Hybrid Display Global Command Interface for Flicker Reduction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional head-mounted display (HMD) devices for immersive virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) face challenges in balancing high resolution and cost/complexity, as they need to provide eye-limiting resolution over a 180° field-of-view, leading to increased cost and complexity due to the requirement of high pixel density across the entire field-of-view.
Innovation Solution
A hybrid display system is implemented, combining high-resolution displays for the central field-of-view and low-resolution displays for peripheral vision, with a global interface that translates and synchronizes global commands to interface-specific commands to reduce visual artifacts like flicker, using different control path speeds and packet overheads for high-resolution and low-resolution displays.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If high pixel density is used across the entire 180° field-of-view, then eye-limiting resolution is improved, but cost and complexity significantly increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by implementing different pixel densities in different regions of the display field. The central foveal region (approximately ±10° to ±20° from center) uses high pixel density to achieve eye-limiting resolution, while the peripheral regions use lower pixel density. This resolves the contradiction by providing high resolution only where the human eye can actually perceive it, rather than uniformly across the entire 180° field-of-view.
2Measurement precision
If high pixel density is used across the entire 180° field-of-view, then eye-limiting resolution is improved, but cost significantly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by spatially varying the pixel density according to the human visual system's characteristics. High pixel density is concentrated in the central foveal region where visual acuity is highest, while peripheral regions use lower pixel density. This significantly reduces the total number of pixels required compared to a uniform high-density display, thereby reducing manufacturing cost while maintaining perceived image quality.
3Adaptability or versatility
If different interfaces are used for high-resolution and low-resolution displays, then adaptability is improved, but visual artifacts like flicker increase due to different control path speeds
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary processing layer that receives commands intended for the hybrid display and translates them into interface-specific commands for each display type. This mediator handles the different control path speeds and packet overheads of high-resolution and low-resolution displays by applying appropriate timing offsets and synchronization protocols, thereby eliminating flicker and visual artifacts while maintaining the adaptability benefits of using different interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calculating and applying timing offsets to commands before they are sent to the different displays. The system determines the relative timing delays between high-resolution and low-resolution display interfaces in advance, and incorporates these offsets into the command stream beforehand. This preliminary synchronization prevents flicker and visual artifacts from occurring in the first place.
Data Source
AI summary
A hybrid display includes a first display having a first interface and a second display having a second interface. A third interface is configured to receive a first command that includes a first value indicating a modification of pixels in the hybrid display. A finite state machine is configured to translate the first value to a second value indicating a modification of pixels in the first display and a third value indicating a modification of pixels in the second display. The first interface transmits a second command including the second value to the first interface and a third command including the third value to the second interface. The first and second commands are transmitted at times determined by a relative delay between the first display and the second display.