Head-Mounted Display Front Touch Sensor Line of Sight Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing head-mounted video display devices with immersive designs face challenges in user operability, particularly when the eyes are directly covered, as users struggle to accurately manipulate controls without visual confirmation, leading to potential incorrect button presses and uneven weight distribution.

Innovation Solution

A head-mounted display with a touch sensor disposed on the front surface, allowing users to intuitively manipulate controls by aligning their line of sight and finger, enabling one-step operations and reducing the risk of device shift during use, while ensuring symmetrical weight distribution and reducing operational burden.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a touch sensor is disposed in a headphone portion on the side surface of the head, then the device can be operated, but the manipulation requires at least two steps (selecting target by touch and then carrying out manipulation) and the structure becomes right-left asymmetrical causing unnatural load on the head

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanipulation stepsVSAvoidstructural symmetry
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent moves the touch sensor from the lateral headphone portion to the front surface of the display device, changing the spatial dimension of interaction. This allows the user to manipulate controls in the same dimension as the display, eliminating the need to reach to the side and reducing manipulation steps while maintaining symmetrical structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent explicitly addresses and resolves the asymmetry problem by positioning the touch sensor on the front surface rather than on one side, thereby achieving right-left symmetry in the device structure and eliminating unnatural load on the user's head.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

2Adaptability or versatility

If the eyes are directly covered by the display device, then immersive feeling is increased, but the user cannot visually confirm button positions leading to incorrect manipulation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimmersive capabilityVSAvoidmanipulation accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a light guide as an intermediary element that transfers light from the touch sensor area to the front surface of the display. This allows users to visually confirm touch sensor positions and manipulation targets through the display surface itself, maintaining immersive experience while enabling accurate manipulation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes light emission and visual feedback through the display surface to indicate touch sensor positions and manipulation states. By making the touch interface visible through the display, users can accurately locate and manipulate controls without breaking immersion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

3Ease of operation

If a controller with physical buttons is used, then manipulation can be performed, but the device weight increases and the structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanipulation capabilityVSAvoiddevice weight
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces physical mechanical buttons with a touch sensor interface. This eliminates the need for mechanical components, reducing device weight and structural complexity while maintaining full manipulation capability through capacitive or resistive touch sensing.

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

Data Source

PatentEP3125102B1Head-mounted display
Publication Date: 2021.11.17 SONY GROUP CORP
  • EP3125102B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3125102B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3125102B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

According to an illustrative embodiment, a head-mounted display is provided. The head-mounted display includes a display portion; and a touch sensor, wherein the head-mounted display is operable to display a cursor on the display portion at a position determined according to a line of sight between a wearer of the head-mounted display and an object external to the display portion.