Dynamic Display Brightness and Resolution Control for VR Headsets

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Solution Overview

Problem

Virtual and augmented reality head-mounted display (HMD) systems face high power consumption due to high display resolution and rendering refresh rates, leading to reduced battery life and increased size and weight, especially in mobile devices, as they render multiple frames per blink that are not visible to the user.

Innovation Solution

A computing system with a parallel processing unit and graphics processing pipeline that dynamically controls the display by measuring ocular characteristics, such as pupil dilation and blinking, to adjust brightness and rendering rate, thereby optimizing power usage and performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If high display resolution and high rendering refresh rates are used, then visual quality is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay resolutionVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts display resolution and rendering refresh rates based on real-time detection of eye presence and blinking states. The resolution is varied between different levels (e.g., full resolution when eye is open, reduced resolution during blinking) and the refresh rate is adjusted to match the detected eye activity, optimizing power consumption while maintaining visual quality when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Speed

If high rendering refresh rate is used, then frame smoothness is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverendering refresh rateVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses periodic eye tracking detection to monitor blinking patterns and synchronizes the rendering refresh rate with the detected eye blink cycles. During blinking periods, the refresh rate is reduced or suspended, and between blinks, the refresh rate is maintained at higher levels, creating a periodic adjustment pattern that reduces overall power consumption while maintaining perceived smoothness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a feedback loop where eye presence and blinking detection results are continuously fed back to adjust the rendering refresh rate. The detected eye state serves as feedback signal that triggers corresponding changes in rendering performance, creating a closed-loop control system that optimizes power consumption based on actual viewing conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Quantity of substance

If multiple frames per blink are rendered, then frame coverage is improved, but unnecessary power is consumed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of frames renderedVSAvoidwasted power

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts and removes the unnecessary portion of frame rendering that occurs during blinking periods. By detecting eye closure, the system selectively eliminates frame rendering during these periods while maintaining rendering during eye-open periods, thereby removing the wasteful consumption of power on frames that will not be perceived by the user.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS11514721B2Dynamic brightness and resolution control in virtual environments

Publication Date: 2022.11.29 INTEL CORP

AI summary

Systems, apparatuses, and methods may provide for technology to dynamically control a display in response to ocular characteristic measurements of at least one eye of a user.