Selective Dimming Optical Filter for xR Ambient Light Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Virtual, augmented, and mixed reality applications are susceptible to being overpowered by bright ambient lighting conditions, leading to washed-out displays, which is not effectively addressed by simply brightening the AR/MR image or using tinted lenses or whole-environment dimming.
Innovation Solution
The system employs an optical filter in Head-Mounted Displays (HMDs) that identifies and dynamically adjusts to ambient light sources by darkening or lightening specific portions of the filter based on brightness and user gaze direction, using a processor and camera to track light sources and apply voltage to Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) pixels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the AR/MR image is brightened to counteract ambient lighting, then image visibility improves, but contrast and image quality deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The optical filter is divided into multiple independently controllable regions or layers, allowing selective dimming of specific portions corresponding to bright light sources while maintaining other regions unchanged. This segmentation enables localized control of light transmission, preserving overall image quality while counteracting specific ambient lighting issues.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the optical filter are assigned different optical properties (transparency levels) based on the local lighting conditions in the user's field of view. Bright areas are dimmed selectively while darker areas remain unaffected, creating local quality variations that maintain global image quality without requiring overall brightening.
2Manufacturing precision
If tinted lenses or whole-environment dimming is used to reduce ambient light impact, then contrast improves, but overall visibility and user experience deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The optical filter is divided into multiple independently controllable regions or layers, allowing selective dimming of specific portions corresponding to bright light sources while maintaining other regions unchanged. This segmentation enables localized control of light transmission, preserving overall image quality while counteracting specific ambient lighting issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical filter's transparency is dynamically adjusted in real-time based on detected ambient light conditions, rather than using a fixed tint. The system continuously adapts the filter properties to match changing lighting environments, maintaining optimal contrast and user experience across varying conditions.
3Manufacturing precision
If selective dimming of optical filter portions is implemented, then local contrast improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The selective dimming functionality is merged with the existing transparent display technology and integrated into the head-mounted display's existing optical path. The optical filter is combined with the display layers and control systems already present in the HMD, avoiding the need for separate complex systems while achieving localized contrast enhancement.
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
This approach allows for on-demand control of external light reaching the user's eyes, maintaining appropriate contrast and image quality in mixed reality environments, enabling comfortable viewing of combined virtual and real images without degrading user experience or battery life.
Implementation Method 1
apply voltage across a first subset of pixels to the exclusion of a second subset of pixels
Implementation Method 2
The voltage may be proportional to a brightness level of a bright spot created by the light source
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for selective dimming of ambient lighting in virtual, augmented, and mixed reality (xR) applications. In some embodiments, an Information Handling System (IHS) may include one or more processors and a memory coupled to the one or more processors, the memory including program instructions stored thereon that, upon execution by the one or more processors, cause the IHS to: identify the presence of a light source in a physical space where a user is wearing a Head-Mounted Display (HMD) during operation of an xR application; and darken a portion of an optical filter within the HMD at a position in the user's field-of-view (FOV) corresponding to the light source.