Spatially-Variable Angular Resolution Display via Warped Image De-Warping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional Head-Mounted Displays (HMDs) face limitations in achieving high pixel density and field of view due to small display screens and numerous optical components, which hinder their ability to mimic human visual acuity and spatially-variable angular resolution.
Innovation Solution
A display apparatus with an image renderer and an optical element comprising different optical portions for magnification, where a processor generates a warped image that is de-warped by these optical portions to achieve spatially-variable angular resolution on an image plane, enhancing the display's ability to mimic human vision without increasing computational burden.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If display screens offering higher pixel densities are used, then visual acuity imitation is improved, but field of view is limited and device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The optical element is divided into multiple optical portions, each with different optical properties (magnification factors). This segmentation allows different regions of the display screen to be magnified differently, enabling high pixel density in the foveal region while maintaining a wider field of view in peripheral regions, thus resolving the contradiction between visual acuity imitation and field of view
Solution Approach 2:
Different optical portions of the optical element provide different magnification properties for different regions of the display screen. The first optical portion provides higher magnification for the foveal region to achieve high pixel density and visual acuity imitation, while the second optical portion provides lower magnification for peripheral regions to expand the field of view, implementing local quality differentiation
2Reliability
If a large number of optical components are used, then simulated environment rendering is improved, but device complexity and accommodation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple optical functions (different magnification factors for different regions) are merged into a single optical element with multiple optical portions. This consolidation maintains the capability to render simulated environments with high fidelity while reducing the total number of optical components from multiple separate elements to one integrated element, thereby reducing device complexity and accommodation difficulty
Solution Approach 2:
The optical element serves multiple functions simultaneously by incorporating different optical portions with different magnification properties. This single multi-functional optical element replaces what would traditionally require multiple separate optical components, enabling both high-fidelity simulated environment rendering and simplified device structure
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 the production of de-warped images with spatially-variable angular resolutions, improving the display's ability to mimic human vision and enhancing the field of view without increasing complexity, thereby addressing the limitations of conventional HMDs.
Implementation Method 1
at least one optical element arranged on an optical path between the image renderer and the image plane, the at least one optical element comprising at least a first optical portion and a second optical portion having different optical properties with respect to magnification
Data Source
AI summary
A display apparatus includes an image renderer per eye, at least one optical element arranged on an optical path between the image renderer and an image plane and a processor coupled to the image renderer. The processor or an image source communicably coupled to the processor is configured to generate a warped image based upon the optical properties of the first optical portion and the second optical portion. The processor is configured to render the warped image via the image renderer, wherein projections of a first portion and a second portion of the warped image are to be differently magnified by the first optical portion and the second optical portion of the at least one optical element, respectively, to produce the image on the image plane in a manner that the produced image appears de-warped to a user. The image has a spatially-variable angular resolution on an image plane.