Search
Search
Published: September 26, 2017 | Source: HardOCP | Author: Mark Campbell

LG patents a VR display technology that will eliminate the “screen-door” effect

LG patents a VR display technology that will eliminate the

LG patents a VR display technology that will eliminate the “screen-door” effect

 
LG has patented a new technology that could greatly differentiate their own VR headsets from their competitors, offering a solution to the “screen-door” effect where VR users can see the spaces between each pixel on VR displays.  
 
This problem is a huge drawback for modern VR headsets like the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift, though several manufacturers plan to alleviate this issue by using higher resolution displays for VR, like Pimax with their dual 1440p (5K) and dual 4K (8K) VR headsets.   
 
Sadly the use of higher resolution displays offers up its own problems, making VR content much more demanding to run at smooth framerates. The use of a 4K display for each eye at 90Hz is something that is beyond the capabilities of even today’s strongest GPUs, which combined with the cost of higher resolution displays will make this solution to the “screen-door” effect unfeasible, at least for now. 
 
Below is a short summary of the problem, describing the screen door effect as seeing the world through a mosquito new. 
 


A display for virtual reality is a visualization device that provides virtual reality (VR) or augmented reality by making a virtual image feel like reality through vivid images, sounds, and the like. Such a display for virtual reality realizes a large viewing area despite the small size thereof and has no limitation as to the viewing angle, and therefore, has been utilized in various fields including, for example, augmented-reality industry and education, virtual-reality experience appliances, wearable PC monitors, theme parks, movie viewing, and game display devices.

However, because a display for virtual reality according to the related art forms an image at a position that is very close to the user’s eyes, a light-blocking area between the sub-pixels of a display panel is clearly visible. Therefore, there occurs a screen-door effect, in which a lattice resembling a mosquito net is visible in an image realized in the display for virtual reality according to the related art, which is undesirable.

 
LG’s patented solution (the patent can be read here) details a solution that will place a small diffusion layer between the main VR display and the lens of the VR headset. This layer is designed to make it appear as if the light is diffused from these light-blocking areas of the display as well as the pixels themselves, eliminating the screen-door effect. 
 
At this time it is unknown how effective this technology is, as if this technology is not implemented well it could lead to an overall blurring of the final VR image, which would be a major downside. LG is currently creating VR headsets, including a SteamVR headset which will compete with the HTC Vive.    
 
 
 
In the display for virtual reality, a light diffusion member, which diffuses light emitted from a light-transmitting area of a display panel to a light-blocking area of the display panel, is interposed between the display panel and an optical lens, whereby a user who views an image displayed on the display panel at a very close position does not perceive the light-blocking area, which improves the image quality of the display,

 

  

LG patents a VR display technology that will eliminate the

 

 

If this technology is effective, the screen door effect will be eliminated without the need for costly and compute-intensive high-resolution VR displays, allowing improved VR headsets to be released without a huge increase in headset cost and system compute requirements.   

At this time it is unknown if this technology is present on any of LG’s VR headset prototypes, though it is certainly something to look out for next time LG shows off their VR technology. 

 

You can join the discussion on LG’s patented technology that deals with VR’s “screen-door” problems on the OC3D Forums. 

 

Latest News

Uh-oh! It looks like you're using an ad blocker.

OC3D relies on ads to provide free content and sustain our operations. By white listing us on your ad blocker, you help support us and ensure we can continue offering valuable content without any cost to you. We only run our own hand picked ads from Industry brands like MSI, BeQuiet, Sapphire and PC-Specialist - meaning they are all relevent to the content you are reading.

We truly appreciate your understanding and support. Thank you for considering whitelisting OC3D