Head-Mounted Environment Mapping Using Natural Head Orientation

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing head-mounted devices face challenges with bulky, expensive sensors that consume high energy and have large volumes, weights, and calculation requirements, limiting their integration and performance.

Innovation Solution

A method and system using a head orientation sensor and environment data sensor to measure environment parameters, combined with a controller to control optical functions based on an environment map, allowing for efficient mapping and control of head-mounted devices with reduced sensor complexity and energy consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If 360-degree environment sensors are used to capture complete environmental data, then measurement completeness is improved, but device weight and power consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironment measurement completenessVSAvoidhead mounted device weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the necessary environmental parameters for the specific application (e.g., forward direction sensors for augmented navigation) rather than implementing full 360-degree sensing. This selective extraction reduces sensor count, device weight, and power consumption while maintaining measurement completeness for the required field of view.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The environment sensors are integrated into the head-mounted device structure to serve multiple functions: environmental mapping, navigation assistance, and spatial awareness. This multi-functionality allows a single sensor system to provide comprehensive environmental data without requiring separate dedicated sensors, thereby reducing overall device weight.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If 360-degree environment sensors are used to capture complete environmental data, then measurement completeness is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironment measurement completenessVSAvoiddevice power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the necessary environmental parameters for the specific application (e.g., forward direction sensors for augmented navigation) rather than implementing full 360-degree sensing. This selective extraction reduces sensor count, device weight, and power consumption while maintaining measurement completeness for the required field of view.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The environment mapping is performed periodically or on-demand rather than continuously. The system activates sensors only when needed (e.g., when the user enters a new environment or requests navigation assistance), reducing power consumption while maintaining measurement completeness when required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Reliability

If environment mapping is performed continuously, then environmental awareness is improved, but processing time and energy consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironmental awareness accuracyVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The environment mapping is performed periodically or on-demand rather than continuously. The system activates sensors only when needed (e.g., when the user enters a new environment or requests navigation assistance), reducing power consumption while maintaining measurement completeness when required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary environment mapping during initial device setup or when the user first enters a location, storing this data for later recall. This preliminary action reduces the need for continuous mapping, decreasing processing time and energy consumption while maintaining environmental awareness accuracy through stored data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3650811B1Method and system for determining an environment map of a wearer of an active head mounted device

Publication Date: 2026.05.20 ESSILOR INTERNATIONAL(COMPAGNIE GENERALE D OPTIQUE)

Figure 1~2

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for determining an environment map of at least one environment parameter relating to the environment of a wearer of an active head mounted device, the active head mounted device comprising at least a head orientation sensor and an environment data sensor configured to measure environment data indicative to the at least one environment parameter in at least one direction, the method comprising at least: - a head orientation measurement step, during which a natural orientation of the head of the wearer is measured by the head orientation sensor; - an environment data measurement step, during which environment data are measured by the data environment sensor for the measured orientation of the head of the wearer; - repeating the head orientation measurement step and the environment data measurement step for a plurality of different natural orientations of the head of the wearer, and - an environment map determining step, during which the environment map is determined based on the measured environment data and the measured orientation of the head of the wearer for each different natural orientation of the head of the wearer.