HMD Controller Brightness Switching for Low-Power State Alerts

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Solution Overview

Problem

Controllers for head-mounted displays (HMDs) waste power by adjusting brightness based on ambient light when the user is wearing the HMD, leading to unnecessary power consumption.

Innovation Solution

An information processing device connected to or integrated with an HMD that controls the brightness of its controller's LED display unit based on the user's interaction with the HMD, using a combination of display unit notifications and controller LED brightness adjustments to reduce power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If the controller adjusts LED brightness based on ambient light detection, then the notification visibility is improved, but power consumption increases unnecessarily when the user is wearing the HMD

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveLED brightnessVSAvoidcontroller power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically switches between two notification modes: LED-based notifications when the controller is outside the HMD, and display unit notifications when the controller is inside the HMD. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by adjusting the notification method based on the controller's location relative to the HMD, eliminating unnecessary LED power consumption while maintaining notification visibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The HMD display unit acts as an intermediary notification device when the controller is worn inside the HMD. Instead of the controller's LED directly notifying the user, the HMD display unit mediates the notification process, allowing the controller to remain in a low-power state while still providing visual feedback to the user through the HMD's display.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the controller uses LED to notify user of controller state, then notification reliability is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenotification reliabilityVSAvoidcontroller power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The notification system dynamically selects between LED and display unit based on controller location. When inside the HMD, the display unit handles notifications; when outside, the LED is activated. This dynamic switching maintains notification reliability for both scenarios while optimizing power consumption by using the appropriate notification channel for each context.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The notification system achieves multi-functionality by utilizing both the controller's LED and the HMD's display unit as notification devices. This universal approach ensures that notifications are reliably delivered regardless of whether the controller is worn inside or outside the HMD, while allowing the system to select the most energy-efficient notification method for each situation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Illumination intensity

If the controller LED remains bright for user notification, then notification visibility is improved, but unnecessary power is consumed when HMD provides alternative notification

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenotification visibilityVSAvoidwasteful power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts LED brightness based on whether the controller is detected inside the HMD. When inside, LED brightness is reduced or turned off since the HMD display provides notifications. When outside, LED brightness is increased for direct user visibility. This dynamic adjustment eliminates wasteful power consumption while maintaining notification visibility where needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The HMD display unit serves as an intermediary notification device that replaces the need for bright controller LED illumination when the controller is worn inside the HMD. This intermediary approach maintains notification visibility for the user while allowing the controller LED to remain in a low-power state, eliminating unnecessary energy loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20250348161A1Information processing device and control method for information processing device

Publication Date: 2025.11.13 CANON KK

AI summary

An information processing device connected to or integrated with a head-mounted display device, includes: a processor; and a memory storing a program which, when executed by the processor, causes the information processing device to: execute notification processing of notifying a user of a state of a controller for controlling the head-mounted display device by the controller or notifying the user of the state of the controller by the head-mounted display device; and execute control processing of controlling a display of the controller to have first brightness when the controller notifies the state of the controller, and of controlling the display of the controller to have second brightness darker than the first brightness when the head-mounted display device notifies the state of the controller.