Head-mounted display device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018199028-A1
Application number	US-201715402866-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 10, 2017
Priority date	Jan 10, 2017
Publication date	Jul 12, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

In one example, a head-mounted display (HMD) device includes multiple display panels arranged in parallel with each other. Each of the display panels is associated with one of multiple focal lengths. The HMD device includes multiple lenses to view a three-dimensional (3D) scene on the display panels. The HMD device also includes a controller to provide a frame of the 3D scene, viewable at the focal lengths. The frames include focal layers generated at one of the focal lengths. The frames are rendered by displaying the focal layers in a sequence on the display panels associated with the focal length at which the focal layer is generated. The controller also allows visible light to pass through one or more of the display panels based on whether the render planes are between an active focal layer and the lenses.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A head-mounted display (HMD) device, comprising:
a plurality of displays arranged in parallel with each other, each of the displays being associated with one of a plurality of focal lengths; a plurality of lenses to provide a view of a three-dimensional (3D) scene on the plurality of displays; and a controller to: provide a frame of the 3D scene, viewable at the focal lengths, the frame comprising a plurality of focal layers, each of the focal layers generated at one of the focal lengths, by displaying the focal layers in a sequence on the displays, each of the focal layers being displayed on one of the displays associated with a focal length at which the focal layer is generated; and allow visible light to pass through one or more of the displays based on whether a display is disposed between a displayed focal layer and the lenses.

2 . The HMD device of claim 1 , wherein the displays comprise transparent organic light emitting diode displays.

3 . The HMD device of claim 1 , wherein the displays are arranged in focal length sequence starting from closest to the lenses to a display most distant from the lenses.

4 . The HMD device of claim 1 , wherein the lenses are to be in an on state when the 3D scene is to be displayed, wherein the 3D scene is to be associated with an augmented reality experience, wherein the lenses are to be in an off state when the displays are to allow visible light of a real world view to pass through to the lenses.

5 . The HMD device of claim 1 , wherein the 3D scene is associated with a virtual reality experience.

6 . The HMD device of claim 1 , wherein the lenses comprise a plurality of lens arrays comprising micro lens arrays, wherein the lens arrays expand a size of an eye box by generating a plurality of focal stack views for a plurality of different eye positions.

7 . The HMD device of claim 1 , comprising a pair of projector modules, wherein the displays comprise a plurality of scatter shutters, and wherein the projector modules to project the focal layers on the scatter shutters.

8 . The HMD device of claim 7 , wherein the scatter shutters comprise two or more scatter shutters.

9 . The HMD device of claim 7 , wherein the scatter shutters are to provide projection surfaces for the projector modules by turning opaque in response to a signal from the controller.

10 . The HMD device of claim 1 , wherein the displays are to allow the visible light to pass through by turning transparent in response to a signal from the controller.

11 . The HMD device of claim 1 , wherein the frame of the 3D scene appears in focus, and provides a parallax effect.

12 . A method of displaying 3D scenes via an HMD device, the method comprising:
providing a frame of a 3D scene, viewable at a plurality of focal lengths, the frame comprising a plurality of displayed focal layers, each of the displayed focal layers generated at one of the focal lengths, by displaying the focal layers in a sequence on a plurality of displays, each of the displays being associated with one of the focal lengths, and each of the focal layers being displayed on one of the displays associated with a focal length at which the focal layer is generated; and allowing visible light to pass through one or more of the displays based on whether a display is disposed between a displayed focal layer and one of a plurality of lens arrays of the HMD device, wherein the lens arrays expand a size of an eye box of the HMD device by generating a plurality of focal stack views for a plurality of different eye positions.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the displays comprise transparent organic light emitting diode displays.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the displays are arranged in focal length sequence starting from closest to the lenses to a display most distant from the lenses.

15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the 3D scene is associated with an augmented reality experience, and wherein the displays allow visible light of a real world view to pass through to the lenses once for the frame.

16 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the 3D scene is associated with a virtual reality experience.

17 . The method of claim 12 , the HMD device comprising a pair of projector modules, wherein the displays comprise a plurality of scatter shutters, and wherein the projector modules project the focal layers on the scatter shutters.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the scatter shutters comprise four scatter shutters.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the scatter shutters provide projection surfaces for the projector modules by turning opaque in response to an electrical signal.

20 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the displays allow the visible light to pass through by turning transparent in response to an electrical signal.

21 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the lens arrays comprise micro lens arrays.

22 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the frame of the 3D scene appears in focus, and provides a parallax effect.

23 . A display apparatus, comprising:
means to provide a frame of a 3D scene, viewable at a plurality of focal lengths, the frame comprising a plurality of displayed focal layers, each of the focal layers generated at one of the focal lengths, by displaying the focal layers in reverse focal length sequence on a plurality of displays, each of the displays being associated with one of the focal lengths, and each of the focal layers being displayed on one of the displays associated with a focal length at which the focal layer is generated; and means to allow visible light to pass through one or more of the displays based on whether a display is disposed between a displayed focal layer and one of a plurality of lens arrays of the HMD device, wherein the lens arrays expand a size of an eye box of the HMD device by generating a plurality of focal stack views for a plurality of different eye positions, wherein the lens arrays comprise micro lens arrays.

24 . The display apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the displays comprise transparent organic light emitting diode displays.

25 . The display apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the 3D scene is associated with an augmented reality experience, and wherein the displays allow visible light of a real world view to pass through to the lenses once for the frame.

26 . The display apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the 3D scene is associated with a virtual reality experience.

27 . One or more tangible, non-transitory computer readable media for a head-mounted display (HMD) device, comprising a plurality of instructions that, in response to being executed on a processor, cause the processor to:
provide a frame of a 3D scene, viewable at a plurality of focal lengths, the frame comprising a plurality of displayed focal layers, each of the focal layers generated at one of the focal lengths, by displaying the focal layers in reverse focal length sequence on a plurality of displays, each of the displays being associated with one of the focal lengths, and each of the focal layers being displayed on one of the displays associated with a focal length at which the focal layer is generated; and allow visible light to pass through one or more of the displays based on whether a display is disposed between a displayed focal layer and one of a plurality of lens arrays of the HMD device, wherein the lens arr

Assignees

• Intel Corp

Inventors

• Ratcliff Joshua J
• Supikov Alexey M
• Hunter Seth E
• Alfaro Santiago E

Classifications

• H04N19/44

  Decoders specially adapted therefor, e.g. video decoders which are asymmetric with respect to the encoder · CPC title

• H04N19/18

  the unit being a set of transform coefficients · CPC title

• H04N19/14

  Coding unit complexity, e.g. amount of activity or edge presence estimation (H04N19/146 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H04N19/122

  Selection of transform size, e.g. 8x8 or 2x4x8 DCT; Selection of sub-band transforms of varying structure or type · CPC title

• H04N13/044 Primary

  Electricity · mapped topic