Dynamic Sensor Array for Augmented Reality Headsets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Augmented reality (AR) systems using head-mounted devices (HMDs) face operational failures due to sensor malfunctions, which can render the devices inoperable, and existing solutions do not effectively manage dynamic sensor arrays to maintain seamless AR experiences.
Innovation Solution
A dynamic sensor array system that identifies and utilizes available and operational sensors from nearby HMDs and stationary sensors within a predefined area to form a network, allowing the HMD with a defective sensor to access data from substitute, similar, or complementary sensors to generate AR content, ensuring continuous functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sensors in head-mounted devices are used for AR content generation, then AR functionality is enabled, but sensor failure renders the device inoperable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines sensors from multiple HMDs and stationary sensors into a unified dynamic sensor array. When one sensor fails, the system merges remaining functional sensors to maintain AR operations, transforming individual device limitations into collective system resilience.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor array is configured dynamically rather than statically. The system continuously updates sensor array composition based on operational status, adding or removing sensors as they become available or fail, enabling adaptability to changing conditions while maintaining reliability.
2Device complexity
If a fixed sensor array is used in each HMD, then device simplicity is maintained, but sensor failure causes complete device malfunction
Solution Approach 1:
Each sensor in the network serves multiple functions: it contributes to its native HMD's AR capabilities and simultaneously serves as a backup resource for other HMDs in the network. This multi-functionality ensures that sensor failure in one device does not completely disrupt AR operations across the system.
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic sensor array management system acts as an intermediary layer between individual HMD sensors and the AR content generation process. It monitors sensor status, manages array composition, and ensures continuous data flow to AR applications even when individual sensors fail.
3Reliability
If sensors from multiple HMDs are combined into a dynamic array, then redundancy against sensor failure is achieved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The dynamic sensor array system performs self-monitoring and self-configuration. Sensors automatically report their operational status, and the management system autonomously updates the array composition without requiring manual intervention, reducing the practical complexity burden on users despite increased system sophistication.
4Productivity
If substitute sensors from other devices are used, then AR content generation continues despite sensor failure, but data access complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The dynamic sensor array management system serves as an intermediary data access layer that abstracts the complexity of accessing sensors from multiple sources. Applications interact with a unified sensor array interface rather than directly managing individual sensor connections, simplifying data access despite the distributed architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for generating a dynamic sensor array for an augmented reality system is described. A head mounted device includes one or more sensors, an augmented reality (AR) application, and a sensor array module. The sensor array module identifies available sensors from other head mounted devices that are geographically located within a predefined area. A dynamic sensor array is formed based on the available sensors and the one or more sensors. The dynamic sensor array is updated based on an operational status of the available sensors and the one or more sensors. The AR application generates AR content based on data from the dynamic sensor array. A display of the head mounted device displays the AR content.