AR Virtual Image Offloading for Low-Heat Head-Mounted Displays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic devices, such as head-mounted displays, consume significant power and generate heat when producing virtual images for augmented reality, leading to reduced battery life and potential harm to the user.
Innovation Solution
Distribute the processing of virtual image production between the electronic device and an external device based on communication states and battery conditions to reduce power consumption and heat generation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the electronic device produces virtual images locally to provide augmented reality service, then the service can be provided with low latency and high quality, but the power consumption increases and temperature rises
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the virtual image production process into two segments: image acquisition and processing are performed locally by the electronic device, while virtual image generation is offloaded to an external electronic device. This segmentation allows the system to maintain service quality through local processing while reducing power consumption by performing computationally intensive tasks externally.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an external electronic device as an intermediary to handle the virtual image generation task. This intermediary device receives image data from the electronic device, processes it to generate virtual images, and returns the results. This mediation resolves the contradiction by transferring the power-intensive computation to an external system while maintaining service functionality.
2Speed
If the electronic device produces virtual images locally, then processing speed is fast, but the temperature of the electronic device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the virtual image generation function from the electronic device and implements it in an external electronic device. By taking out the heat-generating computation to an external system, the electronic device maintains fast processing speeds for image acquisition and virtual image display while eliminating the temperature rise caused by local virtual image generation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the electronic device performs virtual image production operations, then augmented reality functionality is achieved, but the battery life is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an external electronic device as an intermediary to perform power-intensive virtual image generation. This allows the electronic device to maintain augmented reality functionality by leveraging external computing resources, thereby extending battery life by reducing the energy drain from local virtual image production operations.
4Ease of operation
If the electronic device generates virtual images, then user experience is enhanced, but power for wireless communication increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the processing tasks such that image acquisition and transmission are handled by the electronic device, while virtual image generation is performed by an external device. This segmentation optimizes the wireless communication power usage by transmitting only essential image data rather than complete virtual image datasets, thereby enhancing user experience while controlling communication energy consumption.
Data Source
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AI summary
An electronic device according to certain embodiments may include a communication circuitry; a camera; a display; a sensor; and at least one processor operably connected to the communication circuitry, the camera, the display, and the sensor, wherein the at least one processor is configured to: acquire an image through the camera; acquire, through the sensor, information on a position and a orientation of the electronic device; select, from among the electronic device and an external electronic device, a selected electronic device to produce a virtual image related to the image; when the selected electronic device is the external electronic device transmit, through the communication circuitry, the information on the position and the orientation of the electronic device and the image to the external electronic device; receive, through the communication circuitry, the virtual image; and display the virtual image through the display.