HMD Virtual Space Navigation via Miniature Map
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Solution Overview
Problem
Head-mounted displays (HMDs) face difficulties in allowing users to seamlessly navigate and control viewing angles without physically moving their head, making it cumbersome to view entire 360-degree scenes or switch between different regions of interest.
Innovation Solution
The HMD system, in conjunction with a mobile terminal, uses touch inputs and gestures to control the display of virtual space content, allowing users to move between viewing angles and regions without head movement by utilizing command input regions, drag touch inputs, and image objects that can be fixed or moved within these regions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a user views the entire 360-degree view by moving their head continuously, then the user can appreciate all regions of the virtual space, but the user must move their head multiple times which increases operation complexity and time consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a miniature map copy of the entire 360-degree virtual space that can be displayed on the HMD screen. This map copy allows users to navigate and select regions of interest without physically moving their head through the entire 360-degree environment, significantly reducing navigation time while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a pointer object as an intermediary between the user and the virtual space. The pointer can be positioned on the miniature map to indicate regions of interest, allowing users to control and navigate the 360-degree environment indirectly through the pointer rather than direct head movement, thus reducing navigation time.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the user moves their head to check regions outside the front view, then the user can access other viewing angles, but the user must move their head several times which increases operation complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The miniature map serves as a copied representation of all viewing angles in the virtual space. Users can interact with this map copy to access different viewing angles without physically turning their heads multiple times, simplifying the operation while maintaining access to all regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the three-dimensional head movement navigation into a two-dimensional map interaction. By displaying a miniature map on the HMD screen and allowing pointer-based selection, users can navigate through different viewing angles in a 2D interface rather than performing complex 3D head movements, reducing operation complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the user returns to a previous front view after checking other regions, then the user can revisit regions of interest, but the user must move their head several times which increases time consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The miniature map preserves the complete structure of the virtual space including all previously viewed regions. Users can quickly return to previous viewing angles by simply repositioning the pointer on the map to the desired location, eliminating the need for time-consuming head movements while maintaining the ability to revisit any region.
Solution Approach 2:
The miniature map is prepared in advance showing all possible viewing angles and regions. Users can directly jump to previously viewed regions by selecting their positions on the pre-displayed map, rather than navigating back through sequential head movements, thus reducing the time required to return to previous views.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
An HMD device according to the present disclosure may include a communication unit configured to perform communication with a mobile terminal(100); a display(251); and a controller configured to: cause the display(251) to display a first region of virtual space content received from the mobile terminal(100); cause the display(251) to display an object in the first region, wherein the object is for generating a command for a command input region; cause the object to move according to a user's head gesture while the command input region is displayed in the first region; cause the display(251) to display a second region of the virtual space content based on the user's head gesture when the command input region is no longer displayed such that the first region is replaced by the second region on the display(251).