{
  "patent_number": "US 9726896",
  "country": "US",
  "title": "How an Augmented Reality Headset Shows a Stable Virtual Monitor",
  "original_title": "Virtual monitor display technique for augmented reality environments",
  "summary": "This patent describes an augmented reality headset that uses special liquid lenses and an occlusion matrix to display a stable virtual computer monitor, even as the user moves their head or body, while also preventing visual artifacts.",
  "what_it_does": "This patent describes an augmented reality (AR) head-mountable device designed to replace a physical computer monitor with a virtual one. The device includes a micro display that shows the virtual image and a liquid lens placed in front of it (Claim 1). A liquid lens controller adjusts the tilt and focus of this lens to move the virtual image in any direction, making it appear anchored to a fixed spot in the real world even when the wearer moves their head or body (Claim 2, 9). For example, if you turn your head, the virtual screen stays in the same perceived spot. The system also uses a binocular occlusion matrix, which works with the liquid lens controller to make parts of the virtual screen opaque, preventing blurry 'ghosting' effects (Claim 1, 4). The virtual monitor can also automatically hide if the wearer moves their head past a certain angle or moves more than a set distance (Claim 12, 13, 14).",
  "what_it_does_not_cover": [
    "Does not cover AR systems that display virtual content without using a liquid lens to adjust the projected image's position or focus.",
    "Does not cover AR systems that lack a binocular occlusion matrix to prevent 'ghosting' of the virtual display.",
    "Does not cover virtual monitors that are built directly into the head-mountable device and are not interfaced with an external video source (like a PC or TV).",
    "Does not cover systems where the virtual display does not appear to stay fixed in a real-world location when the user moves.",
    "Does not cover systems that do not automatically hide the virtual display in response to specific wearer movements, such as turning their head more than 15 degrees or moving more than 10 inches.",
    "Does not cover AR systems that use traditional mechanical lenses instead of liquid lenses for dynamic image manipulation."
  ],
  "filed": "2016-04-21",
  "granted": "2017-08-08",
  "expires": "2036-04-21",
  "status": "active",
  "holder": "Individual",
  "holder_url": "https://patentbrief.org/company/individual",
  "inventors": [
    {
      "name": "Maximilian Ralph Peter von und zu Liechtenstein",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/maximilian-ralph-peter-von-und-zu-liechtenstein"
    }
  ],
  "times_cited": 21,
  "tags": [
    "consumer_electronics",
    "software",
    "telecommunications",
    "augmented_reality"
  ],
  "abstract": "Methods, apparatus, and computer-readable media are described herein related to a virtual monitor display technique for augmented reality environments targeted at allowing a user of a display-enabled computing device to substitute their conventional hardware-realized display screen with a virtualized display screen of equal or better usability characteristics than the hardware-realized device. A virtual screen is rendered via a micro display in an augmented reality environment to a human user wearing a see through head mountable device. The system architecture makes use of liquid lens technology in order to adjust the relative position of the display as well as the focal distance by optical means only thereby ensuring that the virtual screen is rendered at the maximum resolution of the micro display at all times. The system architecture also comprises an occlusion matrix thereby ensuring that the virtual screen is free of ghosting. The system is configured in such a way that a display auto-hide function is triggered whenever certain threshold parameters are exceeded. The virtual monitor display technique described herein has been designed with the aim of reducing the effects simulator sickness during prolonged use of the virtual display.",
  "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/9726896/virtual-monitor-display-technique-for-augmented-reality-environments",
  "markdown_url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/9726896/virtual-monitor-display-technique-for-augmented-reality-environments/md",
  "google_patents_url": "https://patents.google.com/patent/US9726896",
  "relatedPatents": [
    {
      "patentNumber": "10573086",
      "countryCode": "US",
      "title": "How AR Glasses Make Virtual Objects Look Solid",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10573086/opacity-filter-for-display-device"
    },
    {
      "patentNumber": "10078917",
      "countryCode": "US",
      "title": "How to Show Augmented Reality Effects Inside a Virtual Reality World",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10078917/augmented-reality-simulation"
    },
    {
      "patentNumber": "12386177",
      "countryCode": "US",
      "title": "How Disney's Compact AR Display Uses Special Mirrors",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12386177/compact-augmented-reality-virtual-reality-display"
    },
    {
      "patentNumber": "12737093",
      "countryCode": "US",
      "title": "Managing Virtual Objects on Resizable Surfaces in 3D Digital Spaces",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12737093/methods-for-displaying-objects-relative-to-virtual-surfaces"
    },
    {
      "patentNumber": "12069233",
      "countryCode": "US",
      "title": "Augmented Reality Glasses for Guiding Surgeons",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12069233/head-mounted-augmented-reality-near-eye-display-device"
    }
  ]
}