Multi-Focal 3D Rendering With Virtual Depth Planes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional stereoscopic head-mounted displays suffer from vergence-accommodation conflict, which causes eye strain and blurred vision, and existing multi-focal display systems face issues such as computational demands, image artefacts, and mobility limitations due to wired connections or bulky computational packs.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for rendering three-dimensional image content using a multi-focal display device with at least two displays, involving a first processing sub-system to divide content into virtual depth planes, associate them with displays, and transmit the array wirelessly for rendering, minimizing image artefacts and maintaining user mobility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional single focal-plane stereoscopic displays are used, then the system is simple and lightweight, but the vergence-accommodation conflict causes eye strain and blurred vision
Solution Approach 1:
The display is segmented into multiple focal planes (first focal plane and second focal plane) to present different depth information to each eye independently. This segmentation allows the left and right eyes to focus at different distances simultaneously, resolving the vergence-accommodation conflict and improving visual comfort without requiring complex additional optical components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds the focal depth dimension to the traditional two-dimensional display plane. By creating multiple focal planes at different depths along the optical axis, the system provides true three-dimensional visual information where each eye receives images at its respective focal distance, eliminating the artificial coupling between vergence and accommodation.
2Ease of operation
If multi-focal display systems with discrete focal planes are used, then the vergence-accommodation conflict is mitigated, but the system requires eye-tracking which complicates the design and introduces processing delays
Solution Approach 1:
The multi-focal display system operates without requiring eye-tracking input. The display continuously presents multiple focal planes simultaneously, allowing the user's visual system to naturally select the appropriate focal depth for each eye based on the content being viewed. This self-service approach eliminates the need for complex eye-tracking sensors and processing while maintaining visual comfort.
3Ease of operation
If light-field display systems are used, then monocular focus cues are conveyed and vergence-accommodation conflict is overcome, but computational demands increase significantly requiring compression algorithms that introduce image artefacts
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using computationally intensive light-field rendering, the patent segments the display into a small number of discrete focal planes (typically two). Each plane contains simplified depth information that can be rendered with minimal computation. This segmentation approach provides sufficient depth cues for visual comfort while avoiding the heavy computational burden and associated image artefacts of full light-field systems.
4Power
If computational pack is wired to head-mounted display, then computational power is provided, but mobility is limited and connections may be compromised during movement
Solution Approach 1:
The computational pack is extracted from the head-mounted display and positioned as a separate wireless device. The computational functions (image processing, depth plane generation, rendering) are performed in the external pack and transmitted to the head-mounted display via wireless communication. This extraction eliminates physical connection constraints, allowing free movement while maintaining full computational capability.
5Ease of operation
If computational pack is placed on side or back, then freedom of movement is provided, but the placement interferes with user movement and data transmission may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless communication system incorporates feedback mechanisms to monitor and maintain connection reliability. The computational pack and head-mounted display continuously adjust transmission parameters (power, frequency, modulation) based on detected interference or signal quality changes. This feedback ensures reliable data transmission regardless of the computational pack's position or the user's movement, maintaining both mobility freedom and transmission reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for rendering three-dimensional image content for a multi-focal display device. The system includes a first processing sub-system configured to divide the three-dimensional image content into a plurality of virtual depth planes, associate each of the plurality of virtual depth planes with one of a first set of displays and a second set of displays of the multi-focal display device, and generate a first array including the plurality of virtual depth planes. The system also includes a transmission sub-system configured to provide a data channel for transmission of the generated first array. The system further includes a second processing sub-system configured to receive the generated first array and to render the three-dimensional image content in the multi-focal display device based thereon.