AR Display Compensation for Natural Dark Colors and Shadows
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing augmented reality (AR) devices struggle to accurately express dark colors and shadows due to light attenuation caused by display areas, leading to unrealistic virtual image rendering.
Innovation Solution
A processor-implemented method compensates for light attenuation by generating a compensation image to reduce brightness, synthesizing it with a virtual object image, and adjusting the display image to express dark colors and shadows naturally.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If light attenuation compensation is applied to the entire background image, then the overall brightness is improved, but the dark colors and shadows in the virtual object image are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the background image into multiple regions with different compensation levels. The processor determines a compensation level for each region based on the virtual object's position and the display area's light attenuation characteristics. Regions behind the virtual object receive higher compensation to maintain visibility, while regions not obscured by the virtual object retain lower compensation to preserve natural dark colors and shadows. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by applying brightness compensation only where necessary.
2Quantity of substance
If the display area is made more transparent to show the real world, then the AR overlay visibility is improved, but the light attenuation increases causing darker display
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary compensation to the background image before overlaying the virtual object. The processor calculates the light attenuation caused by the display area and pre-adjusts the brightness of background regions that will be obscured by the virtual object. This preliminary anti-action counteracts the light attenuation effect, ensuring that the compensated background maintains proper brightness levels even when viewed through the semi-transparent display area.
3Illumination intensity
If brightness compensation is increased to compensate for light attenuation, then the visible scene is improved, but the natural appearance of shadows and dark areas is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements region-specific compensation levels where different portions of the background image receive different degrees of brightness adjustment. The processor identifies regions that will be obscured by the virtual object and applies higher compensation only to those specific regions, while leaving other regions with minimal or no compensation to preserve their natural appearance. This selective approach maintains the realism of shadows and dark areas in the overall scene.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts the compensation parameter based on the virtual object's position, the display area's optical properties, and the background scene characteristics. The processor modifies brightness parameters locally rather than applying a uniform compensation factor, allowing precise control over which areas receive compensation and to what extent. This parameter differentiation enables the system to maintain natural appearance in unobscured regions while ensuring visibility in obscured regions.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method and apparatus for processing augmented reality (AR) are disclosed. The method includes determining a compensation parameter to compensate for light attenuation of visual information caused by a display area of an AR device as the visual information corresponding to a target scene is displayed through the display area, generating a background image without the light attenuation by capturing the target scene using a camera of the AR device, generating a compensation image by reducing brightness of the background image using the compensation parameter, generating a virtual object image to be overlaid on the target scene, generating a display image by synthesizing the compensation image and the virtual object image, and displaying the display image in the display area.