Multi-depth augmented reality structure and optical waveguide structure

Abstract

The invention discloses a multi-depth augmented reality structure and an optical waveguide structure. The multi-depth augmented reality structure comprises an image source, an optical waveguide and a near-eye end phase modulator, the image source outputs a plurality of images in one display period in a time division multiplexing mode; light of a plurality of images is projected to the optical waveguide, and is output to the near-eye end phase modulator after being transmitted by the optical waveguide; and the near-eye end phase modulation device performs phase modulation on light of a plurality of images so as to realize imaging depth modulation on the plurality of images. According to the scheme, the technical problems that in the prior art, in an AR display scene, when an image source is focused to infinity, the human eye perception position and the focusing position are deviated, and when the human eyes watch a near object, the virtual image cannot be clearly observed are solved, the number of waveguide layers can be prevented from being increased, and the visual effect is improved. Therefore, the size and weight of the device are reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of image display, and in particular to a multi-depth augmented reality structure and an optical waveguide structure. Background Art

[0002] When using a waveguide as a light transmitting element, the image source must be focused to infinity due to pupil dilation. In the AR display scenario, this phenomenon will have two disadvantages. One is that there is a deviation between the human eye's perception position and the focusing position; the other is that the human eye cannot clearly observe the virtual image when viewing nearby objects. In response to the above problems, some existing AR displays will adopt a multi-imaging surface solution to improve the above two disadvantages. In the existing solution, two image sources are usually used in conjunction with two layers of waveguides to achieve this function, which will inevitably increase the volume of the imaging optical machine part, and the increase in the number of waveguide layers will also increase the overall cost and weight of the glasses. Summary of the invention

[0003] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a multi-depth augmented reality structure and an optical waveguide structure, which are used to alleviate the technical problems existing in the prior art that, in an AR display scenario, the image source is focused to infinity, which causes deviations in the human eye's perception position and focusing position, and the human eye cannot clearly observe the virtual image when viewing nearby objects.

[0004] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object of the invention, a first aspect of an embodiment of the present invention provides a multi-depth augmented reality structure, including an image source, an optical waveguide, and a near-eye phase modulation device;

[0005] The image source outputs multiple images in one display cycle by means of time division multiplexing; the light of the multiple images is projected onto the optical waveguide, and is output to the near-eye phase modulation device after being transmitted through the optical waveguide;

[0006] The near-eye phase modulation device performs phase modulation on the light of multiple images to achieve imaging depth modulation of the multiple images.

[0007] Optionally, the augmented reality structure includes a far-end phase modulation device, and the near-eye phase modulation device is respectively arranged on both sides of the optical waveguide;

[0008] The far-end phase modulator and the near-eye phase modulator have opposite optical focal lengths. When external light enters the human eye through the far-end phase modulator, the far-end phase modulator is used to compensate for the phase generated by the near-eye phase modulator performing phase modulation on the external light.

[0009] Optionally, the phase modulation device is liquid crystal.

[0010] Optionally, the image source is a fiber optic scanning display device; the fiber optic scanning display device and the near-eye end phase modulation device are located on the same side or on different sides of the optical waveguide.

[0011] Optionally, one display cycle of the fiber optic scanning display device includes a downward scanning cycle and an upward scanning cycle, and in the downward scanning cycle and the upward scanning cycle, the fiber optic scanning display device outputs two images respectively.

[0012] Optionally, during the downward scanning period, the near-eye end phase modulation device has a first predetermined state, so that the virtual image is imaged at a first preset distance;

[0013] In the upward scanning period, the near-eye phase modulation device has a second predetermined state, so that the virtual image is imaged at a second preset distance.

[0014] Optionally, the first preset distance and the second preset distance correspond to different imaging depths respectively.

[0015] A second aspect of an embodiment of the present invention provides a multi-depth optical waveguide structure, comprising: an optical waveguide, a near-eye phase modulation device and a far-end phase modulation device arranged on both sides of the optical waveguide;

[0016] When the lights of the multiple images are transmitted in the optical waveguide, the near-eye end phase modulation device performs phase modulation on the lights of the multiple images output by the optical waveguide to achieve imaging depth modulation of the multiple images;

[0017] When external light enters the human eye through the remote phase modulation device, the remote phase modulation device is used to compensate for the phase generated by the near-eye phase modulation device performing phase modulation on the external light.

[0018] Optionally, the far-end phase modulation device and the near-eye phase modulation device have opposite optical focal powers.

[0019] Optionally, the phase modulation device is liquid crystal.

[0020] One or more technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention have at least the following technical effects or advantages:

[0021] In the solution of the embodiment of the present invention, an image source is used, and time division multiplexing is used to display multiple images for multiple depths in one display cycle, and the phase modulation function of the phase modulation device is used to realize imaging position modulation of the image emitted by the optical waveguide, thereby alleviating the technical problems existing in the prior art that in an AR display scenario, the image source is focused to infinity, which causes deviations in the human eye's perception position and focusing position, and the human eye cannot clearly observe the virtual image when viewing nearby objects. It can also avoid increasing the number of waveguide layers, thereby reducing the volume and weight of the device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art are briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those of ordinary skill in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative labor:

[0023] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of an optical waveguide provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of external light entering the human eye provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of phase modulation corresponding to two liquid crystal devices provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 4 The image source provided in the embodiment of the present invention is a structural schematic diagram of a FSD device;

[0027] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the up and down scanning cycle of the FSD provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the adjustment timing of each device provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of the modulation state of liquid crystal 1 and liquid crystal 2 provided in an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] The following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0031] Please refer to Figure 1 , Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an optical waveguide provided in an embodiment of the present invention, and the optical waveguide structure includes an optical waveguide 101, a near-eye phase modulator 102 and a far-end phase modulator 103 arranged on both sides of the optical waveguide 101. After the light is emitted through the optical waveguide 101, it will pass through the near-eye phase modulator 102 with a certain optical focal phase modulation, so that it is focused at the required imaging position and enters the human eye.

[0032] like Figure 2 As shown, when external light enters the human eye, it will first pass through a remote phase modulator 103 with opposite optical focal length phase modulation. The phase modulator can compensate for the phase generated for focusing, so that the external light will not be disturbed after entering the human eye.

[0033] In the embodiment of the present invention, the phase modulation device can be liquid crystal. Assume that the near-eye phase modulation device is liquid crystal 1 and the far-end phase modulation device is liquid crystal 2. Figure 3 , which is a schematic diagram of phase modulation corresponding to two liquid crystal devices. Liquid crystal 1 and liquid crystal 2 have opposite optical focal lengths, and the imaging distance can be controlled by controlling the optical focal length of the liquid crystal modulation phase.

[0034] Next, the phase modulation device is liquid crystal, and the image source is a fiber scanning display device FSD (fiber scanning display) as an example for explanation. Figure 4 As shown. The FSD and the near-eye phase modulation device are located on the same side of the optical waveguide. In other embodiments, the FSD and the near-eye phase modulation device may also be arranged on different sides of the optical waveguide, and when different types of image sources are used, the positions of the image source and the optical waveguide may also be adjusted accordingly, and the present invention does not limit this.

[0035] In the embodiment of the present invention, in order to enable the virtual image to be formed on multiple planes, the scanning display device needs to be completed in conjunction with the liquid crystal. For the fiber scanning display device, a display cycle may include one or more scanning cycles. Taking the example of two planes and one display cycle including one scanning cycle, the fiber scanning display device can be divided into a downward scanning cycle and an upward scanning cycle in a longitudinal scanning cycle, such as Figure 5 Therefore, the adjustment timing of each device can be controlled to complete the dual-plane imaging. The adjustment timing of each device is as follows: Figure 6 shown.

[0036] When the optical fiber scanning display device scans downward, image 1 can be displayed, and the liquid crystal is adjusted to be in a first predetermined state (state 1), so that the virtual image is imaged at a first preset distance (distance 1). When the optical fiber scanning display device scans upward, image 2 is displayed, and the liquid crystal is adjusted to be in a second predetermined state (state 2), so that the virtual image is imaged at a second preset distance (distance 2). The first preset distance and the second preset distance can correspond to different imaging depths, respectively.

[0037] For example, the first preset distance and the second preset distance are infinity and near respectively. Figure 7 As shown, two different modulation states of liquid crystal 1 and liquid crystal 2 are shown. When liquid crystal 1 and liquid crystal 2 are in state 1, the virtual image is imaged at infinity. When liquid crystal 1 and liquid crystal 2 are in state 2, the virtual image is imaged at a close distance.

[0038] In the implementation of the present invention, the image source uses time division multiplexing to output multiple images within one display cycle. The output multiple images can be different images or the same image. Accordingly, the multiple images are imaged on multiple different imaging surfaces through the method in the above embodiment, which is beneficial to human eye perception and improves the viewing experience.

[0039] All features disclosed in this specification, or steps in all methods or processes disclosed, except mutually exclusive features and / or steps, can be combined in any manner.

[0040] Any feature disclosed in this specification (including any additional claims, abstract and drawings), unless otherwise stated, may be replaced by other equivalent or alternative features with similar purposes. That is, unless otherwise stated, each feature is only an example of a series of equivalent or similar features.

[0041] The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned specific embodiments, but extends to any new features or any new combination disclosed in this specification, as well as any new method or process steps or any new combination disclosed.

Claims

1. A multi-depth augmented reality structure, It is characterized in that It includes an image source, an optical waveguide and a near-eye phase modulation device; The image source outputs a plurality of images in one display cycle by means of time division multiplexing; the light of the plurality of images is projected onto the optical waveguide, and is output to the near-eye phase modulation device after being transmitted through the optical waveguide; The near-eye phase modulation device performs phase modulation on the light of the multiple images to achieve imaging depth modulation on the multiple images.

2. The augmented reality structure according to claim 1, It is characterized in that The augmented reality structure includes a far-end phase modulation device, and the near-eye phase modulation device is respectively arranged on both sides of the optical waveguide; The far-end phase modulator and the near-eye phase modulator have opposite optical focal lengths. When external light enters the human eye through the far-end phase modulator, the far-end phase modulator is used to compensate for the phase generated by the near-eye phase modulator performing phase modulation on the external light.

3. The augmented reality structure according to claim 1 or 2, It is characterized in that The phase modulation device is liquid crystal.

4. The augmented reality structure according to claim 1, It is characterized in that The image source is a fiber scanning display device; the fiber scanning display device and the near-eye end phase modulation device are located on the same side or on different sides of the optical waveguide.

5. The augmented reality structure as claimed in claim 4, It is characterized in that One display cycle of the optical fiber scanning display device includes a downward scanning cycle and an upward scanning cycle. In the downward scanning cycle and the upward scanning cycle, the optical fiber scanning display device outputs two images respectively.

6. The augmented reality structure according to claim 5, It is characterized in that In the downward scanning period, the near-eye end phase modulation device has a first predetermined state, so that the virtual image is imaged at a first preset distance; In the upward scanning period, the near-eye phase modulation device has a second predetermined state, so that the virtual image is imaged at a second preset distance.

7. The augmented reality structure according to claim 6, It is characterized in that The first preset distance and the second preset distance correspond to different imaging depths respectively.

8. A multi-depth optical waveguide structure, It is characterized in that include: An optical waveguide, a near-eye phase modulator and a far-end phase modulator arranged on both sides of the optical waveguide; When the lights of the multiple images are transmitted in the optical waveguide, the near-eye end phase modulation device performs phase modulation on the lights of the multiple images output by the optical waveguide to achieve imaging depth modulation of the multiple images; When external light enters the human eye through the remote phase modulation device, the remote phase modulation device is used to compensate for the phase generated by the near-eye phase modulation device performing phase modulation on the external light.

9. The optical waveguide structure according to claim 8, It is characterized in that The distal end phase modulation device and the near-eye end phase modulation device have opposite optical powers.

10. The optical waveguide structure according to claim 9, It is characterized in that The phase modulation device is liquid crystal.

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