Transmissive Display Depth Control for Eye Strain Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Transmissive displays burden the eyes of users due to the need to focus on both the screen and distant objects, increasing eye strain as users view characters or signs through the display.

Innovation Solution

A display control apparatus and method that acquires positional information between the transmissive display and an object, adjusting the perceived depth of display objects stereoscopically to reduce eye strain by aligning the display with the viewer's perspective, using techniques like parallax barrier or lenticular methods for stereoscopic viewing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If a transmissive display displays characters or signs on the screen, then information display function is improved, but eye strain increases due to the need to focus on both the screen and distant objects

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation displayVSAvoideye strain
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the display content adaptive to the user's viewing conditions. The display control apparatus dynamically adjusts the display parameters (such as brightness, contrast, or content priority) based on detected user position and viewing angle, allowing the display to transition between showing detailed information and maintaining transparency to reduce eye strain.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes parameter changes by modifying display characteristics in response to user interaction. When a user views the transmissive display from different positions or angles, the system changes parameters such as the transparency level, brightness intensity, or focal plane adjustment to optimize both information visibility and comfort, reducing the harmful effect of eye strain.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If the transmissive display maintains transparency to view objects, then viewing comfort is improved, but display visibility and information clarity deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveviewing comfortVSAvoiddisplay visibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the balance between transparency and display visibility based on user needs. By detecting user position and interaction patterns, the display control apparatus dynamically modulates the liquid crystal state to provide optimal transparency when viewing comfort is prioritized and enhanced visibility when information display is required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs parameter changes by adjusting the optical properties of the liquid crystal layer. By changing parameters such as voltage applied to liquid crystal regions, the system can transition between transparent and opaque states, or adjust intermediate transparency levels, thereby balancing viewing comfort with display visibility according to operational context.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If the transmissive display uses liquid crystal to diffuse or transmit light, then display functionality is improved, but eye strain increases when viewing characters on the screen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay functionalityVSAvoideye strain
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by implementing different optical properties in different regions of the display or for different display elements. Characters or important information can be displayed in regions with higher contrast and opacity, while other areas maintain higher transparency, allowing the display to provide necessary visual information without uniformly increasing eye strain across the entire viewing area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the optical parameters of the liquid crystal material through controlled voltage application. By adjusting parameters such as the voltage threshold for liquid crystal switching, the duration of liquid crystal state maintenance, or the gradient of voltage distribution, the display can optimize the balance between functional reliability and reduction of eye strain effects.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 effectively reduces eye strain by allowing users to view objects and display information without significant focus adjustments, enhancing comfort during use.

Implementation Method 1

The liquid crystal diffuses light when an application voltage is in an off-state, and transmits light when the application voltage is in an on-state

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLiquid crystal light diffusion and transmission: Liquid Crystals

Implementation Method 2

a screen configured to transmit light arriving from an object located on a side of a first surface so that the object is viewable from a viewpoint position

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight transmission: Light

Data Source

PatentEP2544456B1Display control apparatus, display control method, and program
Publication Date: 2019.12.18 SONY GROUP CORP
  • EP2544456B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2544456B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2544456B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided is a display control apparatus controlling display of a transmissive display which includes a screen configured to transmit light arriving from an object located on a side of a first surface so that the object is viewable from a viewpoint position set on a side of a second surface which is an opposite surface to the first surface and which displays a display object to be stereoscopically viewed. The display control apparatus includes an acquisition unit that acquires position information indicating a relative positional relation between the transmissive display and the object, and a display control unit that changes, in accordance with a change in the relative positional relation in the position information, a depth of the display object from the screen perceived from the viewpoint position, the display object being displayed to be stereoscopically viewed by the transmissive display.