Head-mounted display with environmental state detection
First Claim
1. A method of controlling a head-mounted display, comprising the steps of:
- providing a head-mounted display having a display controller, the head-mounted display including a switchable viewing area that is switched by the display controller between a transparent viewing state, a partially transparent state, and an information viewing state, wherein;
i) the transparent viewing state is transparent with respect to the switchable viewing area and enables a user of the head-mounted display to view a scene outside the head-mounted display in the user'"'"'s line of sight;
ii) the information viewing state is opaque with respect to the viewing area and displays information in the switchable viewing area visible to a user of the head-mounted display; and
iii) the switchable viewing area includes a plurality of independently controllable switchable viewing areas that can each be independently controlled by the display controller to gradually transition between a transparent state and an information state through the partially transparent state;
providing an external environmental state detector that provides an external stimulus notification in response to a detected change in an external environment; and
using the display controller to individually, automatically, and gradually transition the viewing state of each of the plurality of independently controllable switchable viewing areas between the transparent viewing state and the information viewing state through the partially transparent state at a same time in response to the external stimulus notification after a predetermined period of time;
wherein the transition of the viewing state is performed at a rate related to the measured brightness of the environment.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Controlling a head-mounted display includes providing a head-mounted display, the head-mounted display includes a switchable viewing area that is switched between a transparent viewing state and an information viewing state. The transparent viewing state is transparent with respect to the viewing area and enables a user of the head-mounted display to view the scene outside the head-mounted display in the user'"'"'s line of sight. The information viewing state is opaque with respect to the viewing area and displays information in the switchable viewing area visible to a user of the head-mounted display. An external environmental state detector provides an external stimulus notification in response to a detected change in the external environment and causes the viewing state to automatically switch in response to the external stimulus notification.
28 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method of controlling a head-mounted display, comprising the steps of:
providing a head-mounted display having a display controller, the head-mounted display including a switchable viewing area that is switched by the display controller between a transparent viewing state, a partially transparent state, and an information viewing state, wherein; i) the transparent viewing state is transparent with respect to the switchable viewing area and enables a user of the head-mounted display to view a scene outside the head-mounted display in the user'"'"'s line of sight; ii) the information viewing state is opaque with respect to the viewing area and displays information in the switchable viewing area visible to a user of the head-mounted display; and iii) the switchable viewing area includes a plurality of independently controllable switchable viewing areas that can each be independently controlled by the display controller to gradually transition between a transparent state and an information state through the partially transparent state; providing an external environmental state detector that provides an external stimulus notification in response to a detected change in an external environment; and using the display controller to individually, automatically, and gradually transition the viewing state of each of the plurality of independently controllable switchable viewing areas between the transparent viewing state and the information viewing state through the partially transparent state at a same time in response to the external stimulus notification after a predetermined period of time;
wherein the transition of the viewing state is performed at a rate related to the measured brightness of the environment.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A head-mounted display apparatus, comprising:
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a head-mounted display, the head-mounted display including a switchable viewing area that is switched between a transparent state, a partially transparent state, and an information state, wherein; i) the transparent state enables a user of the head-mounted display to see a real world outside the head-mounted display in the user'"'"'s line of sight; ii) the information state is opaque and displays information in the switchable viewing area visible to a user of the head-mounted display; and iii) the switchable viewing area includes a plurality of independently controllable switchable viewing areas that can each be independently controlled to gradually transition between a transparent state and an information state through the partially transparent state; an external environmental-state detector that provides an external stimulus notification in response to a detected change in an external environment; and a display controller for individually, automatically, and gradually transitioning a viewing state of each of the plurality of independently controllable switchable viewing areas between the transparent state and the information state through the partially transparent state at a same time in response to the external stimulus notification after a predetermined period of time;
wherein the transition of the viewing state is performed at a rate related to the measured brightness of the environment. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification