Conversation-Triggered Dimming and Undimming for Transparent HMDs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing head-mounted devices (HMDs) with optical passthrough displays struggle to adjust dimming levels appropriately in social situations, potentially causing rudeness or discomfort due to manual intervention being cumbersome.
Innovation Solution
The HMDs automatically adjust dimming levels based on factors such as engagement in conversation, ambient light, location, presence of strong light sources, and user preferences, using sensors and machine learning to prevent undesirable social interactions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the HMD automatically adjusts dimming levels based on ambient light and conversation detection, then social appropriateness and user experience are improved, but device complexity increases due to additional sensors and machine learning algorithms
Solution Approach 1:
The HMD system automatically detects conversation states and ambient light conditions, then self-adjusts the dimming level without requiring manual user input. The system serves itself by using onboard sensors and machine learning algorithms to make autonomous dimming decisions based on detected environmental and social context.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors ambient light levels and conversation detection data, processes this feedback through machine learning algorithms, and dynamically adjusts the dimming layer accordingly. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enables real-time adaptation to changing social and environmental conditions.
2Illumination intensity
If the HMD increases dimming value in regions surrounding virtual content during conversation, then visibility of virtual content is improved, but the natural appearance to conversation partners may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The HMD applies different dimming values to different regions of the display. Specifically, it increases the dimming value in regions surrounding and including the display location where virtual content is shown, while maintaining lower dimming values in other areas. This localized dimming approach ensures virtual content remains visible while minimizing the appearance of wearing dark sunglasses during conversation.
Solution Approach 2:
The display area is segmented into multiple regions with different dimming characteristics. The system identifies the display location and applies enhanced dimming specifically to regions surrounding this location, rather than uniformly dimming the entire display. This segmentation allows selective optimization of virtual content visibility without compromising social appearance.
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
The solution allows for seamless and socially appropriate dimming adjustments, enhancing user experience by avoiding rude appearances and improving visibility of virtual content.
Implementation Method 1
a display layer that emits light or reflects light projected from a light source according to display data and dimming layer that dims light passing through the optical passthrough display according to dimming data
Data Source
AI summary
In one implementation, a method of setting a dimming value of a display is performed by a device including an at least partially transparent display including a dimming layer, one or more processors, and non-transitory memory. The method includes detecting that a user is engaged in conversation with a conversation partner. The method includes determining a dimming amount based at least in part on detecting that the user is engaged in conversation with the conversation partner. The method includes setting a dimming value of at least a portion of the dimming layer to the dimming amount.