Head-mounted display systems with power saving functionality
Head-mounted display systems with power saving functionality are disclosed. The systems can include a frame configured to be supported on the head of the user. The systems can also include a head-mounted display disposed on the frame, one or more sensors, and processing electronics in communication with the display and the one or more sensors. In some implementations, the processing electronics can be configured to cause the system to reduce power of one or more components in response to at least in part on a determination that the frame is in a certain position (e.g., upside-down or on top of the head of the user). In some implementations, the processing electronics can be configured to cause the system to reduce power of one or more components in response to at least in part on a determination that the frame has been stationary for at least a threshold period of time.
1. A head-mounted display system configured to project light to an eye of a user to display augmented reality image content in a vision field of said user, said head-mounted display system comprising:
a frame configured to be supported on a head of the user in an upright position;
a head-mounted display disposed on the frame, said display configured to project light into said user's eye to display augmented reality image content to the user's vision field, at least a portion of said display being transparent and disposed at a location in front of the user's eye when the user wears the frame in the upright position such that said transparent portion transmits light from a portion of the environment in front of the user and said head-mounted display to the user's eye to provide a view of said portion of the environment in front of the user and said head-mounted display;
one or more sensors comprising an inward-facing imaging system and/or an outward-facing imaging system; and
processing electronics in communication with the display and the one or more sensors, the processing electronics configured to:
receive a signal from the one or more sensors;
determine whether the frame is on top of the head of the user based at least in part on the signal received from the one or more sensors by:
receiving images from the inward-facing imaging system and/or the outward-facing imaging system; and
analyzing the images to determine whether the frame is on top of the head of the user; and
cause the head-mounted display system to reduce power of one or more components of the head-mounted display system in response to at least in part on a determination that the frame is on the top of the head of the user.
2. The display system of claim 1 , wherein the processing electronics is further configured to:
determine whether the frame has been stationary for a period of time greater than or equal to a threshold period of time; and
cause the head-mounted display system to reduce the power of the one or more components of the head-mounted display system in response to at least in part on a determination that the frame has been stationary for the period of time greater than or equal to the threshold period of time.
3. The display system of claim 2 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise one or more motion sensors configured to measure change in position of the frame.
4. The display system of claim 3 , wherein the processing electronics is configured to determine whether the frame has been stationary for the period of time greater than or equal to the threshold period of time by:
receiving measurements from the one or more motion sensors; and
analyzing the received measurements to determine whether the frame has not moved for the period of time greater than or equal to the threshold period of time, wherein the frame has been stationary for the period of time greater than or equal to the threshold period of time if the frame has not changed position for at least the threshold period of time.
5. The display system of claim 1 , wherein the processing electronics is configured to determine whether the frame has been stationary for the period of time greater than or equal to the threshold period of time by:
receiving images in sequence from the inward-facing imaging system and/or the outward-facing imaging system; and
analyzing the received images to determine whether the frame has not moved for the period of time greater than or equal to the threshold period of time, wherein the frame has been stationary for the period of time greater than or equal to the threshold period of time if the images have not changed for at least the threshold period of time.
6. The display system of claim 1 , wherein processing electronics is configured to cause the display system to reduce the power of the one or more components by dimming or turning off a light source of the display.
7. The display system of claim 1 , wherein processing electronics is configured to cause the display system to reduce the power of the one or more components by reducing a refresh rate associated with the display.
8. The display system of claim 1 , wherein processing electronics is configured to cause the display system to reduce the power of the one or more components by reducing the power of the one or more sensors.
9. The display system of claim 1 , wherein processing electronics is configured to cause the display system to reduce the power of the one or more components by causing the display system to enter a sleep mode.
10. The display system of claim 1 , wherein the display system is configured to provide an alert to the user indicating that the display system is reducing the power of the one or more components of the display system.
11. The display system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to cause the display system to increase the power of the one or more components in response to at least in part on a determination that the frame is no longer on top of the head of the user.
12. The display system of claim 11 , where the processor is configured to cause the display system to increase the power of the one or more components in response to at least in part on a determination that the frame is supported on the head of the user such that said display is configured to project light into said user's eye to display augmented reality image content to the user's vision field.
13. The display system of claim 1 , wherein the inward-facing imaging system and/or the outward-facing imaging system is/are configured to sense the user and/or the surroundings of the user even when the power of the one or more components has been reduced.
14. A head-mounted display system configured to project light to an eye of a user to display augmented reality image content in a vision field of said user, said head-mounted display system comprising:
a frame configured to be supported on a head of the user in an upright position;
a head-mounted display disposed on the frame, said display configured to project light into said user's eye to display augmented reality image content to the user's vision field, at least a portion of said display being transparent and disposed at a location in front of the user's eye when the user wears the frame in the upright position such that said transparent portion transmits light from a portion of the environment in front of the user and said head-mounted display to the user's eye to provide a view of said portion of the environment in front of the user and said head-mounted display;
one or more sensors comprising an inward-facing imaging system configured to sense one or more facial features of the user; and
processing electronics in communication with the display and the one or more sensors, the processing electronics configured to:
receive a signal from the one or more sensors;
determine whether the frame is on top of the head of the user based at least in part on the signal received from the one or more sensors by:
receiving images from the inward-facing imaging system; and
analyzing the images to identify one or more periocular features, wherein the frame is not on the top of the head of the user if the one or more periocular features are identified in the images.