HMD Display Tint Control for Seamless Physical Interaction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users of head-mounted displays (HMDs) often need to manually adjust the tint or remove the device to interact with the physical environment, disrupting the seamless experience between virtual and physical interactions.

Innovation Solution

An electronic device automatically adjusts the tinting level and presentation of content based on predefined criteria, such as detecting user interaction with the physical environment, allowing seamless transitions without manual input.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If users manually adjust the tint or remove the HMD to interact with the physical environment, then the user can see physical objects, but the user experience is disrupted and requires manual intervention

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanual tint adjustmentVSAvoidautomatic tint adjustment
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSExtent of automation

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically detects when the user needs to interact with the physical environment and adjusts the tint level without requiring manual user input. The processor monitors user interactions and autonomously controls the display tint, eliminating the need for users to manually adjust the tint or remove the HMD.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from sensors detecting user interactions with physical objects to automatically adjust the display tint. When the processor detects that the user is interacting with physical environment objects, it receives feedback and automatically reduces the tint level to allow the user to see physical objects clearly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If the HMD is removed to interact with the physical environment, then the user can see physical objects without obstruction, but the user must manually remove and reattach the device

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvephysical environment interactionVSAvoidmanual removal and reattachment
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The HMD system serves itself by automatically adjusting the tint level based on detected user interactions. The processor monitors whether the user is interacting with virtual or physical objects and autonomously adjusts the display characteristics, eliminating the need for users to manually remove or reattach the device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Illumination intensity

If the tint level is reduced to see physical objects, then the user can view the physical environment, but the virtual content visibility may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvephysical environment visibilityVSAvoidvirtual content information
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the tint level based on real-time detection of user interactions. When the processor detects that the user is interacting with physical environment objects, it automatically reduces the tint level to improve physical environment visibility. When the user returns to virtual content, the tint level can be adjusted back to optimize virtual content visibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary detection of user interactions before adjusting the tint level. The processor monitors user behavior and predicts when the user needs to switch between virtual and physical environment viewing, proactively adjusting the tint level in advance to ensure smooth transitions and maintain optimal visibility for the current viewing mode.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4600803A1Changing tinting levels of one or more displays
Publication Date: 2025.08.13 APPLE INC
  • EP4600803A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4600803A1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP4600803A1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

This relates generally to systems and methods for changing tinting levels of one or more displays, and more particularly to changing tinting levels of one or more displays of an electronic device based on the satisfaction of one or more criteria. In some examples, an electronic device (e.g., an HMD) presents content in a first manner including a first tint. In some examples, in response to determining that one or more criteria are satisfied, the electronic device presents the content in a second manner and changes the tinting level from the first tinting level to the second tinting level. Changing the tinting level and the presentation of the content allows a user to seamlessly see and/or focus on different objects in the physical environment without having to manually change the tint of the display and/or without having to manually change the presentation of the content presented on the display.