Virtual Camera Parallax Adjustment for VR Sickness Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current image display systems for virtual reality (VR) often cause VR sickness due to the increased possibility of stereoscopic image viewing using goggles apparatus, particularly when the virtual space is enlarged, leading to discomfort and disorientation.

Innovation Solution

The system adjusts the angle of view of the virtual camera, narrows the interval between left-eye and right-eye virtual cameras, and continuously changes the distance between them to reduce parallax, thereby minimizing the stereoscopic effect and preventing rapid changes in the virtual environment, which helps in reducing VR sickness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the angle of view of the virtual camera is narrowed to enlarge a part of the virtual space, then the display quality and detail of the virtual space are improved, but the parallax between left-eye and right-eye images increases causing VR sickness

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay qualityVSAvoidVR sickness
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent dynamically adjusts the angle of view of the virtual camera based on the display region. When the display region is enlarged (zoomed in), the system narrows the angle of view to maintain display quality, but simultaneously adjusts the virtual camera position and parallax parameters to compensate. This parameter coordination ensures that while display precision is improved through enlargement, the harmful parallax effect is controlled by adjusting other parameters in sync.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If the distance between left-eye and right-eye virtual cameras is increased to enhance stereoscopic effect, then the 3D immersion is improved, but the parallax increases causing VR sickness

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestereoscopic effectVSAvoidVR sickness
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the virtual camera system dynamic by continuously adjusting the distance between left-eye and right-eye virtual cameras based on the current display region and angle of view. Rather than fixing the camera separation, the system adaptively modifies this parameter in real-time. When the display region is enlarged, the camera distance is reduced to control parallax, while when viewing the full scene, the distance increases to provide strong stereoscopic effect. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between immersion and comfort.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Stability of the object's composition

If the virtual camera position is fixed to maintain stable orientation, then the user experience consistency is improved, but the ability to adapt to different display regions is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveorientation stabilityVSAvoiddisplay region adaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic virtual camera positioning system that adjusts camera parameters based on the active display region. The virtual camera's angle of view, position, and orientation are continuously modified according to whether the user is viewing the full scene or an enlarged portion. This dynamic behavior allows the system to adapt to different display regions while maintaining stable orientation within each region, resolving the contradiction between stability and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Measurement precision

If the angle of view is continuously adjusted to follow user movement, then the tracking accuracy is improved, but the rapid changes cause disorientation and VR sickness

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetracking accuracyVSAvoiddisorientation
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies cushioning by adjusting virtual camera parameters in advance before rapid user movements occur. When detecting user movement patterns, the system proactively modifies the angle of view and camera position to prepare for the upcoming change, rather than reacting abruptly. This beforehand adjustment smooths out rapid transitions and prevents sudden disorienting changes, while still maintaining accurate tracking of user intent. The system cushions the transition to protect against VR sickness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Data Source

PatentEP3713229B1Image display system, image display program, and image display method
Publication Date: 2023.12.13 NINTENDO CO LTD
  • EP3713229B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3713229B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3713229B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An example of an image display system includes a goggles apparatus and is capable of setting an angle of view of a virtual camera disposed in a virtual space to a first angle of view or a second angle of view smaller than the first angle of view. If the angle of view of the virtual camera is set to the first angle of view, the image display system sets a parallax between an image for a left eye and an image for a right eye to a first parallax. If the angle of view of the virtual camera is set to the second angle of view, the image display system sets the parallax between the image for a left eye and the image for a right eye to a second parallax smaller than the first parallax.