Optical lens device

Abstract

This invention discloses an optical lens device comprising: a liquid crystal material housed between two half-cell components; wherein one or more of the two half-cell components include a first concentric electrode pattern and a second concentric electrode pattern, the first concentric electrode pattern and the second concentric electrode pattern being electrically operable in parallel to at least switch the liquid crystal material to a first state and switch out of the first state; wherein the first state includes a cooperative refractive index distribution in adjacent first and second regions centered on an optical axis; wherein at least one of the two half-cell components includes at least one annular solid wall structure located in a reset region between a first edge of the first region and a second edge of the second region; and wherein the solid wall structure is positioned closer to the first region than to the second region; and when the liquid crystal material is in the first state, the refractive index of unpolarized light propagating in a direction perpendicular to the half-cell components is more closely matched with the liquid crystal material at the first edge of the first region than the liquid crystal material at the second edge of the second region.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to: an optical lens device comprising a concentric electrode pattern operable in parallel to at least electrically switch a liquid crystal material to and from a first state, the first state comprising a cooperative refractive index distribution at least adjacent to first and second concentric Fresnel regions centered on an optical axis; an assembly comprising the device and at least one optical component; and a device comprising the device, a processor, and a memory containing instructions for controlling the device. Background Technology

[0002] refer to Figure 8 In the microscope images, the inventors of this application have noticed that when the lens device is switched to the first state ("on" in Figure 8) according to a previously designed lens, a defect (non-tilted line) appears. For comparison, Figure 8 The microscope image of the same device in a neutral "off" state is also shown, in which no potential gradient is generated in the concentric electrode pattern.

[0003] The inventors of this application attribute the occurrence of these defects to the influence of liquid crystal material in one Fresnel region on liquid crystal material in adjacent Fresnel regions.

[0004] The inventors of this application have dedicated themselves to developing technologies that at least reduce the occurrence of such defects. Attached Figure Description

[0005] Embodiments of the invention will now be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, by way of example only, in which:

[0006] Figure 1 Show a representation of an instance of a component of a device based on an instance;

[0007] Figure 2 Show a representation of an instance of a component of a device based on an instance;

[0008] Figure 3 Show a representation of an instance of a component of a device based on an instance;

[0009] Figure 4 Show a representation of an instance of a component of a device based on an instance;

[0010] Figure 5 This example demonstrates a representation of an instance of a wall fracture configuration based on a given instance.

[0011] Figure 6 and Figure 7 exhibit Figures 1 to 4 An example representation of the radial resistance distribution curve of two concentric electrode patterns;

[0012] Figure 8 A representation of instances of defects observed in a device based on a previous design;

[0013] Figure 9 An example illustrating the theory of the cause of defects in a device based on a previous design;

[0014] Figure 10 A representation of an example of a head-mounted device incorporating a liquid crystal adaptive optics lens;

[0015] Figure 11 Demonstration for operation Figure 10 Representation of instances of head-mounted kit systems; and

[0016] Figure 12 An illustrative representation of an exemplary device is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0017] An optical lens device is provided, comprising: a liquid crystal material housed between two half-cell components; wherein one or more of the two half-cell components include a first concentric electrode pattern and a second concentric electrode pattern, the first concentric electrode pattern and the second concentric electrode pattern being electrically operable in parallel to at least switch the liquid crystal material to a first state and switch out of the first state; wherein the first state includes a cooperative refractive index distribution in adjacent first and second regions centered on an optical axis; wherein at least one of the two half-cell components includes at least one annular solid wall structure located in a reset region between a first edge of the first region and a second edge of the second region; and wherein the solid wall structure is positioned closer to the first region than to the second region; and when the liquid crystal material is in the first state, the refractive index of unpolarized light propagating in a direction perpendicular to the half-cell components is more closely matched with the liquid crystal material at the first edge of the first region than the liquid crystal material at the second edge of the second region.

[0018] The liquid crystal material can be in the first state, that is, in terms of birefringence, the solid wall structure can match the liquid crystal material at the first edge of the first region more closely than the liquid crystal material at the second edge of the second region.

[0019] The spacer wall may at least partially contain a polymerized reactive liquid crystal precursor, which, when the liquid crystal material is in a first state, has been polymerized in a state in which the birefringence of the reactive liquid crystal precursor most closely matches the birefringence of the liquid crystal material at the first edge of the first region.

[0020] The spacer wall may comprise a stack comprising at least one or more layers of polymerized reactive liquid crystal atoms and one or more layers of another material.

[0021] An optical lens device is provided, comprising: a liquid crystal material housed between two half-cell components; wherein the two half-cell components include a liquid crystal alignment layer interfaced with the liquid crystal material, wherein the liquid crystal alignment layer is unidirectionally rubbed in a first direction; wherein one or more of the two half-cell components include a first concentric electrode pattern and a second concentric electrode pattern, the first concentric electrode pattern and the second concentric electrode pattern being operable in parallel to at least switch the liquid crystal material to a first state and switch out of the first state; wherein the first state includes a cooperative refractive index distribution in a first region and a second region centered on an optical axis; wherein at least one of the two half-cell components includes at least one solid annular wall structure, the at least one solid annular wall structure being centered on the optical axis and located in a reset region between the first region and the second region; and wherein the solid wall structure defines a fracture for radial movement of the liquid crystal material from one side of the solid wall structure to the opposite side of the solid wall structure, wherein the fracture is at least disproportionately located in one or more locations, at which the reset region is tangentially oriented at an angle of less than about 65 degrees relative to the first direction.

[0022] The fracture may be located in one or more locations, where the reset area is oriented tangentially at an angle of less than about 65 degrees relative to the first direction.

[0023] Many different patterns have been described above. It should be understood that additional patterns can be provided by combining any two or more of the patterns described above.

[0024] Various other configurations are also described in the following embodiments and the appended claims.

[0025] refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 An exemplary architecture of a Fresnel diffraction lens device according to some exemplary embodiments includes liquid crystal (LC) material 2 housed between two planar hemicelle components 4, 6.

[0026] One of the half-cell components 4 includes a patterned conductive layer 16 defining a plurality of concentric electrode patterns 10, 12. The concentric electrode patterns 10, 12 are centered on the optical axis 14 of the device and can be electrically operated in parallel. Each electrode pattern 10, 12 defines a corresponding Fresnel concentric ring electrode set (not shown) electrically connected in series within the set. The other of the two half-cell components 6 includes a conductive layer 18 defining one or more opposing electrodes. The illustration shows only two concentric electrode patterns 10, 12, but the device may contain more than two concentric electrode patterns, all of which can be electrically operated in parallel together.

[0027] The two half-cell components 4 and 6 also include unidirectional friction alignment layers 20 and 22 that interface with the LC material 2. Friction is a common technique for producing LC alignment layers from solid polymer layers such as, for example, solid polyimide layers.

[0028] At least one of the two half-cell components 4 and 6 includes one or more annular solid wall structures 24, which are centered on the optical axis 14 of the device and located in one or more reset areas 26 between adjacent electrode patterns.

[0029] The device may include Figure 1 and Figure 2 Other components not shown include: cylindrical spacers located in the areas of the concentric electrode patterns 10, 12, for better maintaining a uniform thickness of the LC material in the active area of ​​the device defined by the outermost edge of the concentric electrode pattern 12; and adhesive seals that hold the two half-cell assemblies 4, 6 together and laterally accommodate the LC material 2. The annular solid wall structure 24 also helps maintain a uniform thickness of the LC material 2 in the active area of ​​the device defined by the outermost edge of the concentric electrode pattern 12.

[0030] Each Fresnel concentric ring electrode assembly (defined by the corresponding one in the concentric electrode pattern) comprises multiple concentric ring electrodes having resistive links between them. The assemblies are arranged such that when a potential difference is applied across the assemblies in parallel, the assemblies induce cooperative refractive index (RI) distributions in the corresponding radially inner and outer concentric regions of the LC material 2. This state is hereinafter referred to as the "first state" of the LC material. For example, the cooperative refractive index (RI) distribution may comprise a confocal RI distribution exhibiting substantially the same focal length (which provides a substantially confocal optical path length (OPL) distribution).

[0031] The concentric electrode patterns 10 and 12 are assembled and connected in parallel to the power source (via busbars 28 and 30 and via holes 32 in an insulating layer (not shown) located between the electrode layer 16 defining the concentric electrode patterns 10 and 12 and the conductive layer defining the busbars 28 and 30) so as to apply substantially the same potential difference (V1-V2) across each concentric electrode pattern 10 and 12 in the same radial direction. Figure 6 and Figure 7 An example is shown of the radial resistance distribution curves (resistance relative to the distance from the coaxial axis 14) of the concentric electrode patterns 10 and 12. The potential of the opposite electrode provided by the opposing half-cell assembly 6 is referred to below as V3.

[0032] Special Reference Figure 1The solid wall structure 24 is positioned to be closer to one of the concentric electrode patterns 10 than to another concentric electrode pattern 12 in the concentric electrode pattern. In the first state of the LC material mentioned above (when V1≠V2), in terms of refractive index (for unpolarized light propagating in a direction perpendicular to the half-cell components 4, 6), the LC material 2 at the radial outer edge of the inner concentric electrode pattern 10 is different from the LC material 2 at the radial inner edge of the adjacent outer concentric electrode pattern 12. This is because the potential difference (the difference between V3 and V1) on the LC material 2 at the radial outer edge of the inner concentric electrode pattern 10 is different from the potential difference (the difference between V3 and V2) on the LC material 2 at the radial inner edge of the adjacent outer concentric electrode pattern 12. When the LC material is in the first state mentioned above, the annular solid wall structure 24 more closely matches the LC material 2 at the radially outer edge of the inner concentric electrode pattern 10 in terms of the refractive index of unpolarized visible light propagating in a direction perpendicular to the planes of the two half-cell components 4, 6, compared to the LC material 2 at the radially inner edge adjacent to the outer concentric electrode pattern 12. The LC material 2 exhibits birefringence, and at least a portion of the annular solid wall structure 24 may also exhibit birefringence. The refractive index exhibited by the annular solid wall structure 24 for unpolarized light propagating in a direction perpendicular to the planes of the half-cell components 4, 6 may differ from the refractive index exhibited by the annular solid wall structure 24 for unpolarized light propagating in a direction parallel to the planes of the half-cell components 2, 6. For example, the annular solid wall structure 24 may at least partially comprise a polymerizable reactive liquid crystal monomer. A reactive liquid crystal monomer here refers to a polymerizable liquid crystal monomer material. The reactive liquid crystal atom can take on multiple different states, and the annular solid wall structure 24 can be formed at least partially by in-situ polymerization of the reactive liquid crystal atom on the half-cell assembly, wherein the reactive liquid crystal atom is in one of the states in which it most closely matches the LC material 2 at the outer radial edge of the inner concentric pattern 10 (when the LC material 2 is in the first state mentioned above) with respect to the refractive index of unpolarized light propagating in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the planar half-cell assemblies 4, 6.

[0033] The solid wall structure 24 may include the aforementioned polymerized reactive liquid crystal primary layer and one or more layers of one or more other materials stacked (in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the first half-cell assembly 4 and the second half-cell assembly 6).

[0034] Special Reference Figure 3 The annular solid wall structure can define one or more fractures 34, through which liquid crystal material can move radially from one side of the solid wall structure 24 to the other side of the solid wall structure 24.

[0035] Special Reference Figure 4 Fault 34 is at least disproportionately located in the area (in Figure 4 In the region (from C to B to D and from G to H to F), the reset region 26 is oriented tangentially at an angle of less than about 65 degrees relative to the direction of unidirectional friction of the alignment layer. For example, each fracture 34 may have substantially the same size, and then compared to the region in which the reset region 26 is oriented tangentially at an angle greater than about 65 degrees relative to the friction direction (in Figure 4 In the region (from A to H to B and from E to D to F), more fractures are located in the region where the reset region 26 is tangentially oriented at an angle of less than about 65 degrees relative to the friction direction. The inventors of this application have observed that, for the prior design of the lens device mentioned above (without a solid annular wall structure in the reset region), at least the appearance of non-tilted lines is observed in the region where the reset region is oriented parallel to the friction direction; while the technique mentioned above, which disproportionately locates fractures in the region where the annular solid wall structure is tangentially oriented at an angle of less than about 65 degrees relative to the friction direction, can achieve a significant reduction in the appearance of non-tilted lines, while allowing the LC material to move radially from one side of the solid wall structure 24 to the other side of the solid wall structure 24.

[0036] According to one example, fracture 34 is located only in the region where reset zone 26 is oriented tangentially at an angle of less than about 65 degrees relative to the friction direction.

[0037] Figure 5 The illustration shows a representation of only one example of a region in which the reset region 26 is oriented tangentially at an angle of less than approximately 65 degrees relative to the friction direction. The fractures 34 have substantially the same size and are uniformly distributed within the region in which the reset region 26 is oriented tangentially at an angle of less than approximately 65 degrees relative to the friction direction.

[0038] Not wanting to be bound by theory, the inventors of this application believe that the non-tilting line mentioned above in the previously designed device (without spacer wall structures in one or more reset zones) is caused by the influence of the LC material in the zone with the highest applied electric field on the liquid crystal material in the adjacent zone with the lowest applied electric field; and this influence has its greatest effect in the reset zone oriented tangentially at an angle of 90 degrees to the friction direction. (Reference) Figure 9 The inventors of this application believe that, in cases where the influence of the LC material in one Fresnel region on the LC material in an adjacent Fresnel region leads to a sharp change in the LC guide in a portion of the Fresnel region, a non-tilting line will appear. The solid wall structure 24 in the reset region 26 can reduce the influence of the LC material in the region with the highest applied electric field on the LC material in the adjacent region with the lowest applied electric field.

[0039] The liquid crystal device described above can, for example, function as a switchable lens device or beam steering device, or be used within a switchable lens device or beam steering device. For example, the device may be or include an adaptive optical lens comprising a liquid crystal device according to any of the examples herein. Such a device may be or include a head-mounted device, which may be referred to as a head-mounted display (HMD).

[0040] The liquid crystal devices described above are suitable for a wide range of applications, including eye lenses (such as spectacle lenses), virtual reality (VR), mixed reality (MR) and augmented reality (AR) head-mounted devices; optical projectors; photographic devices; and communication devices.

[0041] LC optical lens devices can be used in augmented reality (AR) head-mounted devices (such as, for example) Figure 10 The head-mounted kit shown in the image features a push lens and / or pull lens or a combination of push / pull lenses.

[0042] The headgear 40 includes a support frame 42 that supports optical components arranged in optical series in front of the user's eyes.

[0043] At least one optical component (such as Figure 10 One or more of the optical components shown herein may be considered to correspond to or be part of an assembly that may be considered to include a display stack containing at least one liquid crystal cell according to the examples herein. In, for example Figure 10 In some instances, such assemblies include stacks of liquid crystal cells according to the examples herein. Figure 10 In one example, the push lens 48a includes at least one stack of liquid crystal cells, the pull lens 48b includes at least one stack of liquid crystal cells, and the assembly includes the push lens 48a, the waveguide 50, the pull lens 48b, the variable dimmer device 46 (which is an example of a brightness adjustment assembly), and the front window / lens 44.

[0044] The stacked liquid crystal cells can be aligned along a common optical axis. However, in some cases, the optical axes of at least two of the stacked liquid crystal cells can be offset from each other in a direction parallel to the plane of the radial electrode pattern of at least one of the liquid crystal cells, subject to the condition that light traversing the assembly traverses the stacked liquid crystal cells. Figure 10 For clarity, only the optical components for one half of the head-mounted kit are shown, but a matching set of optical components for the other half of the head-mounted kit is also provided.

[0045] The waveguide 50 of the head-mounted device displays the left and right perspectives of one or more virtual reality objects, which the user perceives as 3D objects. Alternatively, other mechanisms, such as laser projection, can be used to display the left / right perspectives of one or more virtual reality objects.

[0046] The user's left and right eyes need to rotate relative to each other so that the left and right perspective views of the virtual reality object are simultaneously guided to the fovea (the part of the retina that is responsible for clear central vision, which is essential for activities crucial to visual detail) of the user's corresponding left and right eyes to determine the distance of the virtual reality object perceived by the user. This mechanism is called "vergence".

[0047] The LC optical lens device described above can be used as an adaptive lens device to control the position of the left / right viewpoint of the displayed virtual reality object perceived by the user's eye (i.e., without blurring), a position referred to as the focal plane. In other words, the LC optical lens device described above can be used as an adaptive lens device to control the degree to which the lens in the user's eye needs to adapt, thereby perceiving the left and right viewpoints of the virtual reality object in focus (i.e. without blurring). This adaptive mechanism of the lens in the user's eye is called accommodation.

[0048] The LC optical lens device described above can be used to substantially generate optical images (real or virtual) of a virtual reality object from the left / right perspective at a certain distance from the user's eyes, which the user perceives as being at that distance through the convergence mechanism discussed above. This allows the user to perceive a focused 3D image of the virtual reality object without disrupting the convergence-accommodation reflection, through which the focusing effect (accommodation) of the lens in the user's eyes is unconsciously associated with the rotation (convergence) of the left and right eyes relative to each other, as mentioned above. In other words, the LC optical lens device can be used to avoid or reduce eye strain caused by the conflict between the convergence and accommodation mechanisms (referred to as convergence-accommodation conflict). For example, the LC optical lens device can switch between positive and negative focal powers.

[0049] Therefore, the liquid crystal device according to the examples in this paper can provide a less complex and / or higher quality system to actively adjust the focus to compensate for the focal difference between virtual objects and the real-world environment visible to the user of the head-mounted device via optical components mounted in front of each eye. This, for example, allows for the consistent combination of perceived image depth and actual image depth, thereby improving user comfort.

[0050] exist Figure 10In this device, the head-mounted device 40 allows light from the real-world environment surrounding the head-mounted device 40 to be at least partially transmitted through optical components and enter the user's eyes. In this example, the optical components are at least partially transparent. On a sunny day, the ambient brightness can be significantly higher outdoors than indoors, such as approximately 100 times higher. When a user operates the head-mounted device outdoors, this can cause virtual objects to fade and become difficult to see unless the brightness of the light transmitted from the environment to the user is properly controlled. Figure 10 In this device, the variable dimmer device 46 controls the amount of light transmitted through the optical components toward the eyes, for example, to reduce the brightness of light transmitted from the environment toward the user under bright conditions, and can be used to provide ambient dimming to dim the ambient light transmitted through the head-mounted device 40.

[0051] The variable dimmer device 46 provides so-called global dimming, wherein the brightness of light from the environment is adjusted by substantially the same amount across the plane of the variable dimmer device 46 facing the user (e.g., to reduce the brightness of light by substantially the same amount across the entire surface area of ​​the variable dimmer device 46). In other words, global dimming allows for substantially spatially uniform control of the brightness of light transmitted through the variable dimmer device 46 (e.g., to provide a substantially spatially uniform reduction in brightness across the user's field of view).

[0052] The variable dimmer device 46 may also or alternatively provide local dimming, wherein the variable dimmer device 46 can be adjusted to control the brightness of light transmitted from the ambient light on a zone-by-zone basis (where a zone may correspond to a single pixel or multiple pixels). Local dimming may involve adjusting the brightness across the entire surface area smaller than the variable dimmer device 46, such as adjusting the brightness in a sub-region smaller than the surface area of ​​the variable dimmer device 46. However, in other cases, local dimming may involve adjusting the brightness across the entire surface area of ​​the variable dimmer device 46, but adjusting different amounts in at least two portions of the surface area.

[0053] although Figure 10 Not shown, but it should be understood that the head-mounted device 40 can be configured to obtain, for example, light intensity data indicating the brightness of light in the environment surrounding the head-mounted device 40, from a light sensor within the head-mounted device 40. For example, if a first side 49a of the head-mounted device 40 is configured to face the user, wherein the head-mounted device 40 is mounted on the user's head, the head-mounted device 40 may include a light sensor to detect the brightness of light at a second side 49b of the head-mounted device 40 opposite the first side 49a. The variable dimmer device 46 may be controlled, at least in part, based on the brightness data, to adjust the brightness of light transmitted from the second side of the head-mounted device 40 toward the user, thereby improving the visibility of virtual objects displayed to the user by the head-mounted device 40.

[0054] exist Figure 10 In one example, a first lens (push lens 48a) comprising at least one stack of liquid crystal cells, as described herein, is located between the waveguide 50 and the eye, wherein the head-mounted device 40 is in use. Light representing a virtual object is generated and transmitted to the waveguide 50, which guides the light through the push lens 48a and into the eye. The push lens 48a has a focusing effect that focuses the light representing the virtual object, so that the object is presented to the user in focus. For example, a virtual object may be generated such that it is in focus at a focal plane at infinity. The push lens 48a may then focus the virtual object at a focal plane closer to the user than infinity, allowing the user to focus more comfortably on the virtual object. The focal plane in which the virtual object will be focused and the magnification thus applied by the push lens 48a may be determined, for example, by eye-tracking data obtained by a suitable sensor, as further discussed below, indicating the direction in which the user's eyes are looking.

[0055] Before using the head-mounted device 40, the external environment is presented to the user in a focused manner. However, in the absence of the pulling lens 48b, light from the external environment will at least partially pass through the waveguide 50 and through the pushing lens 48a, and will therefore undergo a focusing effect provided by the pushing lens 48a. This will distort the external environment as observed by the user through the head-mounted device 40. To compensate for the distortion introduced by the pushing lens 48a, Figure 10 The head-mounted device 40 includes a second lens (pull lens 48b) positioned on the side of waveguide 50 opposite to the push lens 48a. The pull lens 48b applies an appropriate focusing effect to light from the environment passing through it, to at least partially compensate for or otherwise reduce the focusing effect introduced by the push lens 48a. For example, the push lens 48a and pull lens 48b may provide opposite focusing effects, such as being substantially equal in magnitude but opposite in sign. As an example, one of the push lens 48a and pull lens 48b may provide a positive focusing magnification, and the other may provide a negative focusing magnification, the positive and negative focusing magnifications being substantially equal in magnitude.

[0056] In the examples described herein, at least one lens (such as at least one of a pushing lens 48a and a pulling lens 48b, and in some cases both pushing lens 48a and pulling lens 48b) each comprises a so-called doublet lens of liquid crystal cells according to the examples described herein. A doublet lens is a stack of two liquid crystal cells. The focusing effect of a liquid crystal-based lens can depend on the polarization of light incident on the lens. Instead of using a separate polarizer assembly, using a doublet lens such as this can provide a suitable focusing effect and improved light transmission; in some examples, this is achieved by orthogonally positioning one liquid crystal cell of the doublet lens relative to the other liquid crystal cells to modify the corresponding polarization orientation of the light.

[0057] Figure 10 Examples of push lens 48a and pull lens 48b combined with various other optical components are shown. It should be understood that the liquid crystal cell according to the examples herein can be combined with different... Figure 10 One or more optical components shown herein are used in combination to provide further flexibility in functionality. This can further reduce the size and / or weight of devices including liquid crystal cells and / or improve the optical performance of the devices. For example, an assembly including liquid crystal cells according to the examples herein (such as a display stack) may include a reflection reduction layer (such as an anti-reflective (AR) coating) that may be laminated to another optical component of the assembly (such as a front window / lens 44); and / or a protective layer (such as a hard coating) that protects the assembly from damage, for example, due to abrasion and / or wear due to exposure to environmental conditions.

[0058] In this example, the liquid crystal device includes electrical terminals electrically connected to the busbar. These electrical terminals, for example, allow a potential difference to be applied across the busbar and thus across the sets of concentric rings. As explained above, the potential applied to the electrical terminals can be controlled by a suitable control system.

[0059] refer to Figure 11 According to some examples, system 55 includes a processor that operates based on computer program code stored in memory 52 to control image generation driver chip 53, thereby enabling the image generation system to generate images of one or more virtual reality objects from the left / right perspective, through which a user can perceive 3D images of virtual reality objects and display the images via waveguide 50.

[0060] although Figure 11 Not shown in the text, but it should be understood that there can be two waveguides: one waveguide displays the left-view image of the virtual reality object to the left eye, and the other waveguide displays the right-view image of the virtual reality object to the right eye, as shown in the reference. Figure 11Further discussion. It is possible to have two image generation systems: one system generates an image of the virtual reality object from the left perspective, and the other system generates an image of the virtual reality object from the right perspective (however, in some cases, a single image generation system may generate two images, or the system may generate a single image to be displayed to both eyes). See below for reference. Figure 12 The image generation system is further discussed. Input from the sensors is fed into the processor, enabling the processor to control the position of virtual reality objects displayed by waveguide 50, for seamlessly overlaying one or more virtual reality objects onto the user's view of the real environment.

[0061] Based on inputs from one or more sensors 54 that sense the movement of the user's eyes and / or based on the content being displayed by the waveguide 50, the processor 51 controls the adaptive lens driver chip 38 to achieve the optical focusing magnification (diopter) required for generating the optical image of the waveguide's display output as described above at a distance from the user's eyes, at which it is determined that the virtual content the user is viewing (e.g., by tracking the user's eyes) is intended to be perceived by the user (via the convergence mechanism described above). The driver chip is an example of a controller, which may be implemented in hardware, for example, via a suitably configured circuit system. In some cases, the driver chip may include or be considered to implement at least one processor.

[0062] Figure 12 The hardware architecture of device 60 according to another example is illustrated schematically. Device 60 includes at least one stack of liquid crystal cells according to the examples herein. Figure 12 In this configuration, device 60 is assembled for use and mounted on a human head, such as on a user's head, wherein the stacked liquid crystal cells are positioned within the field of view of the eyes. Figure 12 In one example, device 60 is an AR head-mounted device for displaying virtual images to a wearer of the head-mounted device, and may be similar to or identical to [other devices]. Figure 10 The headgear 40. However, in other instances, including with Figure 12 Devices with similar hardware architectures to Device 60 can be assembled for different purposes and may include additional components and / or omissions. Figure 12 At least one of the components described herein.

[0063] Figure 12The device 60 includes an optical system 62, an image generation system 64, at least one processor 66, a memory 68, at least one sensor 70, a user input / output interface 72, a communication system 74, and at least one additional hardware system 76. The components of the device 60 are interconnected via at least one bus 78, which may be or include any suitable interface or bus for transmitting data between the described components.

[0064] The optical system 62 includes a first assembly and a second assembly, which in this example are a first display stack 62a and a second display stack 62b, respectively. The first display stack 62a includes, for example, a first set of optical components configured in a layered stack. The device 60 is configured to allow light from the external environment, when in use and mounted on a head, to be at least partially transmitted through the first display stack 62a and toward the user's first eye. In other words, the device 60 has a first side configured to face the user in use (e.g., ...). Figure 10 In the case of the first side 49a), the first display stack 62a is configured to direct light from the second side toward the first eye (in this case, via the first display stack 62a). In this case, the first display stack 62a includes Figure 10 The optical components shown herein are, namely, a pushing lens 48a, a waveguide 50, a pulling lens 48b (where the pushing lens 48a and the pulling lens 48b are each examples of a liquid crystal device according to the examples herein), a variable dimmer device 46, and a front window / lens 44. The pushing lens 48a and / or the pulling lens 48b of the first display stack 62a can be considered as a first lens comprising at least one of the first liquid crystal cell stacks according to the examples herein. The first lens is configured to be positioned in use within a first field of view of a first eye (e.g., the user's first eye).

[0065] exist Figure 12 In this embodiment, the second display stack 62b includes a second set of optical components, which in this example are identical to the first set of optical components but are configured to transmit light toward the user's second eye when the device 60 is in use. In other words, the second display stack 62b is configured to direct light from a second side of the device 60 toward the second eye. Therefore, in this example, the push lens and / or pull lens of the second display stack 62b can be considered as a second lens including at least one of the second components in the liquid crystal cell stack according to the embodiments herein. The second lens is configured to be positioned in the second field of view of the second eye (e.g., the user's second eye) in use. It should be understood that the first lens may be visible only to the first eye or to both the first and second eyes in use, and the second lens may be visible only to the second eye or to both the first and second eyes in use.

[0066] The spatial arrangement of the components of the second display stack 62b in at least one layer of the stack may be a mirror image of the spatial arrangement of the corresponding components of the first display stack 62a in the corresponding layer of the first optically configured stack 62a, as reflected in the sagittal plane of the device 60 (which may be referred to as the longitudinal plane of the device 60, and for example separates the left and right sides of the device when the device is in use). However, in other cases, the first display stack 62a and the second display stack 62b may have different structures from each other. It should be understood that the optical system 62 may include additional components, such as Figure 12 Other optical components not shown in the image.

[0067] Device 60 also includes an image generating system 64 for generating an image of a virtual object to be displayed to a user of device 60, such that the virtual object appears to the user as overlaid on an external environment that is at least partially visible to the user via optical system 62. The image generating system 64 may be or include a display device to generate an image (e.g., an image of the virtual object) for device 60 to display to the user. The display device may be a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light-emitting diode (LED) display device (such as an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display device), an electroluminescent (EL) display device, etc. Figure 12 In this example, the image generating system 64 communicates optically with the optical system 62. For instance, if device 60 is in... Figure 10 In the form of a head-mounted device 40, the image generation system 64 can be housed by a support frame 42. Light representing virtual objects generated by the image generation system 62 can be transmitted directly (e.g., without traversing another optical component) or via at least one additional optical component to an optical system (e.g., to a waveguide, such as...). Figure 10 (Waveguide 50 shown in the diagram). In some cases, the image generation system may include two display devices, a first display device for a first eye and a second display device for a second eye, for example, where it is necessary to display a first image to the first eye and a second image to the second eye. In other instances, a single display device may be used to generate an image to be displayed to both the first and second eyes.

[0068] exist Figure 12 In one example, the image generating system 64 is shown as a system separate from the optical system 62. However, in other examples, the image generating system may be part of the optical system. For example, an assembly of the optical system (such as a display stack) may include the image generating system, such as a display device.

[0069] The at least one processor 66 of the device 60 may be a single processor or a plurality of processors of one or more types. Components of the at least one processor 66 may be implemented using suitably programmed hardware, for example, in the form of a circuit system. The at least one processor 66 may include a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), and / or a neural processing unit (NPU), which may be referred to as a neural network accelerator.

[0070] In some instances, devices (such as Figure 12 The device 60) includes a drive circuit system connected to at least one electrical connection to an electrode pattern of a stack of liquid crystal cells to apply a potential difference across one or more sets of electrodes of the liquid crystal cells in the stack. The applied potential difference (such as the magnitude and / or timing of the applied potential difference) can be determined by at least one processor 66 and / or by the drive circuit system, such as by a controller implemented by at least a portion of the drive circuit system, based on instructions stored in a memory.

[0071] If the potential difference is determined by the driving circuit system, the determination of the potential difference can be initiated by an instruction received from at least one processor, such as an instruction indicating that a virtual object will be displayed and one or more sets of electrodes will therefore be activated so that the virtual object is focused and presented to the user. In this way, the driving circuit system can be unknown to the at least one processor from which it receives the instruction. In other words, the operation of the driving circuit system can, for example, be independent of the at least one processor used to control the driving circuit system, such that the same effect can be achieved regardless of the at least one processor coupled to the driving circuit system (the limitation being that the at least one processor provides appropriate instructions to the driving circuit system so that the driving circuit system determines a suitable potential difference).

[0072] A potential difference can be applied to one or more electrical connections by at least one driver of a drive circuit system, such as... Figure 11 The adaptive lens driver chip 38 is an example of a driver. Applying a potential difference by at least one driver can be considered equivalent to a so-called "driving" of one or more electrode patterns via one or more electrical connections. The driving circuit system may be in the form of at least one system-on-a-chip (SoC).

[0073] Memory 68 may be or include volatile and / or non-volatile memory usable by a computer. Memory 68 may include random access memory (RAM) and / or read-only memory (ROM). Memory 68 may be removable or non-removable from device 60. Memory 68 stores instructions for controlling device 60 according to the examples herein, such as activating one or more sets of electrodes of a stack of liquid crystal cells. For example, activating an electrode set refers to applying a potential difference between at least two connectors connected to the electrode set. The instructions may be in the form of computer-readable and / or executable instructions, such as computer program instructions. Although memory 68 is in Figure 12 The memory 68 is shown as a component separate from at least one processor 66, but in some cases, the memory 68 may be or include the internal memory of at least one processor 66, in which case at least one processor 66 and the memory 68 may be at least partially integrated into the same system or component.

[0074] In this example, at least one sensor 70 is configured to acquire eye-tracking data of the device during use, such eye-tracking data indicating, for example, the direction in which at least one of the user's eyes is looking, as those skilled in the art will understand. Eye-tracking data may be acquired for each eye individually, or for a single eye of the user, or for a combination of both eyes of the user. Suitable sensors for acquiring eye-tracking data include: a camera 70a for acquiring an image of at least one of the user's eyes, an inertial measurement unit (IMU) 70b for determining the orientation of the device 60, and at least one position sensor 70c, such as a Global Positioning System (GPS) sensor, for determining the position of the device 60. As those skilled in the art will understand, the IMU 70b may include at least one accelerometer or gyroscope for determining the orientation of the device 60. The focusing effect of at least one liquid crystal cell may be controlled based on the eye-tracking data, for example, to reduce user eye fatigue, as further described above.

[0075] Device 60 also includes a user input / output interface 72 through which a user can interact with device 60 to control the state of device 60. For example, user input / output interface 72 may be or include input devices such as buttons, touch screens, sliders, controllers, or any other suitable means for transmitting user requests to device 60 to control device 60.

[0076] Device 60 includes a communication system 74 for receiving data from a remote system, for example, via a suitable telecommunications network (such as a wireless network) or via some other type of network or connection. Communication system 74 may include input / output interfaces for receiving data from the remote system, such as a Bluetooth connector, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector, or a network connector.

[0077] Figure 12 The device 60 includes at least one additional hardware system 76, such as a power source, for supplying power to the electrical components of the device 60.

[0078] Some examples of optical focusing devices have been described above, but the same technology has been applied to other fields, such as beam steering optics.

[0079] Another example relates to a method of operating a liquid crystal device according to any of the examples in this article.

[0080] The term “substantially” as used in this article can be considered to mean two components that are “substantially” the same: the same within manufacturing tolerances, the same within measurement uncertainty, and / or within 5% of each other.

[0081] The examples in this article relate to liquid crystal (LC) materials. Liquid crystal materials are examples of materials with switchable refractive indices or materials with refractive index changes.

[0082] The described apparatus, assemblies, and devices are used in exemplary embodiments other than tunable lenses and optical components. Other exemplary embodiments include, but are not limited to, image generation systems, read-only memories, network connections, USB, Bluetooth systems, power supply methods, and related technologies. In addition to any modifications explicitly mentioned above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various other modifications can be made to the described embodiments within the scope of this invention.

[0083] Apart from any modifications explicitly mentioned above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various other modifications can be made within the scope of this invention to the described embodiments.

[0084] The applicant hereby discloses individually the various features described herein and any combination of two or more such features, to the extent that such features or combinations are feasible based on the description as a whole, taking into account common general knowledge of those skilled in the art, without regard to whether such features or combinations of features solve any problem disclosed herein, and without limiting the scope of the claims. The applicant indicates that embodiments of the invention may consist of any of these individual features or combinations of features.

Claims

1. An optical lens device comprising: Liquid crystal material, which is housed between two half-cell components; One or more of the two half-cell components include a first concentric electrode pattern and a second concentric electrode pattern, which are electrically operable in parallel to at least switch the liquid crystal material to a first state and switch out of the first state; wherein the first state includes a cooperative refractive index distribution in a first region and a second region adjacent to the optical axis. At least one of the two half-cell components includes at least one annular solid wall structure located in a reset region between the first edge of the first region and the second edge of the second region; and The solid wall structure is positioned closer to the first region than the second region; and when the liquid crystal material is in the first state, the refractive index of unpolarized light propagating in the direction perpendicular to the half-cell assembly is more closely matched with the liquid crystal material at the first edge of the first region than the liquid crystal material at the second edge of the second region.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, When the liquid crystal material is in the first state, in terms of birefringence, the solid wall structure matches the liquid crystal material at the first edge of the first region more closely than the liquid crystal material at the second edge of the second region.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the spacer wall at least partially comprises a polymerizable reactive liquid crystal precursor, wherein when the liquid crystal material is in the first state, the polymerizable reactive liquid crystal precursor has been polymerized in a state where the birefringence of the reactive liquid crystal precursor most closely matches the birefringence of the liquid crystal material at the first edge of the first region.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the spacer wall comprises a stack comprising at least one or more layers of the polymerized reactive liquid crystal and one or more layers of another material.

5. An assembly comprising: Liquid crystal material, which is housed between two half-cell components; One or more of the two half-cell components include a first concentric electrode pattern and a second concentric electrode pattern, which are electrically operable in parallel to at least switch the liquid crystal material to a first state and switch out of the first state; wherein the first state includes a cooperative refractive index distribution in a first region and a second region adjacent to the optical axis. At least one of the two half-cell components includes at least one annular solid wall structure located in a reset zone between the first edge of the first region and the second edge of the second region; The solid-wall structure is positioned closer to the first region than the second region; and when the liquid crystal material is in the first state, the refractive index of unpolarized light propagating in the direction perpendicular to the half-cell assembly is more closely matched with the liquid crystal material at the first edge of the first region than the liquid crystal material at the second edge of the second region. The assembly also includes at least one additional optical component.

6. The assembly of claim 5, wherein the at least one additional optical component comprises at least one of: a waveguide, a brightness adjustment component, a lens, an image generating device, a reflection reduction layer, or a protective layer.

7. An apparatus comprising: Liquid crystal material, which is housed between two half-cell components; One or more of the two half-cell components include a first concentric electrode pattern and a second concentric electrode pattern, which are electrically operable in parallel to at least switch the liquid crystal material to a first state and switch out of the first state; wherein the first state includes a cooperative refractive index distribution in a first region and a second region adjacent to the optical axis. At least one of the two half-cell components includes at least one annular solid wall structure located in a reset region between the first edge of the first region and the second edge of the second region; and The solid wall structure is positioned closer to the first region than the second region; and when the liquid crystal material is in the first state, the refractive index of unpolarized light propagating in the direction perpendicular to the half-cell assembly is more closely matched with the liquid crystal material at the first edge of the first region than the liquid crystal material at the second edge of the second region. The device further includes: At least one processor; and At least one memory containing instructions configured to, together with the at least one processor, cause the device to control one or more properties of the LC layer.

8. The device of claim 7, assembled for mounting on a human head, wherein the optical cell stack is positioned in the field of view of one eye of the human head.

9. The device of claim 8, further comprising a first lens and a second lens, the first lens comprising a first of the LC layer and a first electrode, and the second lens comprising a second of the LC layer and the first electrode.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the field of view of the eye is a first field of view of a first eye, and the first lens is configured to be positioned in the first field of view during use, and the second lens is configured to be positioned in the second field of view of a second human eye on the human head during use.

11. The device according to any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein the device is at least one of: augmented reality display device, virtual reality display device, or mixed reality display device.

12. An optical lens device comprising: Liquid crystal material, which is housed between two half-cell components; The two half-cell components include a liquid crystal alignment layer that interfaces with the liquid crystal material, wherein the liquid crystal alignment layer is unidirectionally rubbed in a first direction. One or more of the two half-cell components include a first concentric electrode pattern and a second concentric electrode pattern, which can be operated in parallel to at least switch the liquid crystal material to a first state and switch out of the first state; wherein the first state includes a cooperative refractive index distribution in a first region and a second region centered on the optical axis. At least one of the two half-cell components comprises at least one solid annular wall structure, the at least one solid annular wall structure being centered on the optical axis and located in the reset region between the first region and the second region; and The solid wall structure defines a fracture for the liquid crystal material to move radially from one side of the solid wall structure to the opposite side of the solid wall structure, wherein the fracture is located at least disproportionately in one or more locations, at which the reset area is oriented tangentially at an angle of less than about 65 degrees relative to the first direction.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the fracture is located only in one or more locations, at which the reset area is oriented tangentially at an angle of less than about 65 degrees relative to the first direction.

14. An assembly comprising: Liquid crystal material, which is housed between two half-cell components; The two half-cell components include a liquid crystal alignment layer that interfaces with the liquid crystal material, wherein the liquid crystal alignment layer is unidirectionally rubbed in a first direction. One or more of the two half-cell components include a first concentric electrode pattern and a second concentric electrode pattern, which can be operated in parallel to at least switch the liquid crystal material to a first state and switch out of the first state; wherein the first state includes a cooperative refractive index distribution in a first region and a second region centered on the optical axis. At least one of the two half-cell components comprises at least one solid annular wall structure, the at least one solid annular wall structure being centered on the optical axis and located in the reset region between the first region and the second region; and The solid-wall structure defines a fracture for the radial movement of the liquid crystal material from one side of the solid-wall structure to the opposite side of the solid-wall structure, wherein the fracture is disproportionately located at one or more locations, at which the reset area is tangentially oriented at an angle of less than about 65 degrees relative to the first direction; and The assembly includes at least one additional optical component.

15. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the at least one additional optical component comprises at least one of: a waveguide, a brightness adjustment component, a lens, an image generating device, a reflection reduction layer, or a protective layer.

16. An apparatus comprising: Liquid crystal material, which is housed between two half-cell components; The two half-cell components include a liquid crystal alignment layer that interfaces with the liquid crystal material, wherein the liquid crystal alignment layer is unidirectionally rubbed in a first direction. One or more of the two half-cell components include a first concentric electrode pattern and a second concentric electrode pattern, which can be operated in parallel to at least switch the liquid crystal material to a first state and switch out of the first state; wherein the first state includes a cooperative refractive index distribution in a first region and a second region centered on the optical axis. At least one of the two half-cell components comprises at least one solid annular wall structure, the at least one solid annular wall structure being centered on the optical axis and located in the reset region between the first region and the second region; and The solid-wall structure defines a fracture for the radial movement of the liquid crystal material from one side of the solid-wall structure to the opposite side of the solid-wall structure, wherein the fracture is disproportionately located at one or more locations, at which the reset area is tangentially oriented at an angle of less than about 65 degrees relative to the first direction. The device further includes: At least one processor; and At least one memory containing instructions configured to, together with the at least one processor, cause the device to control one or more properties of the LC layer.

17. The device of claim 16, assembled for mounting on a human head, wherein the optical cell stack is positioned in the field of view of one eye of the human head.

18. The device of claim 17, further comprising a first lens and a second lens, the first lens comprising a first of the LC layer and a first electrode, and the second lens comprising a second of the LC layer and the first electrode.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the field of view of the eye is a first field of view of a first eye, and the first lens is configured to be positioned in the first field of view during use, and the second lens is configured to be positioned in the second field of view of a second human eye on the human head during use.

20. The device according to any one of claims 16 to 19, wherein the device is at least one of: an augmented reality display device, a virtual reality display device, or a mixed reality display device.

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