HMD Optical Distortion Profiling via Eye-Mimicking Camera
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for testing optical elements in head-mounted displays (HMDs) fail to provide an objective measure of distortion that accounts for human eye viewing conditions, leading to impaired user experience due to uncharacterized optical distortions.
Innovation Solution
An optical profiling system with a camera assembly that mimics human eye movement and optical qualities to capture images of test patterns presented by the HMD, allowing for distortion measurement and reporting, and potentially pre-distorting images to offset optical distortions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional testing methods are used to test optical elements, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but measurement precision of distortion is insufficient and does not account for human eye viewing conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a camera assembly that replicates the optical properties and movement characteristics of the human eye to capture images through the HMD optical elements. By creating a physical copy of the eye's viewing geometry and motion patterns, the system achieves accurate distortion measurement without requiring complex human subject testing, thus improving measurement precision while controlling system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The camera assembly serves as an intermediary between the optical elements and the measurement system. It translates optical distortions into captured images that can be quantitatively analyzed, bridging the gap between physical optical properties and measurable data while maintaining a manageable system architecture
2Reliability
If optical elements are tested without mimicking human eye conditions, then testing time is reduced, but the reliability of distortion characterization is impaired
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-configures the camera assembly with eye-equivalent optical properties and movement parameters before testing begins. By establishing the correct viewing geometry and motion patterns in advance, the system ensures reliable distortion characterization without requiring time-consuming adjustments during actual measurement
Solution Approach 2:
The camera assembly dynamically replicates human eye movements and viewing angle changes during testing. This dynamic simulation allows the system to capture distortion characteristics across multiple viewing conditions efficiently, improving reliability without proportionally increasing testing time
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
Provides an objective measure of optical element distortion in HMDs, ensuring they meet design tolerances and improving user experience by characterizing and correcting distortions.
Implementation Method 1
The optical assembly directs light emitted from the HMD under test to the sensor, and the sensor captures the emitted light to generate images
Implementation Method 2
The optical assembly directs light emitted from the HMD under test to the sensor
Data Source
AI summary
An optical profiling system characterizes distortion of a head-mounted display (HMD) under test. The optical profiling system includes a camera assembly and a controller. The controller provides presenting instructions that cause the HMD under test to present test patterns and also provides imaging instructions that cause the camera assembly to capture images of the test patterns presented by the HMD under test. The camera assembly includes one or more characterization cameras. A characterization camera is configured to mimic movement of a human eye and is positioned in an eye box region of the HMD under test. Using the images captured by the camera assembly, the controller measures distortion of the HMD under test. The controller may generate a report charactering the HMD under test based on the measured distortion.