Night Vision Display Latency Control via Head Motion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Digital night vision devices mounted on a user's head cause discomfort due to high latency times between scene changes and image updates, leading to nausea, especially when the user's head moves.
Innovation Solution
A digital night vision device with a speed measuring device and control unit that adjusts the image acquisition frequency of the sensor matrix based on the user's head movement, increasing frequency during movement to reduce latency and discomfort while allowing lower quality images during motion, which are tolerable since attention to detail is minimal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If the image acquisition frequency is increased to reduce latency time, then user discomfort is reduced, but the integration time decreases leading to lower image quality and signal-to-noise ratio
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the image acquisition frequency variable rather than fixed. The frequency adapts dynamically based on detected head movement: increasing during movement to reduce latency and discomfort, and decreasing during stillness to improve image quality and reduce power consumption. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between latency reduction and image quality maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of image acquisition frequency based on operational conditions. By detecting head movement and adjusting the frequency accordingly, the system optimizes the balance between latency and image quality. The frequency parameter is modified from a static value to a conditional variable, allowing the system to achieve low latency during movement while preserving image quality during stationary periods.
2Loss of time
If the image acquisition frequency is increased to reduce latency time, then user discomfort is reduced, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the image acquisition frequency based on real-time detection of head movement. During movement, the frequency increases to reduce latency and user discomfort. During stillness, the frequency decreases to conserve energy. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction between reducing latency and minimizing energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the acquisition frequency parameter conditionally based on detected movement. By changing this parameter from a constant high value to a variable value that adapts to operational needs, the system achieves low latency during movement while significantly reducing average energy consumption during stationary periods.
3Measurement precision
If the image acquisition frequency is decreased to improve image quality, then signal-to-noise ratio increases, but latency time increases causing user discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by adjusting the acquisition frequency based on head movement detection. During stillness, the frequency decreases to improve signal-to-noise ratio and image quality. During movement, the frequency increases to reduce latency and user discomfort. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between image quality and user comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the acquisition frequency parameter based on operational conditions. By lowering the frequency during stationary periods, the system improves image quality and signal-to-noise ratio. By raising it during movement, the system reduces latency and user discomfort, thus resolving the contradiction between these two opposing requirements.
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
The solution effectively reduces user discomfort during head movement without compromising image quality when still, maintaining high sensitivity and signal-to-noise ratio, and limits average energy consumption by increasing frequency only during motion.
Implementation Method 1
The sensor matrix converts an incident optical flow into electrical signals
Implementation Method 2
a speed measuring device, mounted integrally with an assembly comprising at least the sensor matrix and the display screen
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~3
AI summary
A nocturnal vision apparatus (100) comprising at least one matrix of sensors (120), a display screen (130) for displaying an image obtained using the matrix of sensors, a speed measuring device (140) which is mounted so as to be fixedly joined to the matrix of sensors (120) and the display screen (130), and a control device (150). The control device (150) is configured to receive, as input, a speed measurement provided by the speed measuring device (140) and, in response, to control a frequency of image acquisition by the matrix of sensors (120) so that the image acquisition frequency increases when the speed measurement increases. The invention thus provides a nocturnal vision apparatus which prevents the user from experiencing any sensation of sickness when his/her head is moving, while using a conventional matrix of sensors and limiting a mean electrical consumption.