See-Through Display Transmittance Control for Stable Target Visibility

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Solution Overview

Problem

In see-through displays, the transmittance of external light rays follows changes in environmental light conditions, causing difficulty for users to recognize displayed targets due to fluctuations in transmittance, especially when moving between sunny and shady places.

Innovation Solution

A transmittance control apparatus that identifies the lightness of both the display target and the environment, adjusting the display's transmittance based on maximum environmental lightness from a previous period to maintain visibility and prevent unnecessary transmittance changes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the transmittance of external light rays always follows changes in environmental light conditions, then the display adapts to environmental lighting, but the user cannot visually recognize the displayed target due to excessive transmittance fluctuation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptation to environmental lightingVSAvoidvisibility of displayed target

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the transmittance control adaptive rather than static. The control apparatus dynamically adjusts the transmittance based on the rate of change of environmental light conditions, allowing the system to respond appropriately to different lighting scenarios while preventing excessive fluctuations that would harm visibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of transmittance control by introducing a threshold for the rate of change of environmental light conditions. When the rate of change exceeds the threshold, the transmittance is held constant; when it remains below the threshold, the transmittance follows environmental changes. This parameter-based approach resolves the contradiction by selectively applying different control strategies.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Speed

If the transmittance responds quickly to environmental light changes, then the display adapts rapidly to lighting conditions, but unnecessary transmittance changes occur causing difficulty in recognizing displayed content

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresponse speed to light changesVSAvoidunnecessary transmittance fluctuation

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring the rate of change of environmental light conditions and using this information to control the transmittance. The feedback mechanism prevents unnecessary transmittance changes by only responding to significant lighting changes that exceed a predetermined threshold, thereby eliminating harmful fluctuations while maintaining appropriate response speed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies preliminary action by evaluating the rate of change of environmental light conditions before actually adjusting the transmittance. This preliminary assessment prevents premature or unnecessary transmittance changes by filtering out minor or transient lighting variations that would not warrant a display adjustment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Illumination intensity

If the transmittance is controlled based on current environmental light conditions, then the display remains bright in dark environments, but the transmittance fluctuates excessively when moving between sunny and shady places

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay brightness in dark environmentsVSAvoidtransmittance stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by implementing a dynamic transmittance control strategy that adapts to different environmental conditions. The system dynamically switches between two control modes: following environmental light changes when the rate of change is low, and maintaining constant transmittance when the rate of change is high, thereby achieving both brightness in dark environments and stability during transitions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the control parameter by introducing a threshold for the rate of change of environmental light conditions. This parameter threshold determines whether the transmittance should follow environmental changes or remain constant, allowing the system to maintain appropriate brightness while preventing excessive fluctuations during transitions between sunny and shady areas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS20250233976A1Transmittance control apparatus

Publication Date: 2025.07.17 NTT DOCOMO INC

AI summary

A transmittance control apparatus includes a first identifier configured to identify, based on display information indicating a target for display, a degree of lightness of the target for display; a second identifier configured to identify lightness of an environment in which a see-through display is disposed; a transmittance controller configured to: when the degree of lightness of the target for display does not fluctuate and the lightness of the environment fluctuates in a range less than or equal to a first lightness, reduce transmittance of the target for display displayed on the see-through display with an increase in the lightness of the environment; and control the transmittance of the target for display displayed on the see-through display at a first timing based on: a maximum lightness of the environment in a first period before to the first timing and the degree of lightness of the target for display.