Head-Mountable Stereoscopic Display for Virtual Depth Matching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing head-mountable display systems either obscure the user's view of the surrounding environment or require complex optical arrangements to superimpose virtual images over the real world, lacking flexibility and comfort in various usage scenarios.

Innovation Solution

The system provides a head-mountable display that can fully or partially obscure the user's view, using separate displays for each eye with optical elements to create a virtual image at a comfortable distance, and incorporates motion sensing to adjust the displayed images based on head movements, allowing for dynamic changes in the apparent viewpoint.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If optical elements are used to create a virtual image at a comfortable distance, then user comfort is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser comfortVSAvoidoptical arrangement complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the display into separate displays for each eye (left and right), with separate optical elements for each eye. This segmentation allows each optical path to be optimized independently for comfort while managing overall system complexity through modular design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Optical elements act as intermediaries between the display devices and the user's eyes, creating virtual images at comfortable viewing distances. These optical intermediaries (lenses or waveguides) transform the physical display position into a perceived virtual position, improving comfort without requiring the display to be physically distant.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If separate displays are used for each eye, then image quality is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage qualityVSAvoiddisplay structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The display system uses separate display devices for the left and right eyes, allowing independent optimization of image quality for each eye. This segmentation enables precise control over stereoscopic imaging and virtual reality content while maintaining manageable complexity through standardized modular components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If the display obscures the user's view of the surrounding environment, then immersion in virtual content is improved, but adaptability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveusage scenario flexibilityVSAvoidenvironmental visibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts between different display modes - fully obscuring the environment for immersive virtual reality experiences, or allowing environmental visibility for augmented reality applications. This dynamic adaptability enables the same device to serve multiple usage scenarios by changing its optical configuration or display content.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

Enables immersive experiences with adjustable virtual images that maintain user comfort and clarity, supporting applications like virtual reality and augmented reality by dynamically adjusting the displayed content to match head movements, enhancing user experience and flexibility.

Implementation Method 1

a display element mounted with respect to each of the eye display positions, the display element providing a virtual image of a video display

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOptical image formation: Lens

Implementation Method 2

a motion sensor arranged to detect changes in position of the observer's head

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMotion detection: Accelerometer

Data Source

PatentEP3688984B1Head-mountable display system
Publication Date: 2025.09.24 SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT LLC
  • EP3688984B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3688984B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3688984B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

Head Mountable Display System A method of generatingstereoscopic images fordisplay with respect to a virtual display screen (VDS) position, the method comprising the steps ofsetting a VDS position for a stereoscopic image for display such that the depth profile of one or more VDSsapproximates the depth profile of one or more objects in a virtual scene to be displayed by that stereoscopic image,and generating the stereoscopic image for display having image parallax appropriate to the VDS positionor positionsset by the setting step. Figure 27 to accompany abstract