Peripheral Vision Expansion That Preserves Real-Space Distance Sense

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing field-of-view expansion techniques using head-mounted displays (HMDs) cause deviations between the actual appearance and the displayed image, impairing the user's sense of distance in real space.

Innovation Solution

A system that includes a camera capturing images around the user, a display, and a field-of-view expansion device that processes the images to naturally connect the peripheral vision to the central vision, maintaining the sense of distance by converting images to match the user's actual visual field.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of moving object

If an image obtained by a camera is projected onto a head-mounted display (HMD) to expand the field of view, then the visual field of the user is expanded, but the sense of distance to real space is impaired due to deviation between actual appearance and displayed image

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisual fieldVSAvoidsense of distance

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the visual field into a center visual field and a peripheral visual field. The center visual field is displayed with accurate scale and position information to maintain distance sense, while the peripheral visual field is expanded using camera images. This segmentation allows different regions to serve different functions, resolving the contradiction between field of view expansion and distance perception accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different parts of the displayed image are given different qualities: the center visual field maintains realistic scale and position relationships for accurate distance perception, while the peripheral visual field is distorted and expanded to broaden the field of view. This local differentiation allows the system to simultaneously achieve both goals in different regions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Area of stationary object

If the visual field is expanded using conventional projection methods, then the user can see more of the surrounding environment, but the position and scale of visible objects deviate from reality

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisible areaVSAvoidposition and scale accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the display area into a center visual field region and a peripheral visual field region. The center region preserves accurate position and scale information from the camera image, while the peripheral region applies distortion to expand the visible area. This segmentation enables the system to maintain measurement precision where needed while expanding the overall visible area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary processing step that selectively applies different transformations to different regions of the camera image. The center visual field is transformed to maintain accurate scale and position, while the peripheral visual field is transformed to expand coverage. This intermediary processing resolves the contradiction between visible area and measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Area of moving object

If the entire visual field is distorted to expand coverage, then the field of view is broadened, but the natural connection between peripheral vision and central vision is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefield of viewVSAvoidvisual continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of moving objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the visual field into distinct center and peripheral regions with different transformation characteristics. The center visual field maintains natural appearance while the peripheral visual field is distorted for expansion. The boundary between these segments is designed to ensure smooth transitions, preserving visual continuity while allowing field of view expansion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the visual field are assigned different distortion qualities: the center visual field maintains natural quality for stable perception, while the peripheral visual field applies gradual distortion to expand coverage. This local quality differentiation allows the system to broaden the field of view while maintaining visual continuity through carefully designed transition zones.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS12537930B2Field expansion device, field expansion method, field expansion program, and field expansion system

Publication Date: 2026.01.27 NT T INC

AI summary

A field-of-view expansion device includes processing circuitry configured to acquire an image around a user captured by a camera installed in a vicinity of the user, convert an image outside a center visual field of the user of the image acquired to naturally connect to a vision of the center visual field of the user, and display the image converted on a display disposed in right and left peripheral visual fields of the user across the center visual field of the user.