepare for the upcoming change in field of view, thereby reducing the disturbing effect while maintaining optimized switching timing based on environmental conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides feedback to the user through the notification unit about the impending usage form switch. This feedback mechanism keeps the user informed about system decisions, reducing uncertainty and disturbance while maintaining the ability to switch based on environmental optimization

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Extent of automation

If the wearable device switches usage forms based on environment without user notification, then the switching is optimized, but the user cannot determine the timing for switching

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomatic switchingVSAvoidswitching timing information

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The notification unit provides feedback to the user about the recommended usage form and switching timing. This maintains the automatic switching capability while simultaneously informing the user when the switch will occur, eliminating the information loss about switching timing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Loss of information

If the wearable device provides continuous notification about usage form recommendations, then the user can always know the recommended state, but the user becomes distracted from the displayed images

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveusage form informationVSAvoiduser concentration

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of continuous notification, the system uses periodic or event-triggered notifications that occur only when usage form switching is recommended. This reduces distraction from constant notifications while still providing necessary information about usage form changes at appropriate intervals

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The notification function is extracted as a separate notification unit that operates independently from the main display. This allows the notification to be provided in a manner that does not interfere with the user's viewing of displayed images, separating the information delivery from the primary display function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS20250347911A1Wearable device, control device, system, control method, and non-transitory computer readable medium

Publication Date: 2025.11.13 CANON KK

AI summary

A wearable device that is usable in a plurality of usage forms which has a notification unit that notifies a user of information indicating a recommended usage form out of the plurality of usage forms, the information being determined based on information relating to an external environment.