Conformal HMD Display Alignment Using Inertial Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing head-worn displays require cumbersome and expensive manual calibration to align with changing environments and platforms, leading to misalignments that affect the accuracy of mixed reality displays.
Innovation Solution
A conformal display system that uses inertial sensors and a tracking system to continuously calculate and adjust the relative orientation between the display and the platform, compensating for misalignments in real-time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual calibration is used to align display with platform coordinates, then alignment accuracy can be achieved, but the calibration process becomes time-consuming and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical calibration procedures with an automated computational system. Inertial sensors mounted on both the display and platform continuously measure their respective orientations and coordinates, allowing the system to automatically calculate and apply transformation matrices that align display coordinates with platform coordinates, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual calibration while maintaining high alignment accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-calibration by using its own inertial sensors to continuously monitor and determine the relative orientations and coordinates of the display and platform. The processor automatically computes the necessary transformation parameters and adjusts the display output accordingly, enabling the system to maintain accurate alignment without external intervention or repeated manual calibration
2Reliability
If manual calibration is performed frequently to account for changing environments and users, then alignment accuracy is maintained, but operational efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The inertial sensors continuously measure the orientations and positions of both the display and platform in real-time, and the processor continuously updates the coordinate transformation parameters. This continuous automatic adjustment ensures that alignment accuracy is maintained throughout changing operational conditions, environmental factors, and different users without requiring repeated manual calibration interruptions
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from inertial sensors to continuously monitor changes in display and platform orientations. The processor receives this feedback, recalculates the transformation matrices based on current conditions, and automatically adjusts the display output to maintain accurate alignment, ensuring reliability without reducing operational efficiency
3Extent of automation
If inertial sensors and continuous tracking are implemented, then automatic real-time alignment is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The inertial sensors serve multiple functions: they track the orientation of the display, monitor the position of the platform, and provide data for calculating coordinate transformations. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each measurement task, achieving high automation while managing system complexity through efficient component utilization
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
Facilitates real-time automatic alignment, enhancing the accuracy and reducing the need for lengthy manual calibration processes.
Implementation Method 1
at least one first inertial sensor attached to the support-structure and configured to acquire support-structure inertial readings information indicative of the support-structure movements over time
Data Source
AI summary
A transfer-alignment system for a Head-Mounted Display (HMD), and a display coupled to the HMD, wherein the display is adjustable by a user along the at least one degree of freedom; and a processor configured to: obtain the HMD's inertial readings information, the display's inertial readings information and the information indicating the HMD's position and/or orientation with respect to the frame of reference; continuously analyze movement information of the HMD and movement information of the display to determine relative orientation between the HMD and the display; and cause the display-processor to adjust the images to conform with respect to the frame of reference based on the information indicating the position and/or orientation and the relative movements of the HMD, wherein the frame of reference is selected from the group consisting of a platform coordinates, a fixed coordinate system established in space, an earth coordinate system, and any combination thereof.