HMD Object Position Control for Focus Immersion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing display control technologies for head-mounted displays do not adequately ensure convenience for a wide range of users, as they often fail to maintain focus and immersion due to the user's field of view extending beyond the display screen, leading to reduced gaming experience.

Innovation Solution

A display control apparatus with a position control section that adjusts the position of objects in a virtual three-dimensional space based on the relative position between the user's input apparatus and the head-mounted display, using a light-emitting section and imaging apparatus to determine the object's position and attitude, and adjusts the display accordingly to enhance user interaction and immersion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the object position in virtual space is linearly changed based on input apparatus movement, then the user's field of view extends beyond the display screen, but the user cannot maintain focus and immersion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefield of view rangeVSAvoidfocus and immersion
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the object position change non-linear when the input apparatus is close to the head-mounted display. Instead of a fixed linear relationship, the system dynamically adjusts the position mapping based on distance, preventing the object from moving too close to the viewpoint and thus maintaining focus and immersion while still allowing field of view extension.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If the object is displayed closer to the viewpoint when the input apparatus is close to the head-mounted display, then the user interaction is enhanced, but the user experiences focus issues

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser interactionVSAvoidfocus capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary anti-action by pre-defining a threshold distance between the input apparatus and the head-mounted display. When this threshold is exceeded, the system proactively changes the position mapping criterion to prevent the object from becoming too close to the viewpoint, thereby avoiding focus issues before they occur and maintaining reliable focus capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

3Device complexity

If a fixed position mapping is used between input apparatus and virtual object, then the system is simple to implement, but it cannot ensure convenience for a wide range of users

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition mapping systemVSAvoiduser convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic position mapping system that selects different mapping criteria based on the distance between the input apparatus and the head-mounted display. This allows the system to adapt to different user scenarios and distances, significantly improving user convenience while maintaining reasonable implementation complexity through the use of distance-based conditional logic.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3385827B1Display control device and display control method
Publication Date: 2020.07.01 SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT LLC
  • EP3385827B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3385827B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3385827B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A gaming apparatus includes a position control section and a display control section. The position control section controls a position of an object arranged in a virtual 3D space based on a relative position between an input apparatus used by a user wearing a head-mounted display and the head-mounted display. The display control section generates an image in the virtual 3D space including the object and displays the image on the head-mounted display. When a distance between the input apparatus and the head-mounted display is equal to a first distance or more, the position control section linearly changes the object position in response to a change in position of the input apparatus. When the distance between the input apparatus and the head-mounted display is less than the first distance, the position control section determines the object position in accordance with a criterion different from that used when the distance between the input apparatus and the head-mounted display is equal to the first distance or more.