Variable Focus Lens Mixed Reality System Depth Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mixed reality systems fail to enable simultaneous focus on real-world and virtual objects as a user's eye changes focal length, leading to poor integration of digital objects in the real world.
Innovation Solution
A mixed reality system with a display and variable focus lens, combined with a visual combiner that allows pixel-by-pixel control of the viewscape, enabling the system to adjust the focus of digital objects to match the user's focal point and integrate virtual objects with real-world objects at varying depths without compromising the perceived solidity of either space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If mixed reality systems use fixed focus optics, then the system structure is simple, but the user cannot simultaneously focus on real-world and virtual objects at varying depths
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a variable focus lens that can dynamically adjust its focal length to match the user's eye focus. This dynamic adjustment enables the system to maintain simultaneous focus on both real-world objects at different depths and virtual objects, resolving the contradiction between operational ease and device complexity by introducing controlled adaptability to the optical system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the focal length parameter of the variable focus lens to correspond with the user's eye focus state. By continuously adjusting this optical parameter based on user feedback, the system achieves seamless integration of virtual and real objects at varying depths without requiring complex multi-lens configurations.
2Manufacturing precision
If virtual objects are rendered at fixed depth, then the rendering process is simple, but the integration with real-world objects at varying depths is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The rendering system dynamically adjusts the depth parameter of virtual objects to match the user's focal length. This dynamic depth adjustment creates perceptual consistency between virtual and real objects, improving depth integration precision while avoiding the need for complex multi-depth rendering pipelines by using a single adjustable depth parameter.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from the variable focus lens position to automatically adjust the rendering depth of virtual objects. This feedback mechanism ensures that virtual objects are always rendered at the correct depth corresponding to user focus, achieving high integration precision without requiring complex manual configuration or multiple rendering passes.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the display obscures the viewscape completely, then VR functionality is achieved, but AR functionality is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The display dynamically adjusts its transparency level based on the operational mode. In AR mode, the display remains partially transparent to allow viewing of the real world; in VR mode, it becomes opaque to block external vision. This dynamic transparency control enables dual VR-AR capability while avoiding the need for separate display hardware by using a single controllable display surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The display is designed to serve multiple functions by adjusting its optical properties. The same display surface can function as both an AR window and a VR barrier, eliminating the need for separate display systems. This multi-functionality achieves adaptability between VR and AR modes while minimizing device complexity by consolidating display functions into a single component.
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 system provides a cost-effective and improved mixed AR experience by allowing virtual objects to be perceived at varying real-world depths from arm's reach to optical infinity, enhancing the integration of virtual objects in the real world and supporting both VR and AR applications.
Implementation Method 1
a variable focus lens configured to change its focal length
Implementation Method 2
a visual combiner configured to reflect or transmit light
Data Source
AI summary
A mixed reality system and a method of using the mixed reality system to adjust or vary the focus of virtual content and virtual objects as a user's eye varies its focal point, resulting in a perceptually consistent focus or a perceptual match to the focus of objects in the real world. The mixed reality system is designed to optimize the definition of virtual objects without compromising the focus on reality.