HMD Frame Rate Adjustment Based on Visual Flicker Threshold

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing near-eye display systems face challenges in maintaining a flicker-free experience while optimizing power consumption, as high frame rates to avoid flicker lead to increased power consumption and potential user discomfort.

Innovation Solution

The system dynamically adjusts the frame rate based on detected changes in stimulus attributes such as illuminance, size, location, spatial frequency, and color distribution, reducing the frame rate when these attributes modify the critical flicker fusion threshold to conserve power and maintain user comfort.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If high frame rate is used to avoid flicker, then flicker-free experience is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflicker-free experienceVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the frame rate based on detected changes in stimulus attributes. When the CFF threshold changes due to variations in stimulus properties (such as luminance, size, duration, or spatial frequency), the display system adapts the frame rate accordingly, transitioning from a static high frame rate to a variable frame rate that matches the user's visual system requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the frame rate parameter in response to detected changes in stimulus attributes. By monitoring parameters such as stimulus luminance, size, duration, and spatial frequency, the system adjusts the frame rate to maintain a flicker-free experience while optimizing power consumption based on the actual visual demands of the displayed content.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If high frame rate is used to avoid flicker, then user comfort is improved, but battery life decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser comfortVSAvoidbattery life

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Use of energy by moving object

If frame rate is reduced to conserve power, then power consumption decreases, but flicker perception increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidflicker-free experience

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs feedback by detecting changes in stimulus attributes and using this information to adjust the frame rate. The detection mechanism monitors stimulus properties (luminance, size, duration, spatial frequency) and provides feedback to the display control system, which then adjusts the frame rate to maintain visual comfort while optimizing power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Use of energy by moving object

If frame rate is dynamically adjusted, then power consumption is optimized, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-adjustment by automatically detecting changes in stimulus attributes and modifying the frame rate without requiring external intervention. The display system monitors its own operating conditions and autonomously optimizes the frame rate to balance power consumption and visual comfort.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4657415A1Adjusting frame rate based upon detected change in stimulus attribute

Publication Date: 2025.12.03 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

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AI summary

One example provides a head-mounted display (HMD) device comprising a display system, a logic subsystem, and a storage subsystem comprising instructions executable by the logic subsystem. The instructions are executable to project images at a first frame rate using the display system, detect a change in a stimulus attribute of the images that modifies a critical flicker fusion (CFF) threshold of a human eye, and in response, adjust a frame rate of the display system to project the images at a second frame rate.