Variable-Resolution Screen With Foveal Pixel Concentration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current display technologies in virtual reality headsets face challenges with high manufacturing costs, computational demands, and noticeable pixelation due to uniform pixel distribution across large fields of view, which is not aligned with human vision requirements.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a variable-resolution screen system where the foveal vision area has higher resolution, and peripheral vision areas have lower resolution, achieved through methods such as alternating high and low resolution frames or optically splitting a single display into multiple parts, using optical and mechanical elements to combine these into a seamless image.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If uniform high-resolution pixels are distributed across the entire screen, then image quality is improved, but manufacturing cost and computational requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by varying pixel density across different regions of the display - high pixel density in the foveal region where visual acuity is highest, and progressively lower pixel density in peripheral regions. This matches the non-uniform distribution of human photoreceptor cells, providing high image quality where needed while reducing manufacturing costs and computational requirements in peripheral areas.
2Measurement precision
If uniform high-resolution pixels are distributed across the entire screen, then image quality is improved, but computational requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system renders high-resolution content only in the foveal region where the user is looking, and lower-resolution content in peripheral regions. This dramatically reduces computational requirements for rendering and processing while maintaining perceived image quality, as the human visual system cannot detect the lower resolution in peripheral vision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic resolution adjustment based on eye tracking data. The high-resolution foveal region dynamically follows the user's gaze position, while peripheral regions dynamically adjust their resolution based on their distance from the foveal center. This dynamic adaptation optimizes computational resources in real-time.
3Area of stationary object
If uniform pixel distribution is used across large field of view displays, then coverage is improved, but pixelation and screen-door effects become noticeable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent concentrates high pixel density in the foveal region to maintain fine detail visibility, while accepting lower resolution in peripheral regions where the human visual system has reduced acuity. This local quality variation allows large field of view coverage without noticeable pixelation in the critical central vision area.
Solution Approach 2:
The display uses asymmetric pixel distribution rather than uniform distribution - the foveal region has significantly higher pixel density than peripheral regions. This asymmetric design matches the asymmetric nature of human visual attention, with the fovea providing high-acuity central vision and the periphery providing lower-acuity peripheral awareness.
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
Reduces manufacturing costs and computational requirements while providing enhanced image clarity by concentrating more pixels in the foveal and peripheral areas, minimizing pixelation and screen-door effects.
Implementation Method 1
shifting/offsetting the image or projection beam by a fixed or variable angle with no mechanically moving parts... An optical element such as an optical slab may be rotated... to shift/offset the projection beam
Implementation Method 2
An optical element such as an optical slab may be rotated, for example with a rotation stage, about an axis parallel to the projection beam and passing through or near the optical element
Data Source
Figure 1A~1C
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A variable-resolution screen apparatus and methodology for transforming an image from a microdisplay, display or projector into a variable-resolution image is described herein. The apparatus and methodology could take a high resolution part and a low resolution part, which could be created as a continuous stream of images that are masked to split into two, or as two interleaved images separated by time (or both). The two image streams are reassembled, the high resolution portion into the low resolution background, using various optical embodiments. The various embodiments use beam splitters, beam combiners, shutters, optical masks, lenses, mirrors, optical slabs, lens arrays and other optics in various combinations to create the variable-resolution image. The image from the microdisplay, display or projector is split (in some embodiments), transformed, and recombined to display on a screen or viewer's retina. This apparatus could be implemented in a virtual reality headset.