Stereo Image Inpainting for HMD Cover Glass Reflections
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image artifact mitigation techniques for head-mounted devices (HMDs) are inadequate in terms of simplicity, processing speed, and accuracy when dealing with cover glass-induced reflections and artifacts caused by outward-facing cameras.
Innovation Solution
A stereo in-painting process is used to mitigate reflections and artifacts by utilizing pixels from a region of a right eye image to cross-fill corresponding regions in a left eye image, with a reflection model generated based on the geometry and curvature of the cover glass and camera attributes, and light source locations detected to predict reflection locations during HMD runtime.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If existing image artifact mitigation techniques are used, then processing can be performed, but the simplicity, processing speed, and accuracy are inadequate
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-computes a reflection map during a first phase prior to HMD runtime based on the geometry and curvature of the cover glass and camera positions. This preliminary action stores reflection characteristics in advance, allowing the second phase during runtime to simply look up and apply pre-determined reflection locations without complex real-time calculations, thereby improving accuracy while maintaining simplicity and speed
Solution Approach 2:
The artifact mitigation process is divided into two distinct phases: (1) a pre-processing phase that generates the reflection map offline, and (2) a runtime phase that applies the map in real-time. This segmentation allows computationally intensive operations to be performed when processing speed is not critical, while runtime operations focus only on lightweight lookups and pixel replacement, resolving the contradiction between accuracy and processing efficiency
2Measurement precision
If real-time reflection mitigation is implemented, then image quality improves, but processing speed may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The reflection map is pre-computed during an offline phase based on cover glass geometry, curvature, and camera extrinsic/intrinsic attributes. This preliminary computation stores all necessary reflection information in advance, transforming a potentially slow real-time calculation into a fast lookup operation during HMD runtime, thus maintaining both high image quality and real-time processing speed
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a reflective copy of the scene by mapping light source locations through the pre-computed reflection model to predict reflection locations. Instead of calculating reflections in real-time, the system copies and repositions pixel data from the original image to the predicted reflection locations using the stored reflection map, significantly accelerating processing while preserving image quality
3Measurement precision
If complex reflection modeling is used, then accuracy of reflection prediction improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Complex reflection modeling based on cover glass geometry, curvature, and camera attributes is performed once during an offline phase to generate the reflection map. This preliminary action transfers the computational burden from runtime to setup time, allowing the runtime system to use simple lookup operations while maintaining high reflection prediction accuracy through the pre-computed model
Solution Approach 2:
The system separates the complex reflection modeling task into an offline preparation phase where the reflection map is generated using detailed geometric and optical parameters, and a runtime phase where only simple map lookup and pixel copying are required. This segmentation enables accurate reflection prediction without increasing runtime device complexity
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
Effectively reduces cover glass-induced reflections and artifacts in real-time or spatial capture video by using a stereo in-painting process, enhancing image quality and accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
obtain a reflection model usable to predict image reflection locations based on image light source locations
Data Source
AI summary
Various implementations include devices, systems, and methods that reduce HMD cover glass-induced artifacts. For example, a process may obtain a reflection model for predicting image reflection locations based on an image light source location for images captured by light sources. The reflection model is generated based on camera positioning relative to the regions of the transparent structure and curvature of the regions of the transparent structure. The process identifies a light source region in a first image captured by a first camera of the HMD and predicts a reflection region in the first image based on the reflection model and the light source region. Replacement content for the first image is generated based on content from a second image captured by a second camera of the HMD and the first and second images are displayed such that the first image is provided with the replacement content replacing the reflection region.