HMD Field-of-View Adjustment for Occlusion-Free GUI Visibility

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional head-mounted devices (HMDs) have fixed field of view (FOV) sizes and static graphical user interface (GUI) arrangements that do not adjust based on the display's position relative to the user's eyes, leading to occlusion and unnecessary power consumption when the display is adjusted.

Innovation Solution

The HMD includes a display position sensor and logic subsystem that dynamically adjust the FOV and GUI elements based on the display's position relative to the user's eyes, deactivating pixels outside the field of vision to conserve power and ensure visibility of critical information.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the display position is adjusted (eye relief adjustment), then the user can wear the device over protective eyewear or maximize visual field, but the GUI elements become occluded or invisible to the user

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay position adjustmentVSAvoidGUI visibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic FOV adjustment where the field of view automatically changes based on the display's position relative to the user's eyes. When the display is moved closer to the eyes (reducing eye relief), the FOV is reduced to prevent occlusion of GUI elements. When the display is moved farther away, the FOV is expanded to maintain visibility. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between display position flexibility and GUI visibility reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses a display position sensor to continuously monitor the display's position relative to the user's eyes and feeds this information back to the logic subsystem. The logic subsystem then adjusts the FOV based on this feedback, ensuring that GUI elements remain visible within the user's field of vision regardless of display position adjustments. This closed-loop feedback mechanism maintains reliability while enabling adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Device complexity

If the FOV is fixed, then the device structure is simple, but power is wasted illuminating pixels outside the user's field of vision when the display is adjusted

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveFOV control mechanismVSAvoidpixel illumination power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic FOV adjustment where the field of view automatically changes based on the display's position relative to the user's eyes. When the display is moved closer to the eyes (reducing eye relief), the FOV is reduced to prevent occlusion of GUI elements. When the display is moved farther away, the FOV is expanded to maintain visibility. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between display position flexibility and GUI visibility reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically changes the FOV parameter based on the display position sensor feedback. By adjusting the FOV size and position parameters in response to display movement, the system illuminates only the necessary pixels that will be visible to the user, eliminating wasted energy on pixels that would be occluded or outside the user's field of vision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If the GUI arrangement is static, then the system is simple to implement, but the GUI elements cannot be viewed when the display is positioned for binoculars or direct object inspection

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveGUI adjustment mechanismVSAvoidGUI visibility in various display positions

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic FOV adjustment where the field of view automatically changes based on the display's position relative to the user's eyes. When the display is moved closer to the eyes (reducing eye relief), the FOV is reduced to prevent occlusion of GUI elements. When the display is moved farther away, the FOV is expanded to maintain visibility. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between display position flexibility and GUI visibility reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically changes the FOV parameter based on the display position sensor feedback. By adjusting the FOV size and position parameters in response to display movement, the system illuminates only the necessary pixels that will be visible to the user, eliminating wasted energy on pixels that would be occluded or outside the user's field of vision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS12535885B2Field-of-view adjustment based on display position

Publication Date: 2026.01.27 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

A head-mounted device includes a display, a display position sensor, a logic subsystem, and a storage subsystem. The display is configured to display a graphical user interface including one or more user interface elements in a field of view of the display. The display position sensor is configured to output a position signal indicating a position of the display relative to eyes of a user wearing the head-mounted device. The storage subsystem holds instructions executable by the logic subsystem to receive the position signal from the display position sensor and generate control signals to adjust at least one of a position of the one or more user interface elements in the field of view and a size of the field of view of the display based at least on the position of the display indicated by the position signal.