Adjustable Opacity Filter for See-Through HMD Augmented Reality

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Solution Overview

Problem

See-through head-mounted displays struggle to provide augmented-reality images that appear realistic and represent a full range of colors and intensities due to the inability to remove environmental light, resulting in virtual objects appearing translucent or ghosted.

Innovation Solution

An environmental-light filter with adjustable opacity is coupled to the head-mounted display device, selectively filtering environmental light to enhance the appearance of augmented-reality images by reducing or eliminating ambient light, allowing the images to appear more solid and real.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If environmental light is allowed to pass through the see-through lens, then the user can observe the real-world scene clearly, but the augmented-reality image appears transparent and unrealistic

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisibility of real-world sceneVSAvoidrealism of augmented-reality image

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic control of the environmental light filter's opacity through a controller that adjusts the filter's light-blocking properties based on detected light conditions and user interactions. The filter can transition between transparent and opaque states, allowing the system to adaptively balance real-world scene visibility and augmented-reality image realism depending on environmental conditions and user needs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the environmental-light filter blocks more light to improve augmented-reality image appearance, then the image appears more solid and real, but the user's ability to see the real-world scene is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesolidity of virtual objectsVSAvoidvisibility of real-world scene

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The controller dynamically adjusts the environmental light filter's opacity level based on detected ambient light conditions and user interactions. When augmented-reality images need to appear more solid, the filter increases light blocking; when real-world scene visibility is needed, the filter becomes more transparent. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by allowing both states to be accessed as needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the optical parameters of the environmental light filter by adjusting its opacity level. The filter's light transmission properties are modified dynamically to optimize the balance between real-world scene visibility and augmented-reality image solidity, allowing the system to adapt to different viewing conditions and user requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Manufacturing precision

If filters with maximum opacity are used to block environmental light, then augmented-reality images display full range of colors and intensities, but the user cannot see the real-world scene

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecolor and intensity range of augmented-reality imageVSAvoidvisibility of real-world scene

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

Rather than using a fixed maximum-opacity filter, the system employs a dynamically controllable filter that can adjust its opacity level. The controller can set the filter to various opacity levels including maximum opacity when augmented-reality image quality is the priority, and minimum opacity when real-world scene visibility is needed, providing flexible adaptation to different operational requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 filter enables augmented-reality images to display a full range of colors and intensities, reducing power consumption and improving the perceived solidity of virtual objects, while allowing the user to maintain visibility of the real-world scene.

Implementation Method 1

The environmental-light filter may be selected from a group of filters with varied opacity, from a minimum opacity level which allows a substantial amount of light to pass, to a maximum opacity level which allows little or no light to pass

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight filtering: Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentUS8537075B2Environmental-light filter for see-through head-mounted display device

Publication Date: 2013.09.17 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

An environmental-light filter removably coupled to an optical see-through head-mounted display (HMD) device is disclosed. The environmental-light filter couples to the HMD device between a display component and a real-world scene. Coupling features are provided to allow the filter to be easily and removably attached to the HMD device when desired by a user. The filter increases the primacy of a provided augmented-reality image with respect to a real-world scene and reduces brightness and power consumption requirements for presenting the augmented-reality image. A plurality of filters of varied light transmissivity may be provided from which to select a desired filter based on environmental lighting conditions and user preference. The light transmissivity of the filter may be about 70% light transmissive to substantially or completely opaque.