AR Head-Mounted Display With Gaze-Directed Control Regions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing helmet-mounted displays in military aircraft require multiple control devices and often obscure the user's view, complicating data interaction and reducing situational awareness.

Innovation Solution

A head-mounted display apparatus with a transparent visor and integrated head and eye tracking modules, allowing selective display of data within the user's field of view through gaze-directed augmented reality information windows, using a single control device for interaction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a head-mounted display is to be worn like eyeglasses, then the form factor and comfort are improved, but the battery capacity is limited due to weight and size constraints

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovewearabilityVSAvoidbattery capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the power source into multiple wireless power transmission units distributed across the head-mounted display, rather than relying on a single large battery. This allows the device to maintain a lightweight, wearable form factor while collectively providing sufficient power capacity through distributed wireless power transmission to the eye tracker and other components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the traditional mechanical battery system with wireless power transmission technology. Instead of storing energy in a physical battery within the head-mounted display, the system uses wireless power transmission units to transmit power wirelessly to the eye tracker and other components, eliminating the need for a large onboard battery.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Use of energy by moving object

If wireless power transmission is used to overcome battery limitations, then the power transmission distance must be controlled, but this limits the flexibility of power delivery

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower transmissionVSAvoidpower transmission distance
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The wireless power transmission system is segmented into multiple distributed units within the head-mounted display. Each unit transmits power over a short distance to specific components (e.g., eye tracker), and the collective coverage of multiple units provides comprehensive power delivery throughout the device without requiring any single unit to transmit over long distances.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple sensors including eye tracker are integrated into head-mounted display, then the functionality is improved, but the number of components increases complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoidnumber of components
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The wireless power transmission units serve multiple functions: they provide power transmission to the eye tracker and other components, and simultaneously function as communication units for data transmission. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated power and communication hardware, thereby reducing overall system complexity despite the integration of multiple sensors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines the power transmission and communication functions into integrated wireless communication units. These unified units transmit both power and data signals to the eye tracker and other components, reducing the total number of separate components needed and simplifying the overall system architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

Enhances situational awareness by minimizing view obstruction and simplifying data interaction, enabling complex tasks to be performed without diverting gaze from the external environment.

Implementation Method 1

a head-mounted display (HMD) including a wireless communication unit configured to transmit power wirelessly to the eye tracker

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic radiation: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP3682311B1Head-mounted display and control apparatus and method
Publication Date: 2026.05.13 BAE SYSTEMS PLC
  • EP3682311B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3682311B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3682311B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

An apparatus and method for displaying an operational area, the apparatus comprising a headset (10) for placing over a user's eyes, the headset including a viewing device (12) configured to provide to said user, in use, a view of a real- world environment, a display generating device for depicting an operational area, said operational area being defined within said real-world environment and comprising a plurality of functional regions each defining a different one or more selectable functions or operations that can be performed in respect of said operational area, the apparatus being configured to transfer image data from said display generating device into said user's view of said real-world environment at said viewing device to generate an augmented reality environment, the apparatus further comprising a control module (26) including a control device (28) configured to be selectively communicably coupled to all of said functional regions to enable a user to selectively perform the respective one or more functions or operations associated therewith, wherein the control device (28) is communicably coupled to a selected functional region only in response to a respective actuation signal, and an eye tracker module (24) configured to monitor said user's gaze relative to said augmented reality environment, in use, and, when said user's gaze is directed at a selected functional region displayed therein, generate and transmit to said control module (26) a said actuation signal and when said user's gaze is no longer directed at said selected functional region, cause said control device (28) to be decoupled therefrom.