Adaptive Display Brightness Control for VR Comfort
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Solution Overview
Problem
Head-mounted devices, such as virtual reality glasses, can be cumbersome and cause discomfort due to insufficient dynamic range in image display, leading to initial dimness when transitioning from bright environments and dazzle when exiting virtual reality experiences.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device with control circuitry that estimates a user's brightness adaptation state, adjusting display brightness based on ambient light, physiological attributes, and gaze position to optimize the dynamic range and prevent discomfort, using tone mapping circuitry to gradually adapt the user's perception.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the display brightness is kept high to ensure visibility, then the image appears bright and clear, but the user experiences dazzle and discomfort when transitioning out of virtual reality
Solution Approach 1:
The display brightness is dynamically adjusted based on the user's adaptation state. The system transitions from static brightness levels to adaptive brightness control that changes over time, gradually reducing brightness during VR experiences and gradually increasing brightness during transitions, resolving the contradiction between maintaining visibility and preventing dazzle
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from adaptation state detection (through physiological sensors and usage patterns) to continuously adjust display brightness. This closed-loop control allows the display to respond to the user's real-time adaptation state, optimizing brightness to prevent both dimness and dazzle
2Illumination intensity
If the display brightness is reduced to match dark-adapted user perception, then images appear clearer in virtual reality, but the images appear too dark and washed out when the user first puts on the device
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by detecting the user's initial bright-adapted state upon device donning and immediately adjusting brightness accordingly. Rather than waiting for the user to adapt, the system proactively adapts the display to the user's current state, then gradually transitions as adaptation occurs
Solution Approach 2:
The display brightness transitions dynamically from initial high brightness levels (for bright-adapted users) to lower brightness levels (for dark-adapted users). This time-varying brightness control resolves the contradiction between initial visibility and subsequent image quality
3Adaptability or versatility
If the display uses fixed brightness levels, then the device is simple to control, but the dynamic range appears insufficient depending on the user's adaptation state
Solution Approach 1:
The display system performs self-service by automatically detecting the user's adaptation state and adjusting brightness without manual intervention. The system uses onboard sensors and algorithms to autonomously optimize display parameters, achieving high adaptability while keeping the user interface simple
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes display parameters (brightness, contrast, gamma) based on detected adaptation state. By dynamically adjusting these parameters, the system expands the perceived dynamic range to match the user's visual system, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and adaptability
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device may include a display that displays virtual reality content. Control circuitry may estimate a brightness adaptation state of a user that is wearing the electronic device. The control circuitry may select a tone mapping curve and brightness level for the virtual reality content based on the user's adaptation state. To estimate the user's adaptation state, the control circuitry may gather ambient light information from an ambient light sensor, may gather physiological attributes of the user such as blink rate, pupil size, and eye openness from a camera, and may gather gaze position information from gaze detection circuitry. The control circuitry may optimize the brightness of the display based on the user's current adaptation state, or the control circuitry may shift the brightness of the display away from the user's adaptation level to help guide the adaptation state to the desired level.