Augmented Reality Prism Display for Real-World Awareness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing virtual reality devices often fail to integrate virtual displays with real-life surroundings safely and do not adjust presentations based on the user's environment, posing safety risks and limiting interaction with real-life items.
Innovation Solution
An augmented reality device that includes a transparent outer housing, a camera, and a display arrangement, allowing users to see through it while providing virtual displays integrated with real-life environments, with adjustable settings based on the user's surroundings, using a processor for image processing and a prism component to project virtual images without obstructing real views.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If virtual reality devices provide immersive virtual environments, then user engagement and interaction with virtual content is improved, but user safety deteriorates due to loss of awareness of real-life surroundings
Solution Approach 1:
The visual field is segmented into virtual content display areas and real-world view areas. The display arrangement provides virtual images at specific locations while the transparent housing allows simultaneous viewing of real-world surroundings, dividing the user's visual attention between virtual and real environments to maintain safety awareness.
Solution Approach 2:
The transparent outer housing acts as an intermediary element that allows light from the real world to pass through while also accommodating virtual display components. This intermediary structure enables users to perceive both virtual content and real surroundings simultaneously, reducing the harmful effect of complete visual isolation.
2Illumination intensity
If virtual reality devices block real-world views, then virtual display quality is improved, but user ability to perceive real environment deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system adds a spatial dimension to the display by projecting virtual images at specific angles and locations relative to the user's line of sight. The display arrangement positions virtual content in a dimensional space that does not completely obstruct the direct view of real-world objects, allowing multi-dimensional visual information to coexist.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the user's visual field are assigned different qualities - certain areas receive enhanced virtual display content while other areas maintain transparency for real-world viewing. The display arrangement is positioned and angled to provide localized virtual information without uniformly obscuring the entire field of view.
3Device complexity
If existing VR devices lack integration between virtual and real items, then virtual display simplicity is maintained, but functional versatility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The camera captures images of the real-world environment and feeds this visual information back to the display arrangement. The processor uses this feedback to dynamically adjust and position virtual images relative to real-world objects, creating an integrated experience where virtual and real elements are coordinated based on real-time environmental data.
Solution Approach 2:
The system integrates multiple functions into a single device - the transparent housing serves both as a structural enclosure and as a window to the real world, the camera serves both as an imaging device and as an environmental sensor, and the display arrangement serves both as a virtual content delivery system and as an information overlay. This multi-functionality increases versatility without proportionally increasing complexity.
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 user experience by safely integrating virtual displays with real-life surroundings, enabling customized adjustments and maintaining awareness of the real environment, thus reducing safety hazards and improving interaction.
Implementation Method 1
a camera (120) disposed within the outer housing (130) and configured to capture images through the outer housing front (132)
Implementation Method 2
a display arrangement (146) disposed within the outer housing (130) and configured to provide a virtual display to the user
Implementation Method 3
The display arrangement can include an image emitting component, a prism component, a projecting optic component, and a combining optic component
Data Source
AI summary
Computer-implemented methods of operating an augmented reality device can involve capturing camera images, processing the camera images, and displaying virtual display images. The camera images can be captured automatically using a camera disposed within an augmented reality device worn by a user. The camera images can be processed automatically using a processor located within the augmented reality device. The virtual display images can be displayed automatically to the user within the augmented reality device while the user is looking through the augmented reality device and simultaneously viewing real objects through the augmented reality device. The virtual display images can be based on the processed camera images. Additional steps can include accepting a first user input, storing camera image(s) on a memory located within the augmented reality device based on the first input, accepting a second user input, and displaying stored image(s) to the user based on the second input.