Augmented Reality Graphical Layout for Overlap and Stereo Clarity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional augmented-reality displays suffer from visual clutter and inconsistencies in graphical element presentation due to uncontrolled overlap and lack of adaptive layout strategies, which impair readability and stereo fidelity.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that determine the relative location of each eye with respect to the image plane, detect potential overlaps, and apply selective operations such as displacement, resizing, hiding, or merging graphical elements based on cost analysis to prevent overlap, ensuring visual clarity and spatial organization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If multiple graphical elements are rendered simultaneously in conventional augmented-reality displays, then the quantity of information presented increases, but visual clutter occurs reducing readability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the treatment of graphical elements based on their semantic importance and spatial context. High-priority elements (e.g., navigation indicators, alerts) maintain their original positioning and visibility, while lower-priority elements are selectively adjusted or occluded. This localized differentiation ensures that critical information remains readable and accessible, resolving the contradiction between displaying multiple elements and maintaining clarity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the rendering of graphical elements based on real-time factors including user gaze direction, head orientation, and spatial context. Elements are selectively obscured, displaced, or prioritized according to current user attention and environmental conditions. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain high information density while ensuring readability by adjusting content presentation based on instantaneous user needs.
2Device complexity
If graphical elements are placed without considering stereo perspective, then layout simplicity is maintained, but binocular consistency and perceived depth are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms that monitor binocular disparity and depth perception consistency. When graphical elements are positioned or rendered, the system evaluates whether they maintain consistent appearance across both eyes' perspectives. Elements that create stereo inconsistency are automatically adjusted or repositioned. This feedback loop ensures high stereo fidelity while managing complexity through automated consistency checking and adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system adds a depth dimension to the layout strategy by considering three-dimensional spatial relationships and stereoscopic perspective. Instead of treating graphical elements as two-dimensional overlays, the system positions and sizes elements based on their perceived depth and spatial anchor points. This dimensional approach ensures that elements maintain consistent appearance across both eyes, resolving the contradiction between simple layout and stereo fidelity.
3Quantity of substance
If graphical elements overlap in high-density regions, then content density is maximized, but legibility of operationally significant information is impaired
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary analysis of spatial relationships and potential overlaps before rendering graphical elements. By predicting where elements will overlap based on their anchor points and projected positions, the system preemptively adjusts element placement, size, or visibility. This preliminary action prevents harmful overlaps of critical information while allowing high content density in regions where overlaps are harmless or acceptable.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically changes rendering parameters such as element size, opacity, position, and priority based on spatial context and overlap detection. When high-density regions are detected, the system adjusts parameters to ensure operationally significant information remains legible. For example, critical elements may be enlarged, made more opaque, or repositioned while maintaining overall high content density through parameter optimization.
4Loss of information
If adaptive placement mechanisms are implemented, then visual clarity is improved, but computational overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial adaptation by focusing computational resources on specific tasks rather than comprehensive optimization. Instead of continuously optimizing all graphical elements, the system prioritizes adaptation for high-priority elements and regions. Adaptation is applied selectively based on user attention, element importance, and spatial context, reducing overall computational overhead while maintaining visual clarity where it matters most.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs self-service mechanisms where graphical elements automatically adjust their rendering based on detected conditions without requiring continuous external control. Elements self-optimize their visibility and positioning based on factors like gaze direction and spatial relationships, reducing the computational burden on the central processing system while maintaining high visual clarity through distributed adaptation.
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes obtaining information indicative of a relative location of each eye of at least one user with respect to an image plane of an augmented-reality display, generating or retrieving at least one image to be displayed based on the obtained information, identifying a plurality of graphical elements to be presented by the at least one image, detecting a potential overlap between at least two of the plurality of graphical elements from a perspective of a given eye of the at least one user, identifying distinct sets of allowed operations for respective graphical elements, determining a corresponding cost for each allowed operation, selecting at least one operation based on the allowed operations and their corresponding costs, applying the selected operation to at least one graphical element to modify the at least one image, and displaying the at least one image at the augmented-reality display.