Head-mounted device with content dimming for masking noise

Abstract

A method of operating an electronic device to mask noise at low scene brightness levels is provided. The method can include acquiring images of a scene and determining a scene brightness level of the acquired images. In response to determining that the scene brightness level is in a first range, the acquired images can be displayed as passthrough content in accordance with a 1:1 nits-to-nits mapping where the perceived brightness of the passthrough content matches the scene brightness level. In response to determining that the scene brightness is less than the first range, the perceived brightness of the passthrough content can be dimmed to be less than the scene brightness level. The method can also include generating virtual content. The passthrough content can be adjusted in accordance with a first scene-brightness-to-display-brightness profile, whereas the virtual content can be adjusted in accordance with a second scene-brightness-to-display-brightness profile.