Foveated Wearable Display Bit Depth Layout for Lower Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wearable devices with limited battery capacity face challenges in providing high-resolution images across both foveal and peripheral vision areas without excessive power consumption.
Innovation Solution
A wearable device display system uses foveated rendering with different bit depths for light emission elements, employing higher bit depth for foveal vision and lower bit depth for peripheral vision, utilizing pulse width modulation (PWM) to enhance image quality and reduce power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If high bit depth is used for all light emission elements to provide high-resolution images, then image quality is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different bit depths to different spatial regions of the display corresponding to foveal and peripheral vision areas. The foveal region uses higher bit depth (e.g., 10-bit) for superior image quality, while the peripheral region uses lower bit depth (e.g., 8-bit) to reduce power consumption. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by optimizing image quality only where the human eye is most sensitive.
Solution Approach 2:
The display area is segmented into multiple regions with different bit depth characteristics. The image data is divided into first bit sequences for foveal vision and second bit sequences for peripheral vision. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each region's bit depth, achieving overall power efficiency while maintaining critical image quality in the foveal region.
2Measurement precision
If high-resolution images are displayed across the entire display area, then image quality is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Different resolution qualities are applied to different spatial regions. The foveal region receives high-resolution data with greater bit depth, while the peripheral region receives lower-resolution data with reduced bit depth. This local quality differentiation maintains perceived image quality while significantly reducing overall power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of applying full high-resolution processing to the entire display area, the system applies high-resolution processing only partially to the foveal region where it is most needed. The peripheral region receives reduced processing, which is sufficient for that area's visual requirements, thereby avoiding excessive power consumption.
3Ease of manufacture
If uniform bit depth is used for all visual areas, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality variation in bit depth assignment across different display regions. While this increases processing complexity, it dramatically reduces power consumption by using lower bit depth (e.g., 8-bit) for peripheral regions rather than uniformly applying high bit depth (e.g., 10-bit) everywhere. The manufacturing complexity increase is offset by the significant power savings.
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 system achieves improved image quality in focused areas while optimizing power usage by selectively adjusting bit depth for different visual zones, enhancing visibility and reducing power demands.
Implementation Method 1
The display may be configured to, using each of first bit sequences, emit, in accordance with a pulse width modulation (PWM) scheme, light via each of first light emission elements in the emission layer
Data Source
AI summary
A wearable device may include a display including a driving layer formed on a silicon substrate and a light-emitting layer on the driving layer. The wearable device may comprise at least one processor, comprising processing circuitry. The display may be configured to receive information about an image from the processor through the driving layer. The display may be configured to use each of first bit sequences to cause each of first light-emitting elements in the light-emitting layer to emit light according to a pulse width modulation (PWM) technique, wherein the first light-emitting elements ensure displaying of a first portion of the image to be recognized by foveal vision of a user wearing the wearable device. The display may be configured to use each of second bit sequences to cause each of second light-emitting elements in the light-emitting layer to emit light according to the PWM technique, wherein the second light-emitting elements ensure displaying of a second portion of the image to be recognized by peripheral vision of the user.