HMD Reference Screen Storage for Consistent Display

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wearable head-mounted devices, such as HMDs, face issues when a user removes and re-wears them, as the displayed screen may change unexpectedly due to differing eye directions, leading to unintended screen displays for others.

Innovation Solution

An electronic device with a VR management module that detects reference screen setting and display events, allowing for the storage and retrieval of screen information, enabling the display of a consistent reference screen without requiring eye movement adjustments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the HMD displays screen content based on user eye direction, then the user can view the intended content, but when another user wears the device with different eye direction, an unintended screen is displayed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescreen display adaptabilityVSAvoidscreen display consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by detecting and storing reference screen information before the user actually needs to view it. When the HMD is worn, the system proactively identifies the reference screen based on stored data and displays it, preventing the problem of unintended screens being shown to different users with different eye directions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a copy of the reference screen information and stores it in the HMD's memory. This copied reference screen data allows the device to reconstruct and display the correct screen content regardless of the current user's eye direction, ensuring consistent display across different users.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Ease of operation

If the HMD changes screen display according to eye direction, then the interface adapts to user viewing, but the user cannot easily return to a specific reference screen without moving eyes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescreen navigation easeVSAvoidtime to return to reference screen
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides self-service by automatically detecting the reference screen and displaying it without requiring the user to manually navigate or move their eyes to find it. The HMD autonomously identifies and presents the correct reference screen based on stored information, saving the user time and effort.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring for reference screen display requests and automatically responding by displaying the appropriate screen. This feedback mechanism ensures that when a user wants to return to a reference screen, the system detects the request and provides the correct display without delay.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If the HMD stores screen information for reference, then consistent display is achieved, but additional memory and processing requirements increase device complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescreen display consistencyVSAvoiddevice structural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts only the essential reference screen information needed for consistent display and stores it separately in memory. By taking out only the critical data elements rather than storing complete screen states, the system maintains display consistency while minimizing the additional complexity and memory requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP2990852B1Head-mounted display hosting a smartphone for providing virtual reality environment
Publication Date: 2020.08.26 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP2990852B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2990852B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2990852B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

Electronic device (101, e.g. a head-mounted display device (HMD) for providing virtual-reality environment to a user) including a display (150), a storage module (210) and a processor (120) detecting a reference screen and controlling the storage module (210) to store reference-screen information, wherein upon the display-occurrence of a reference screen, the processor (120) controls the display (150) to display the reference screen based on the stored information. If a first user takes his HMD off and then a second user puts it on, a different screen from that displayed when the HMD was taken off may be displayed according to a view-point of the second user. With the invention, if the first user wants to show an image to a second user whose eye direction differs from that of the first user, the display of an unintended screen can be prevented.