Head-Mounted Display Image Zooming Based on User Orientation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional head-mounted displays cause a feeling of strangeness in users when the observation space changes with the orientation of their head or sight line, as they fail to replicate the psychological effect of a smaller world when looking down, due to a lack of focus adjustment and zooming based on the user's perspective.

Innovation Solution

An image provision device that detects the user's orientation and adjusts the zoom factor of the displayed image based on the angle between the eye direction and a predetermined direction, incorporating focus adjustment and body height data to trim and zoom the all-surroundings image, providing a more realistic and immersive experience.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If conventional head-mounted displays show images merely by clipping an image based on a given orientation, then the device complexity is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but the user experiences a feeling of strangeness and false perception when looking down

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidfeeling of strangeness

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the zoom factor based on the eye direction angle. When the user looks down (smaller angle), the zoom factor increases to magnify the image, replicating the psychological effect of a smaller world. This parameter adjustment resolves the contradiction by maintaining manufacturing simplicity while eliminating the strange perception through adaptive image scaling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from a static image clipping approach to a dynamic system where the zoom factor changes continuously based on the detected eye direction. This dynamic adaptation allows the display to respond to user orientation in real-time, providing a more natural viewing experience without increasing manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Manufacturing precision

If the field of view is filled with objects closer to the user and the eye lens has a shorter focusing effect, then the psychological effect of a smaller world is produced in real space, but conventional head-mounted displays fail to replicate this effect

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing precisionVSAvoidrealism of virtual environment

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replicates the psychological effect by changing the zoom parameter based on eye direction angle. When the user looks down, the zoom factor is increased to simulate the magnification effect that occurs in real life when viewing closer objects, thereby achieving realistic perception without requiring complex optical systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If the zoom factor is adjusted based on the angle between eye direction and predetermined direction, then the sense of presence and immersion is enhanced, but the device complexity and processing requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesense of presenceVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system enhances presence by adjusting the zoom parameter based on the calculated angle between eye direction and a predetermined direction. This single parameter adjustment (zoom factor) provides the necessary realism without requiring complex multi-parameter transformations or advanced rendering techniques.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex mechanical optical systems with computational image processing. Instead of using variable focus lenses or complex optical mechanisms to achieve the magnification effect, the system uses software-based zooming and trimming of the all-surroundings image, significantly reducing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Ease of operation

If conventional technologies detect orientation change and update observation direction, then the basic virtual reality function is achieved, but the user experiences false perception when looking down around their feet

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoidaccuracy of spatial perception

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system maintains the simple orientation detection mechanism but adds a zoom factor parameter that changes based on the eye direction angle. When looking down (smaller angle), the zoom factor increases to provide accurate spatial perception, while the basic operation remains unchanged.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS10783853B2Image provision device, method and program that adjusts eye settings based on user orientation

Publication Date: 2020.09.22 RAKUTEN GROUP INC

AI summary

An image provision device (100) displays on a field-of-vision covering display (192) an image obtained by trimming all-surroundings image data (21). A detector (11) detects an orientation or a change in the orientation of a user's head or sight line by means of a sensor (191). A direction setter (12) sets an eye direction to the all-surroundings image data (21) in accordance with the detected orientation or change in the orientation. An extractor (13) obtains a zoomed image by trimming and zooming part of the all-surroundings image with a zoom factor that depends on an angle formed between the set eye direction and a predetermined direction in the all-surroundings image data (21). A displayer (14) displays the obtained zoomed image on a display (192).