Magnetic Near-to-Eye Display Tracking for Compact Headsets

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current near-to-eye (NTE) display systems are bulky and uncomfortable due to large components required for accurate tracking, which hinders user comfort and practicality.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that uses a headset with movably coupled NTE displays and reference elements to generate information about spatial degrees of freedom, allowing for accurate determination and control of the NTE display's spatial coordinates, thereby reducing the need for bulky tracking components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If optical trackers with multiple light sources and detectors are used to accurately track the NTE display motion, then tracking precision is improved, but the headset becomes larger and bulkier

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetracking precisionVSAvoidheadset volume

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical/optical tracking systems with magnetic field-based tracking. Magnetic trackers use magnetic field interactions rather than physical light sources and detectors on the headset, eliminating the need for bulky optical components while maintaining tracking accuracy. The magnetic field penetrates materials without requiring line-of-sight, enabling precise tracking with minimal headset volume.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the tracking parameter from optical detection (requiring visible light sources and detectors) to magnetic field detection. By utilizing magnetic field properties such as field strength and direction, the system achieves accurate tracking of the NTE display position and orientation without the physical constraints of optical components, thereby reducing headset size.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Device complexity

If magnetic trackers are used for tracking, then device complexity is reduced, but tracking precision may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetracking system complexityVSAvoidtracking precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs magnetic field-based tracking which simplifies the overall system architecture compared to complex optical tracking mechanisms. The magnetic tracking system uses field interactions that can be detected with simpler sensors, reducing mechanical complexity while maintaining sufficient precision for NTE display applications through sophisticated magnetic field modeling and calculation algorithms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS8963804B2Method and system for operating a near-to-eye display

Publication Date: 2015.02.24 HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC

AI summary

Methods and system for operating a near-to-eye (NTE) display movably coupled to a headset are provided. Information representative of at least one spatial degree of freedom of the NTE display relative to at least one spatial degree of freedom of the headset is received. Spatial coordinates of the NTE display are determined based on said received information. The NTE display is controlled based on the spatial coordinates of the NTE display.