HMD Luminance Control for External Visibility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Head-mounted display devices often obstruct the user's external view when displaying virtual images, causing inconvenience, especially when the user needs to shift attention away from the image or operate the device, and existing solutions for detecting user intentions are prone to malfunctions in public spaces.

Innovation Solution

A head-mounted display device with a control unit that adjusts the luminance of the image-light generating unit to reduce the visibility of virtual images when the user shifts attention or attempts to operate the device, using a direction determining unit that employs invisible light emitting and receiving units to determine the user's orientation relative to the operation surface.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the head-mounted display continuously displays virtual images to provide immersive experience, then the user can enjoy images and music anywhere, but the virtual image blocks the user's view of the external scene and causes inconvenience when the user needs to shift attention or operate the device

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimmersive experienceVSAvoidvisibility of external scene
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the virtual image display adaptive rather than static. The control unit dynamically adjusts the display state based on real-time detection of user head orientation and operational status. When the user turns their head away from the display or approaches the operation surface, the system automatically reduces or stops virtual image display, allowing the visual field to adapt between immersive content and external scene visibility as needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms through multiple sensors that continuously monitor user head orientation, movement, and interaction with the operation surface. This feedback information is processed by the control unit to automatically adjust the virtual image display parameters, creating a closed-loop system that responds to user needs in real-time and resolves the contradiction between continuous immersive display and external visibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If the system automatically detects user actions to control image display, then convenience is improved, but detection accuracy deteriorates in public spaces due to malfunctions from misdetection

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic controlVSAvoiddetection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple detection methods and sensor types into a comprehensive detection system. Instead of relying on a single detection mechanism that is prone to errors in public spaces, the system combines head orientation sensors, movement detectors, and operational status sensors to cross-validate user actions. This multi-layered approach significantly improves detection reliability while maintaining automatic control convenience.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies preliminary action by establishing baseline detection patterns and thresholds during system initialization or idle periods. The control unit learns normal user behavior patterns and uses this information to filter out anomalous detections that may occur in public spaces. This preliminary calibration ensures that automatic control actions are triggered only by genuine user intentions, reducing misdetection errors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If the virtual image display is reduced when the user turns away, then external scene visibility is improved, but the user may not be able to resume normal display without additional input

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveexternal scene visibilityVSAvoiddisplay control mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service by designing an automatic resume mechanism that detects when the user returns to the appropriate orientation or interaction state. The control unit continuously monitors sensor inputs and automatically restores full virtual image display when the user turns their head back toward the display or engages with the operation surface, eliminating the need for manual user input to resume normal display functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Improves the visibility of the external scene by reducing the virtual image's visibility when the user is not directly focused on it, enhancing user convenience and accuracy in detecting user intentions without causing interference or misrecognition.

Implementation Method 1

a light guide unit that guides the emitted image light to the eye of a user

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight conduction: Optical Fibre

Implementation Method 2

guides the emitted image light to the eye of a user using a projection optical system and a light guide plate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Implementation Method 3

a direction determining unit that determines whether the user faces an operation surface of the control unit using invisible light emitting and receiving units

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInvisible light emission and detection: Infrared Radiation

Data Source

PatentUS9217867B2Head-mounted display device and control method for the head-mounted display device
Publication Date: 2015.12.22 SEIKO EPSON CORP
  • US9217867B2 patent drawing
  • US9217867B2 patent drawing
  • US9217867B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A head-mounted display device includes: an image display unit including an image-light generating unit that generates image light representing an image and emits the image light and a light guide unit that guides the emitted image light to the eye of a user, the image display unit being for causing the user to visually recognize a virtual image; and a control unit that includes an operation surface, is connected to the image display unit, and controls image display by the image display unit. When it is assumed that the user shifts the user's attention from the virtual image, the control unit adjusts the luminance of the image-light generating unit or adjusts the image light generated by the image-light generating unit to reduce the visibility of the virtual image.