Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. (DNP) has developed a pixel smoothing film designed to boost the realistic image immersion effect by improving the image quality of head mounted displays (HMD).

[Background]

Virtual reality has gained the attention of numerous fields in recent years, such as the amusement industry, and as a communicative device, HMD that provide a more realistic effect are spreading. At the same time, an inherent property of HMD is the use of an optical lens to expand small scale displays. This presents the challenge whereby the pixels comprising the three primary colors – Red, Green and Blue (RGB) – overlap, and can be seen by the viewer, making it more difficult to achieve an immersive impact.
In answer to this challenge, DNP has developed a film that is capable of being loaded in the HMD and reducing the pixel effect without losing any of the clarity of the projected images. This makes it possible to boost the visual immersive impact as though the viewer was actually able to enter into the displayed world.

[New Product Features]

By installing the newly developed film in the HMD, the individual RGB color area expands making it more difficult to see the black matrix interposed in between each color area to prevent color overlap. Image quality is improved, and the immersive impact multiplied as a result. In cases where each color area of RGB arrangement is different in shape and size and enlarged in an even manner, it may result in phenomena such as the black matrix becoming visible, or the commingling of adjacent colors. By using this newly developed film, DNP has successfully made it more difficult to see the black matrix area, even while maintaining image clarity, via the precise control of light dispersion.

To date, microfabricated, single layer micro lenses have been used to expand the pixels in an even manner and boost the immersive impact of the HMD. But, with the newly developed DNP film, it is possible to respond to a variety of RGB arrangements in which each of the three color areas has various shapes and sizes via the use of microfabricated two-layered lenses that expand design freedom while improving image quality.
The newly developed film utilizes original DNP lens design and microfabricating technology to control optimal lighting to match display configuration and RGB color area arrangement status. The film can be installed in both HMD models designed for dedicated displays, along with those mounted with mobile devices, such as smartphones.

[Looking Ahead]

DNP will commence the supply of the newly developed film within the present calendar year, beginning with HMD manufacturers, and targeting game equipment makers and mobile device makers, aiming for sales of over 5.0 billion yen per annum by FY 2021.

* Product prices, specification and service contents mentioned in this news release are current as of the date of publication. They may be changed at any time without notice.