Head Mounted Display Eye Orientation Detection

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing head-mounted displays often inadvertently obscure the user's view with displayed information, leading to unintentional inputs and distractions, especially in situations requiring attention to the surroundings.

Innovation Solution

A system that uses sensors to detect eye and head orientations, precluding display of information on a head-mounted display unless a clear intent to view it is detected, such as by exceeding specific thresholds in eye or head movement, thereby minimizing accidental activation and maintaining a clear field of view.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If information is continuously displayed on the head-mounted display, then the user can access information, but the user's view is obscured and unintentional inputs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation accessibilityVSAvoidview obstruction and distractions
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The display system dynamically adjusts its state based on detected eye orientation. The display transitions between active and inactive states depending on whether the user's eyes are oriented toward or away from the display, making the system adaptive to user behavior rather than static

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses eye orientation detection to provide feedback about user attention state, which then controls display activation. The display responds to detected eye movements by activating or deactivating, creating a closed-loop control system that reduces unintentional inputs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If the display activates on minor head movements, then the display is easy to activate, but accidental activation increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay activationVSAvoidintentional input detection
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the activation parameter from simple head movement detection to eye orientation detection. By monitoring the orientation of the user's eyes relative to the display position, the system establishes a more reliable threshold for intentional activation that reduces accidental triggers

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces mechanical head movement triggers with optical eye orientation detection. Using eye tracking technology instead of simple motion sensors allows for more precise detection of intentional display activation intent

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Loss of information

If the display remains active to provide information, then information is always accessible, but user safety and attention to surroundings decrease

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation accessibilityVSAvoidsafety risks and distractions
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The display operates in periodic cycles of activation and deactivation based on detected eye orientation. Rather than continuous operation, the display activates periodically when eye orientation indicates user attention and deactivates when eyes are directed away, reducing distractions while maintaining accessibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP3078019B1Display of information on a head mounted display
Publication Date: 2020.06.10 NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
  • EP3078019B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3078019B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3D
  • EP3078019B1 patent drawingFigure 4A~4E

AI summary

A method comprising precluding display of information on a head mounted display worn by a user, receiving information indicative of an eye orientation of the user, receiving information indicative of a head orientation of the user, determining that a difference between the eye orientation and a centered eye orientation exceeds a threshold eye orientation difference, determining that a difference between the head orientation and an anatomical position head orientation exceeds a threshold head orientation difference, and causing display of a representation of information on the head mounted display based, at least in part, on the determination that the eye orientation exceeds the threshold eye orientation difference from the centered eye orientation and the determination that the head orientation exceeds the threshold head orientation difference from the anatomical position head orientation is disclosed.