Opacity Filter for See-Through Head-Mounted Display
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Solution Overview
Problem
See-through head-mounted displays struggle to provide a realistic augmented reality image that represents a full range of colors and intensities, as they cannot effectively remove natural light, leading to virtual objects appearing translucent or ghosted.
Innovation Solution
An optical see-through head-mounted display device with an opacity filter that can selectively block light based on the shape of the augmented reality image, using eye tracking to adjust the position and opacity of pixels to maintain registration and enhance the realism of the imagery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an opacity filter is used to block natural light, then the augmented reality image appears more solid and realistic, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the opacity filter and display component into a single integrated see-through lens assembly. The opacity filter is positioned within the lens structure, allowing light blocking functionality to be merged with the existing optical path without requiring separate external components. This integration reduces overall device complexity while maintaining the ability to block natural light and enhance augmented reality image realism.
Solution Approach 2:
The opacity filter is designed with spatially varying opacity characteristics, where different regions of the lens have different opacity levels. This allows selective light blocking in specific areas corresponding to the augmented reality image location, while maintaining transparency in other regions. The local quality variation enables precise control over which portions of the visual field are enhanced, improving realism without unnecessarily complicating the entire optical system.
2Reliability
If the opacity filter blocks light based on the shape of the augmented reality image, then the virtual objects appear more solid, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The opacity filter is designed to be dynamically controllable, allowing its opacity pattern to change in response to the displayed augmented reality image shape. Rather than requiring a fixed, precisely manufactured opaque region, the system can electronically adjust which areas of the lens are opaque at any given time. This dynamic control reduces the stringency of manufacturing precision requirements while still achieving the desired solid appearance of virtual objects.
Solution Approach 2:
The system controls the opacity filter by changing optical parameters (transparency/opacity levels) rather than relying solely on fixed physical structures. By dynamically adjusting the opacity parameter at different spatial locations based on the augmented reality image content, the system achieves precise visual control without requiring correspondingly precise manufacturing tolerances for permanent structural features.
3Measurement precision
If eye tracking is used to adjust the position of augmented reality image and opacity filter pixels, then the registration is maintained during frame movement, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The eye tracking component provides real-time feedback about the user's eye position and head movement to the system controller. This feedback is used to dynamically adjust both the augmented reality image position and the opacity filter pixel positions to maintain accurate registration. The feedback mechanism allows the system to compensate for frame movement and maintain precise alignment without requiring overly complex mechanical stabilization systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the eye tracking data to automatically adjust the registration between the augmented reality image and the opacity filter without requiring manual calibration or user intervention. The self-service adjustment capability maintains registration accuracy during head movement by continuously adapting to changing conditions, reducing the need for complex manual alignment procedures or rigid mechanical structures.
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 allows for a realistic representation of augmented reality images with a full range of colors and intensities by selectively removing natural light, making virtual objects appear more solid and enhancing the overall mixed reality experience.
Implementation Method 1
An optical see-through head-mounted display device with an opacity filter that can selectively block light based on the shape of the augmented reality image
Implementation Method 2
See-through head-mounted displays allow the user to observe the physical world around him or her, while optical elements add light from one or two small micro-displays into the user's visual path
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
Optical see-through head-mounted display device comprising a see-through lens (108) extending between a user's eye (118) and a real-world scene (120) when the display device is worn by the user, the see-through lens (108) comprising an opacity filter (106) having a plurality of pixels, each pixel is controllable to adjust the opacity of the pixel, and a display component (112), an augmented reality emitter (102) that emits light to the user's eye (118) using the display component (112), the light representing an augmented reality image (104), a control circuit (100) that controls the opacity filter (106) to provide an increased opacity for pixels that are behind the shape of the augmented reality image (104) from a perspective of the user's eye (118), wherein the augmented reality image (104) is limited to a first angular extent of a field of view of the user' eye (118) and the opacity filter (106) extends in a second angular extent that includes the first angular extent and a more peripheral angular extent of the field of view.