Head-worn Display Power Management via Ambient Light Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current head-worn computing systems face challenges in providing a lightweight, compact, and fully functional computer display that offers a high level of immersion with see-through views of environmental surroundings, while also supporting digital imagery and context-aware functionality, including effective power management and user interface control.
Innovation Solution
The development of a head-worn computing system that integrates high-resolution digital displays, optical modules with dark light traps to reduce stray light, and sensors for environmental awareness, along with contextual control mechanisms, such as gesture recognition and network connectivity, to provide an augmented reality experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the display brightness is increased to improve visibility of digital content, then the image quality is improved, but the power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The display brightness is dynamically adjusted based on ambient light conditions detected by the ambient light sensor. The processor continuously monitors ambient light levels and automatically modifies the backlight intensity to maintain optimal visibility while minimizing power consumption. This dynamic adaptation allows the display to provide high brightness in well-lit environments and reduce brightness in darker conditions, resolving the contradiction between visibility and power usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the ambient light sensor continuously monitors environmental lighting conditions and provides this information to the processor. The processor then adjusts the display brightness accordingly, creating a closed-loop control system. This feedback-driven approach ensures the display maintains appropriate brightness levels relative to ambient conditions, optimizing both image quality and power efficiency simultaneously.
2Extent of automation
If the processor performance is increased to provide better contextual awareness and digital processing, then the computational capability is improved, but the weight of the device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The processing architecture is segmented into two distinct components: a lightweight microcontroller embedded in the display device for immediate sensor data processing and basic control functions, and a more powerful processor in a separate computing device for complex contextual awareness algorithms and digital content generation. This segmentation allows the head-worn device to maintain low weight while still achieving high computational capability through the distributed processing architecture, with the heavier processing components located remotely.
3Manufacturing precision
If the display resolution is increased to provide higher quality digital imagery, then the image quality is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
An optical intermediary system comprising waveguides and optical elements is introduced between the high-resolution display panel and the user's eye. This optical system projects the high-resolution image from a compact display onto a larger virtual surface, achieving high effective resolution without requiring a proportionally large and complex display assembly. The optical intermediary enables high-quality digital imagery while maintaining a compact, manageable device structure.
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 a lightweight and compact design with high contrast and immersion, enabling users to see digital content overlaid on real-world environments while efficiently managing power and adapting to various contexts and user inputs.
Implementation Method 1
an optical module with dark light trap to reduce stray light
Data Source
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AI summary
Aspects of the present invention relate to a method for reducing power usage in a head-mounted display imaging system that includes sensors and an integrated processor comprising inputting mode settings for the head-mounted display, detecting conditions associated with a user of the head-mounted display and an environment proximate the user with the sensors in the head-mounted display, analyzing the detected conditions with the processor in the head-mounted display to identify activities associated with the conditions and the environment, and modifying a presentation of an image displayed in the head-mounted display, wherein the modified presentation is based on the mode settings and the identified activities.