3D Interface Mode Switching With Single-Input Immersive Navigation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for interacting with augmented and virtual reality environments are cumbersome, inefficient, and place a significant cognitive burden on users, requiring multiple inputs and leading to errors, which wastes energy and time.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a computer system with improved input devices and interfaces that allow for single-input operations to navigate, transition, and manage immersive modes, maintain shared applications, reset input enrollment, and adjust immersion levels, using sensors and biometric inputs to enhance user interaction efficiency and reduce the need for additional controls.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If multiple inputs are required to navigate and interact within virtual/augmented reality environments, then navigation and interaction capabilities are achieved, but cognitive burden on users increases and operational efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of interactionVSAvoidinterface complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple input functions into a single input device (e.g., a button on a headset) that can trigger various operations including dismissing user interfaces, transitioning between immersive and non-immersive modes, and accessing different applications. This single input device consolidates what would traditionally require multiple separate controls or complex gesture sequences, thereby reducing interface complexity while maintaining comprehensive interaction capabilities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The input device is designed with multi-functionality, where a single physical input can perform different operations depending on the current system state. For example, the same button can dismiss a user interface when one is active, or transition between immersive and non-immersive modes when no interface is present. This universal input approach eliminates the need for multiple specialized controls, reducing both cognitive burden and interface complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Productivity

If multiple inputs and complex interactions are required, then comprehensive control is achieved, but energy consumption increases and battery life decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational efficiencyVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by automatically dismissing user interfaces or transitioning between modes in response to a single input, without requiring users to execute multiple sequential commands. This reduces the time the system spends processing multiple input events and rendering intermediate states, thereby reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining comprehensive control capabilities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the essential navigation and interaction functions from complex multi-step input sequences and consolidates them into a single input action. By removing unnecessary intermediate steps and inputs, the system reduces computational overhead and energy consumption associated with processing multiple input events, while still achieving comprehensive control over the virtual/augmented reality environment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Adaptability or versatility

If conventional user interfaces are used for navigation and interaction, then functional capabilities are provided, but user experience is degraded due to cognitive burden and inefficiency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinteraction capabilityVSAvoiduser experience

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of requiring users to navigate through complex interface hierarchies and perform multiple sequential inputs, the patent inverts the interaction model by allowing a single input to trigger system-wide state changes. Rather than users searching for specific controls, the system responds to a simple input by dismissing interfaces or transitioning modes, thereby enhancing user experience while maintaining full interaction capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS12620184B2Devices, methods, and graphical user interfaces for interacting with three-dimensional environments

Publication Date: 2026.05.05 APPLE INC

AI summary

While displaying an application user interface, in response to detecting a first input to an input device a computer system, in accordance with a determination that the application user interface is in a first mode of display, wherein the first mode of display includes an immersive mode in which only content of the application user interface is displayed, displays via the display generation component the application user interface in a second mode of display, wherein the second mode of display includes a non-immersive mode in which respective content of the application user interface and other content are concurrently displayed, and in accordance with a determination that the application user interface is in the second mode of display, the computer system replaces display of at least a portion of the application user interface by displaying a home menu user interface via the display generation component.