Peripheral Field-of-View Illumination for Head-Mounted Displays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing virtual reality systems have limited fields of view, failing to project images into peripheral regions, which compromises the realism of the virtual reality environment due to their design with flat displays positioned parallel to the user's eyes, resulting in a horizontal field of view that is significantly below the natural human field of view.
Innovation Solution
A peripheral field-of-view illumination system using a pair of angled flat displays and a lens system to create an immersive image that covers a wider field of view, incorporating lenses like gradient index or Fresnel lenses to increase the apparent field of view, and employing peripheral light emitters to provide diffuse, low-resolution images in peripheral regions, matching the user's lower vision resolution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If flat displays are positioned parallel to the user's eyes, then the device design is simplified and manufacturing is easier, but the field of view is limited to the edges of the display
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces curved displays that arc around the user's eyes, replacing the traditional flat parallel display arrangement. This curvature allows the display to wrap around the natural field of view, expanding the visible area from limited display edges to a much broader angular range while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through modular curved panel design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional flat display plane to a three-dimensional curved surface that follows the contours of the user's head and eyes. This dimensional change allows the display to occupy multiple spatial planes simultaneously, expanding the field of view in both horizontal and vertical dimensions while keeping the display elements accessible for manufacturing.
2Reliability
If the field of view is expanded to cover peripheral regions, then the virtual reality environment becomes more realistic, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the display system into multiple curved display segments that can be independently manufactured and assembled. Each segment covers a specific portion of the field of view, allowing for modular manufacturing and simplifying the overall system integration while achieving comprehensive peripheral coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The curved display design serves multiple functions simultaneously: it expands the field of view, follows the natural anatomy of the user's head, provides immersive peripheral vision, and maintains a compact form factor. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby managing device complexity.
3Reliability
If curved displays are used to expand field of view, then the immersive experience is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The curved display is divided into multiple manageable segments that can be manufactured using standard flat panel techniques and then assembled into the curved configuration. This segmentation allows manufacturers to use existing production infrastructure while achieving the immersive curved display effect, thereby controlling manufacturing costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs flexible display materials and adjustable curvature parameters that allow the same manufacturing process to produce different curvature radii. This flexibility enables manufacturers to optimize the curve for both immersive performance and manufacturing efficiency, reducing the need for specialized expensive production lines.
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 system significantly increases the horizontal field of view beyond 180 degrees, providing a more immersive experience by covering the user's natural field of view with high-resolution central images and low-resolution peripheral images, enhancing the realism of the virtual reality environment while maintaining a compact and cost-effective design.
Implementation Method 1
One or more embodiments use a pair of angled displays and a lens system to create an immersive image covering a significant portion of a user's natural field of view
Implementation Method 2
One or more embodiments use displays that are substantially flat; this configuration results in a wide field-of-view image using a compact display device that uses economical and readily available flat displays
Implementation Method 3
One or more embodiments include a left display and a right display, each located in front of the respective eye of the user
Data Source
AI summary
A display system for a head mounted device that illuminates the peripheral regions of the user's field of view to enhance an immersive experience. The system may use peripheral light emitters to the left and right of one or more central displays. Peripheral light emitters may provide lower resolution images, or only with vertical resolution, corresponding to the user's lower resolution vision in these peripheral regions. Reflective surfaces and lenses may be used to direct peripheral light into desired shapes and patterns. Rendering of peripheral light colors and intensities at each peripheral pixel may use approximations for improved performance since users may not be sensitive to precise color values in the peripheral regions.