Augmented Reality Eyewear Privacy Control via Segmented Optical Combiner
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical see-through head-mounted displays for augmented reality lack privacy control, as computer-generated content is visible to both the user and surrounding people due to the transparent nature of the optical components.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a wearable computing device with a partially transmissive and reflective optical combiner and a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel that creates an occlusion mask pattern, allowing the user to selectively block computer-generated content from view of others while maintaining an unobstructed field of view of the real world.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If transparent optical components are used in optical see-through HMD, then the user can see the real world clearly, but the computer-generated content becomes visible to surrounding people, compromising privacy
Solution Approach 1:
The optical combiner is segmented into multiple regions: a first region that is transparent for viewing the real world, and a second region that is opaque for blocking CG content from surrounding people. This spatial segmentation allows simultaneous achievement of real world visibility and CG content privacy.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the optical combiner have different optical properties: the first region maintains transparency while the second region provides opacity. This local differentiation of optical quality enables the system to provide both real world visibility and selective privacy control for CG content.
2Loss of information
If opaque occlusion mask is applied to block CG content from surrounding people, then privacy is improved, but the user's field of view of the real world may be obstructed
Solution Approach 1:
The optical combiner is divided into a first region and a second region, where the opaque occlusion mask is applied only to the second region. This segmentation ensures that the mask blocks CG content from surrounding people while the transparent first region preserves the user's field of view of the real world.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical combiner exhibits local quality differentiation with a transparent first region for maintaining field of view and an opaque second region for privacy protection. This localized application of opacity ensures privacy control without obstructing the user's view of the real world.
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
Enables the user to have private access to augmented reality information by concealing sensitive content from surrounding people while preserving an acceptable field of view, with the occlusion mask pattern dynamically adjusting to the position and dimension of the content.
Implementation Method 1
at least a layer of liquid crystal display (LCD) panel placed at the outermost layer of the optical combiner
Implementation Method 2
a portion of the LCD panel would change its transparency from clear to opaque when a voltage is applied
Implementation Method 3
The optical combiner is a type of lens element that is partially transmissive and partially reflective, which allow the CG content projected from the image source be reflected to the user eyes
Implementation Method 4
The optical combiner is a type of lens element that is partially transmissive and partially reflective, which allow the user to keep a sight of the real world
Data Source
AI summary
A head mounted display device is capable of providing user a type of augmented reality (AR) experience with private access of the augmentation elements as represented by computer-generated (CG) contents. The core of the device comprises an optical combiner and a layer of photochromic materials or other means alike that changes from transparent to opaque when subjected to appropriate conditions, such that an occlusion mask pattern occupying a small portion of the said layer is created with dimension and position correspond to the CG content. The device allows user to selectively conceal the CG content from the surrounding people while keeping a sight of the real world whose elements are augmented or supplemented.