Orientation Feedback Devices for HMD Motion Sickness

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Solution Overview

Problem

Head-mountable devices cause a disconnect between what a user's brain perceives and their actual body experience, leading to negative effects such as motion sickness, vertigo, eye strain, and dizziness.

Innovation Solution

Incorporation of orientation feedback devices into head-mountable devices, including sensors and actuators, to provide vestibular feedback and reduce the disconnect by aligning the user's perception with their real-world orientation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If head-mountable devices block or seal out the outer environment to provide immersive AR/VR experiences, then user immersion and distraction-free setting are improved, but disconnect between brain perception and body experience increases, leading to motion sickness and vertigo

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser immersionVSAvoidmotion sickness

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies feedback by incorporating orientation indicators (such as balls in channels, fluid chambers, or hanging masses) that visually communicate the device's real-world orientation to the user. This feedback loop helps reconcile the disconnect between virtual immersion and physical reality, reducing motion sickness while maintaining productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If head-mountable devices provide immersive AR/VR experiences by blocking outer environment, then distraction-free setting is improved, but user comfort deteriorates due to disconnect between virtual and real-world experience

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedistraction-free settingVSAvoiduser comfort

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Orientation indicators provide continuous visual feedback about the device's physical orientation, helping users maintain comfort and awareness of their real-world position while engaged in immersive virtual experiences

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The orientation indicator acts as an intermediary element between the immersive virtual environment and physical reality, mediating the disconnect and allowing users to maintain comfort without breaking immersion

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

Reduces negative side effects like motion sickness and improves user comfort by providing orientation feedback that aligns virtual and real-world experiences.

Implementation Method 1

the ball can be configured to move in the channel in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the channel

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravitation: Gravitation

Implementation Method 2

the orientation indicator can include a fluid in a chamber

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravitation: Gravitation

Implementation Method 3

a hanging mass attached to the string

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravitation: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentUS12411543B2Orientation feedback devices and methods

Publication Date: 2025.09.09 APPLE INC

AI summary

An orientation feedback device for a head-mountable display (HMD) is disclosed. In an example, an HMD includes a display, a frame at least partially surrounding the display, a facial interface attached to the frame, and an orientation feedback device attached to one or more of the frame or the facial interface. The orientation feedback device can include an orientation indicator.