Optical Combiner Pixel Compensation for AR Ghost Reflection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional augmented reality displays suffer from ghosting artifacts due to secondary reflections, which are not effectively mitigated by anti-reflective coatings and specialized windshield geometries, leading to inconsistent performance and limited viewing angles.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that dynamically adjust pixel intensity levels based on secondary reflection intensity, using a processor to determine the impact of secondary reflections and adaptively adjust pixel values in real-time, ensuring primary reflections dominate and reducing ghosting artifacts across various viewing positions and angles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If anti-reflective coatings are applied to reduce secondary reflections, then ghosting artifacts are partially mitigated, but the solution is inconsistent due to wear and tear and environmental degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the pixel intensity values dynamically adjustable based on real-time or pre-determined secondary reflection characteristics. Instead of relying on static anti-reflective coatings that degrade over time, the system dynamically compensates for secondary reflections by adjusting the intensity of pixels in the generated image, ensuring consistent performance throughout the device lifetime.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of pixel intensity values to compensate for secondary reflections. By modifying the intensity parameters of pixels in the generated image based on determined secondary reflection characteristics, the system offsets the harmful effects of ghosting artifacts without relying on physical coatings that are subject to wear and environmental degradation.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If windshield geometry is specially crafted with progressive lamination to hide secondary reflections, then ghosting artifacts are mitigated for a single predefined viewing position, but performance deteriorates for viewing positions deviating from the predefined position
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by creating a solution that works for multiple viewing positions and angles simultaneously. Instead of optimizing the windshield geometry for a single predefined viewing position, the system uses computational methods to adjust pixel intensities based on the actual or potential secondary reflection characteristics for different viewing positions, providing consistent ghosting mitigation across a wide range of viewing angles.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the image generation process dynamic by adjusting pixel intensity values based on viewing position and secondary reflection characteristics. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to adapt to different viewing positions and angles, overcoming the limitation of static geometric solutions that only work for predefined viewing positions.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If anti-reflective coatings are used to reduce secondary reflection intensity, then ghosting artifacts are partially reduced, but the solution fails to achieve 100 percent efficiency and performance degrades over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes the mechanical/optical system of anti-reflective coatings with a computational system. Instead of relying on physical coatings applied to surfaces, the system uses image processing and pixel intensity adjustment to compensate for secondary reflections. This substitution eliminates the wear and tear issues inherent in physical coatings while achieving equivalent or superior ghosting mitigation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies self-service by having the system automatically determine secondary reflection characteristics and adjust pixel intensities accordingly. The system self-compensates for ghosting artifacts without requiring external intervention or replacement of degraded components, ensuring consistent performance throughout the device lifetime.
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
This approach enhances image clarity and contrast, provides consistent performance across different viewing angles, and maintains robustness under varying environmental conditions, eliminating the need for 100% efficient anti-reflective coatings and geometric constraints.
Implementation Method 1
some light rays emanating from a display unit reflect towards a user's eyes from a semi-reflective surface (namely, a user-facing surface) of an optical combiner, thereby undergoing a primary reflection from the semi-reflective surface
Implementation Method 2
other light rays get refracted inside the optical combiner and reflect towards the user's eyes from an opposite surface (namely, a real-world-facing surface) of the optical combiner, thereby undergoing a secondary reflection from the opposite surface
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B~2
AI summary
For a region of an image, a portion of a semi-reflective surface (112) of an optical combiner (104) from which light rays of the given region (118) are reflected towards eyes (114a-114b) of a user during display via a display unit (102) is determined. For this portion of the semi-reflective surface, a secondary reflection intensity of light rays of another region (120) of the image that undergo secondary reflection from a portion of another surface (116) of the optical combiner (opposite to the semi-reflective surface) is determined. A minimum intensity level of pixels in the image is increased. Intensity values of pixels in said region of the image are adjusted based on the secondary reflection intensity. The image is displayed via the display unit, thereby producing a synthetic light field (122). The optical combiner reflects the synthetic light field towards the eyes, whilst optically combining the synthetic light field with a real-world light field.