Beam combiner, beam-combining assembly, spectacle lens, and smart glasses

Abstract

The invention relates to a beam combining assembly (100), which has: a beam combiner (1), for combining a plurality of light beams (2, 3, 4) to form a combined light beam (5): and displays (15, 16, 17), which are associated with the entry-side faces (7, 8, 9) and are designed for emitting the light beams (2, 3, 4). The beam combiner (1) comprises a main body (6) having: a plurality of entry-side faces (7, 8, 9), through which light beams (2, 3, 4) enter the main body; and an emittance-side face (10), through which a light beam (5) combined from the entering light beams (2, 3, 4) is emitted from the main body 6; and comprises at least one semi-transparent, reflective element (13, 14) arranged in the main body (6), wherein the entering light beams (2, 3, 4) are combined with one another in the interior of the main body (6) by means of the at least one semi-transparent, reflective element (13, 14). According to the invention, at least one of the displays (15, 16, 17) is arranged eccentrically with respect to the entry-side face (7, 8, 9) associated with this display (15, 16, 17). The invention also relates to a beam combiner (1), an additional beam-combining assembly (100), a spectacle lens (200) and smart glasses (300).

Description

[0001] Beam combiner, beam combination arrangement, spectacle lens and data glasses

[0002] The invention relates to a beam combiner, beam combination arrangements, a beam splitter, a beam splitter arrangement, a spectacle lens and data glasses.

[0003] Data glasses are a special type of head-mounted display that enables the combination of electronically generated images with the image of the surroundings directly perceived by the user. The light from the electronically generated image is coupled between the inner and outer surfaces of the lens by means of a coupling section and then guided within the lens via a waveguide using total internal reflection. The beam path of the electronically generated image is combined with the immediate image of the surroundings using an output section arranged in the lens to decouple the beam path of the electronically generated image from the lens toward the eye.

[0004] The design and manufacture of smart glasses capable of displaying a full-color image or text to the wearer are already extensively described in the patent literature. One of the key requirements for everyday wearable smart glasses is that their form factor—that is, their size and weight—should be as small and as close as possible to regular eyeglasses.

[0005] The size of the microdisplay built into the smart glasses directly impacts the size of the coupling section and thus the form factor of the smart glasses. Since the displays are usually embedded in the temples, very small microdisplays are required for normal-looking temples. Extremely small and bright monochromatic microdisplays have recently become available on the market. A polychromatic display in smart glasses can be replaced by three monochromatic microdisplays or by one monochromatic and another duochromatic microdisplay. Possible display combinations are disclosed, among others, in WO 2020 / 101768 A1.

[0006] To combine the monochromatic images into a polychromatic image, so-called X-cubes with a cube-shaped base body can be used as beam combiners, as described, for example, in US 11 209 579 B2 and US 7 271 961 B2. In the embodiments described in these two patents, X-cubes are obtained by combining several prisms that together form the cube shape. The active areas of the display are arranged centrally or centered on the sides of the X-cube, as shown in Figure 3.

[0007] Furthermore, a beam combiner for rectangular displays is known from US 10 852 626 B1. This beam combiner has a cuboid-shaped base body designed as a prism with square base and top surfaces and rectangular side surfaces. The rectangular displays are arranged on the correspondingly rectangular side surfaces, while the base and top surfaces remain free, thus allowing the size of the beam combiner to be reduced.

[0008] Similar beam combiners are also known from the field of 3D rendering, e.g., from WO 2021 / 185730 A1. In addition to beam combiners, beam splitters are also known, e.g., from US Pat. No. 6,609,795 B2, whose operation is based on the reverse principle.

[0009] When designing a typical pair of data glasses, the position and orientation of the display(s) are usually varied during the optimization process, which often results in one or more tilted displays. This in turn means that the angle of incidence of the main rays of the light cones from every field point on the display is usually different from zero. The angle of incidence (AOI) is defined as the angle between the main ray and a line that is perpendicular to the plane of the entrance side surface, i.e. the surface through which the main ray enters the beam combiner. In the case of a flat entrance side surface, the entrance side surface lies completely in the plane of the entrance side surface. In the event that the entrance side surface is not flat, e.g.has a spherical or aspherical curvature or is designed as a free-form surface, the plane of the entrance side surface corresponds to the plane that runs through the edges delimiting the entrance side surface.

[0010] The geometric design of the beam paths inside the X-cube shows that the required minimum size of an X-cube increases with the angle of incidence of the principal rays on the display. Specifications such as a minimum distance between the outermost ray and the edge of the X-cube and / or a minimum display edge may require an even larger X-cube. This is illustrated in Figures 4a - d, which show the required sizes for X-cubes for a centered square display with an edge length of 2 mm at various angles of incidence of the principal rays. While an X-cube with an edge length of 4.02 mm is required at an angle of incidence of 0°, the minimum edge length is 4.82 mm at an angle of incidence of 5° and even 12.16 mm at an angle of incidence of 15°.

[0011] This means that despite the use of a very small microdisplay, the large X-cube beam combiner results in bulky coupling optics for the smart glasses, which in turn undesirably increases the form factor of the smart glasses and leads to a high weight of the smart glasses, so that they have poor wearing properties.

[0012] An object of the invention is therefore to provide a beam combiner and data glasses that can at least partially eliminate the disadvantages discussed above. In particular, a beam combiner that is as small as possible, even at angles of incidence deviating from zero, would be desirable, relative to the use of a beam combiner with a cubic or cuboid base body.

[0013] This problem is solved by the subject matter of the independent claims. The dependent claims relate to embodiments of these inventive solutions.

[0014] A first aspect of the invention relates to a beam combination arrangement. The beam combination arrangement comprises a beam combiner designed to combine multiple light beams into a combined light beam. The beam combiner can also be referred to as an optical combiner. For the sake of simplicity, the terms "light beam" and "combined light beam" are used below to describe the invention. Of course, a beam bundle can also be used instead of a single light beam, i.e., the beam combiner can be used to combine multiple individual beam bundles into a combined beam bundle.

[0015] The beam combiner comprises a base body with a plurality of entrance side surfaces through which light rays enter the base body, and an exit side surface through which a combined light beam from the incoming light rays exits the base body. Furthermore, at least one semi-transparent, reflective element is arranged in the base body, wherein the incoming light rays are combined with one another inside the base body by means of the at least one semi-transparent, reflective element. The semi-transparent, reflective elements can each be arranged in a single plane.

[0016] The base body is made of a translucent material, such as glass, such as BK7, or a translucent polymer material. The base body can be formed from four prisms with triangular base and top surfaces, unless otherwise specified. The triangles of the base and top surfaces can be isosceles triangles. Furthermore, the prisms can be identically constructed, e.g., have an identical cross-sectional area. The base body can be formed by joining the four prisms together to form a cuboid or cube. By using identically constructed prisms, the manufacturing costs of the beam combiner can be reduced.

[0017] The semi-transparent, reflective element(s) can be arranged inside the base body on the respective outer surfaces of the prisms. The semi-transparent, reflective element(s) can be formed by appropriate dichroic coating(s) on the outer surfaces of the prisms, as described, for example, in US Pat. No. 11,209,579 B2. Semi-transparent and reflective means that radiation of a certain wavelength is transmitted through the semi-transparent, reflective element, while radiation of a different wavelength is reflected.

[0018] One or more of the entrance side surfaces and / or the exit side surface can be flat. Alternatively, the entrance side surfaces and / or the exit side surface can be spherical, aspherical, or freeform surfaces.

[0019] Furthermore, the beam combination arrangement has displays assigned to the entrance side surfaces, which are designed to emit the light beams. In the following, the term "display" refers to the light-emitting surface of a display arrangement. The displays can be flat, for example, square or rectangular. The display can be designed in a conventional manner, for example, as a light-emitting display. Examples of light-emitting displays include displays with organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), pLED displays, and liquid crystal displays (LCDs).

[0020] One or more of the displays can be configured as monochromatic displays or duochromatic displays. For example, a total of three monochromatic displays or a duochromatic display can be combined with a monochromatic display.

[0021] In the case of three monochromatic displays, each of the displays can be configured to display one of the RGB colors red, green, and blue. For example, one of the displays can be configured to emit light beams in a wavelength range of 620 nm to 750 nm (red light), one of the displays can be configured to emit light beams in a wavelength range of 495 nm to 570 nm (green light), and one of the displays can be configured to emit light beams in a wavelength range of 450 nm to 495 nm (blue light). By combining the beams from these three displays, a polychromatic combined light beam can be obtained.

[0022] The displays can preferably be designed as microdisplays, for example, with a diagonal length between 1 mm and 100 mm, preferably between 1 mm and 10 mm. The pixel pitch of the display can be, for example, between 2 pm and 100 pm. The aspect ratio can be, for example, between 1:1 and 3:4.

[0023] Assigned to an entry side surface means that the display in question is arranged with respect to the entry side surface in such a way that a light beam emitted by this display enters the base body through this entry side surface, preferably exclusively through this entry side surface.

[0024] One or more displays can be directly connected, for example, glued, to their assigned entrance side surface. Alternatively, one or more displays can be arranged at a distance from the entrance side surface, so that, for example, an air gap can be formed between the entrance side surface and the display. Furthermore, optically active elements, such as microlenses, can be arranged between the entrance side surface and the display.

[0025] According to the invention, at least one of the displays is arranged off-center with respect to the entry side surface assigned to this display.

[0026] Off-center means that the centroid of the respective entrance side surface does not coincide with the centroid of the light beam-emitting surface of the display. For rectangular entrance side surfaces and rectangular displays, an off-center arrangement therefore means that the intersection of the diagonals of the entrance side surface does not coincide with the intersection of the diagonals of the displays. An off-center arrangement of the display can be achieved, for example, by shifting the display parallel to an edge bordering the entrance side surface, starting from a central arrangement.

[0027] The specific arrangement of the display, for example, the displacement vector of the parallel displacement, can depend on the angle of incidence of the light beam entering the base body through the relevant entrance side surface. The more the angle of incidence deviates from zero degrees, the more the arrangement of the display can deviate from an off-center arrangement. An angle of incidence deviating from zero degrees can result, in particular, from a non-parallel alignment of the display and the entrance side surfaces. In other words, in the beam combination arrangement, at least one of the displays can be arranged at an angle relative to its assigned entrance side surface in such a way that an angle of incidence deviating from zero degrees results.

[0028] The maximum deviation of the display arrangement from a central arrangement is determined by the fact that, despite the displacement of the display(s), the combined light beam must still be able to exit the base body through the exit side surface. Other parameters can also be taken into account, such as specified minimum distances between the combined light beam and the side of the exit side surface or the edge of the base body.

[0029] The proposed measure allows the beam combiner to be significantly smaller, especially at an angle of incidence deviating from zero degrees, compared to a beam combiner with a centrally arranged display. Consequently, the coupling section of smart glasses using such a beam combination arrangement can be designed with a smaller size and lower weight, resulting in a compact form factor. This increases the wearing comfort of the smart glasses, and allows them to be used in a wider range of applications.

[0030] A second aspect of the invention relates to a beam combiner for combining multiple light beams into a combined light beam. The beam combiner comprises a base body with multiple entry side surfaces through which light beams can enter or enter the base body, and an exit side surface through which a light beam combined from the incoming light beams can exit or exits the base body. Furthermore, at least one semi-transparent, reflective element is arranged in the base body, wherein the incoming light beams are combined with one another inside the base body by means of the at least one semi-transparent, reflective element.

[0031] For further details of the beam combiner, reference is made to the above statements regarding the beam combiner according to the first aspect of the invention.

[0032] According to the invention, the base body is designed as a straight prism with a trapezoidal base surface and a trapezoidal top surface. For example, the base body can be designed as a straight prism with a diamond-shaped base surface and a diamond-shaped top surface.

[0033] The terms "trapezoid" and "trapezoidal," as well as "rhombus" and "rhombus-shaped," refer to a general shape of these surfaces, without including the special cases "square" and "rectangle." For example, the term "trapezoid" includes, among others, the special cases "parallelogram" and "rhombus" or "rhombus," but not the special cases "square" and "rectangle."

[0034] In other words, the base body of the beam combiner is neither cube-shaped nor cuboid-shaped, but rather a right prism with trapezoidal, e.g., diamond-shaped, base and top surfaces. The side surfaces of the base body, on which the displays can be or are arranged, can be square or rectangular.

[0035] The proposed design of the base body as a straight prism with a trapezoidal base surface and a trapezoidal top surface enables a compact design of the beam combiner even in cases where, with a cube-shaped or cuboid-shaped base body, at least one of the light rays would enter the base body through the entrance side surface at an angle of incidence other than zero degrees, e.g., due to a display arranged at an angle relative to an entrance side surface of a cube-shaped or cuboid-shaped base body. Compared to a beam combiner with a cube-shaped or cuboid-shaped base body, the beam combiner can be smaller in size and lighter in weight.Consequently, the coupling section of smart glasses using such a beam combination arrangement can be designed with a smaller size and lighter weight, resulting in a compact form factor. This can increase the wearing comfort of the smart glasses and allow them to be used in a wider range of applications.

[0036] According to various embodiments, an entrance side surface not arranged opposite the exit side surface can be assigned a plane with a semi-transparent, reflective element. The semi-transparent, reflective element can be arranged such that a light beam entering through this entrance side surface is reflected toward the exit side surface. A plane of the entrance side surface and the plane associated with this entrance side surface with the semi-transparent, reflective element can enclose an angle other than 45 degrees.

[0037] In the case of a flat entrance side surface, it lies entirely in the plane of the entrance side surface. If the entrance side surface is not flat, e.g., it has a spherical or aspherical curvature or is designed as a freeform surface, the plane of the entrance side surface corresponds to the plane that runs through the edges bounding the entrance side surface.

[0038] For further details of the semi-transparent, reflective element, reference is made to the above explanations regarding the semi-transparent, reflective element of the beam combiner according to the first aspect of the invention.

[0039] The angular deviation compared to the cube-shaped or cuboid-shaped beam combiners known from the prior art, in which the plane of the entrance side surface and the plane associated with this entrance side surface with the semi-transparent, reflective element enclose an angle of 45 degrees, can enable a further size reduction of the base body depending on the arrangement of the displays intended for use with this beam combiner.

[0040] A third aspect of the invention relates to a beam combining arrangement comprising a beam combiner according to the second aspect of the invention and displays associated with the entrance side surfaces, which are designed to emit the light beams.

[0041] For further details of the displays, reference is made to the above statements regarding the beam combiner according to the first aspect of the invention.

[0042] The beam combining arrangement according to the third aspect of the invention combines the advantages of the beam combiner according to the second aspect of the invention.

[0043] According to various embodiments, at least one of the displays can be arranged parallel to the plane of the entry side surface associated with this display.

[0044] This allows for easy mounting or connection of the display relative to the entrance side surface, as the distance between the plane of the entrance side surface and the display remains constant. Optical effects, such as those caused by a spherical or aspherical curvature of the entrance side surface or by optically effective elements arranged on the entrance side surface, such as microlenses, can be more easily predicted and realized more reliably with a parallel arrangement.

[0045] Preferably, the base body can have a tilt angle that essentially corresponds to the angle of incidence of the second light beam at the second entrance side surface. Optionally, the tilt angle of the base body can be adapted to the position and orientation of the display such that the display and the plane of the entrance side surface are aligned parallel to each other. The term "tilt angle" refers to the angle that describes the deviation of the shape of the base body from a cube or cuboid shape.

[0046] By adapting the beam combiner to the position and orientation of the display, the size of the beam combiner can be further reduced, for example, minimized, so that the advantages described above can be realized to a greater extent.

[0047] The beam combination arrangements according to the first and third aspects of the invention can also be combined with each other, ie the beam combiner can have a prism with a trapezoidal, e.g. diamond-shaped, base and top surface as the base body, wherein one or more displays are arranged off-center on the entrance side surfaces.

[0048] This allows for the creation of a beam combination arrangement that can be compact, even with tilted displays. This allows for greater flexibility in the design of the coupling sections of data glasses.

[0049] According to further embodiments, the base body of the beam combiner of the beam combination arrangement according to the first aspect of the invention or of the beam combiner according to the second aspect of the invention can have a first entrance side surface through which a first light beam can enter or enters the base body, a second entrance side surface through which a second light beam can enter or enters the base body, and a third entrance side surface through which a third light beam can enter or enters the base body. Here, the second entrance side surface is arranged opposite the exit side surface, and the third entrance side surface is arranged opposite the first entrance side surface.A first semi-transparent reflective element reflects the first light beam entering through the first entrance side surface to the exit side surface, and a second semi-transparent reflective element reflects the third light beam entering through the third entrance side surface to the exit side surface. The second light beam entering through the second entrance side surface is transmitted through the first semi-transparent reflective element and the second semi-transparent reflective element to the exit side surface.

[0050] The first semi-transparent, reflective element can be designed to be transparent to the third light beam. The first semi-transparent, reflective element can be arranged in a first plane. The second semi-transparent, reflective element can be designed to be transparent to the first light beam. The second semi-transparent, reflective element can be arranged in a second plane. The first, second, and third entrance side surfaces, together with the exit side surface, can form the side surfaces of the base body. Preferably, only the side surfaces, but not the base and cover surfaces of the base body, are designed to be optically effective for the functionality as a beam combiner.

[0051] This structure of the base body enables simple design and manufacture. Since only the side surfaces of a base body can be optically effective, this allows for flexible adaptation of the base body to a desired geometry, e.g., the geometry of a coupling section of data glasses.

[0052] A first display configured to emit the first light beam can be assigned to the first entrance side surface, a second display configured to emit the second light beam can be assigned to the second entrance side surface, and a third display configured to emit the third light beam can be assigned to the third entrance side surface. Preferably, the first display can be configured to emit a light beam with a wavelength in a wavelength range of 620 nm to 750 nm, i.e., red light, and / or the second display can be configured to emit a light beam with a wavelength in a wavelength range of 495 nm to 570 nm, and / or the third display can be configured to emit a light beam with a wavelength in a wavelength range of 450 nm to 495 nm.

[0053] In this case, the first display can be displaced off-center in the direction of the exit side surface, the second display can be displaced off-center in the direction of the third entry side surface and / or the third display can be displaced off-center in the direction of the second entry side surface.

[0054] If the first, second, and third displays are configured to emit light rays in the aforementioned wavelength ranges, the first semi-transparent, reflective element can be configured to reflect light rays having a wavelength in a wavelength range from 620 nm to 750 nm, while light rays having a wavelength in a wavelength range from 495 nm to 570 nm and from 450 nm to 495 nm are transmitted. The second semi-transparent, reflective element can be configured to reflect light rays having a wavelength in a wavelength range from 450 nm to 495 nm, while light rays having a wavelength in a wavelength range from 495 nm to 570 nm and from 620 nm to 750 nm are transmitted.

[0055] The described shift of the displays in combination with the mentioned wavelength ranges enables a particularly compact design of the base body.

[0056] A fourth aspect of the invention relates to a spectacle lens with a beam combination arrangement according to the first or third aspect of the invention. The spectacle lens can be used, in particular, as a spectacle lens for data glasses. The advantages of the beam combination arrangements according to the first or third aspect of the invention are correspondingly associated with the spectacle lens.

[0057] A fifth aspect of the invention relates to data glasses with a beam combining arrangement according to the first or third aspect of the invention.

[0058] Consequently, the advantages of the beam combination arrangement according to the first or third aspect of the invention are correspondingly associated with the data glasses.

[0059] The beam combination arrangement can be used as part of the coupling section for image generation and coupling the generated image into the waveguide of the data glasses. This is independent of the specific design of the waveguide, e.g., as a curved or flat waveguide.

[0060] By reducing the size of the beam combiner, especially in combination with the use of microdisplays, the size of the coupling section can be reduced, which can lead to a more unobtrusive design and increased user acceptance of data glasses.

[0061] A sixth aspect of the invention relates to a beam splitter arrangement. The beam splitter arrangement comprises a beam splitter for splitting a combined light beam into a plurality of partial light beams. The beam splitter has a base body with an entrance side surface through which the combined light beam enters the base body, and a plurality of exit side surfaces through which partial light beams obtained from the entering combined light beam exit the base body, as well as at least one semi-transparent, reflective element arranged in the base body, wherein the entering combined light beam is split into the partial light beams inside the base body by means of the at least one semi-transparent, reflective element. Furthermore, the beam splitter arrangement has optically active elements assigned to the exit side surfaces, which are designed to interact with the partial light beams exiting the base body.

[0062] According to the invention, it is provided that at least one of the partial light beams emerges from the base body through one of the exit side surfaces with an exit angle deviating from zero degrees and that the optically active element interacting with this partial light beam is arranged off-center with respect to the exit side surface associated with this optically active element.

[0063] The operating principle of the beam splitter arrangement corresponds to the operating principle of the beam combination arrangement according to the first aspect of the invention, with the entrance side surfaces and exit side surfaces being interchanged. The exit angle is defined as the angle between the plane of the exit side surface, i.e. the surface through which the main beams exit the beam combiner, and the normal established on this plane. For a more detailed description, reference can therefore be made to the corresponding statements above regarding the beam splitter arrangement according to the first aspect of the invention. The beam splitter arrangement accordingly combines the advantages of the beam combination arrangement according to the first aspect of the invention, i.e., a beam splitter arrangement with a small size and low weight can be created.

[0064] The beam splitter arrangement can be used in arrangements where a combined light beam is split into several partial beams, for example, into partial beams with different wavelengths and / or different degrees of polarization. Examples of applications with beam splitter arrangements include metrology and projection arrangements, as described, for example, in US Pat. No. 6,609,795 B2. Potential optically active elements assigned to the exit side surfaces can be used, for example, as an additional degree of freedom for optimization during the design of the waveguide optical system.

[0065] A seventh aspect of the invention relates to a beam splitter for splitting a combined light beam into a plurality of partial light beams. The beam splitter comprises a base body with an entrance side surface through which the combined light beam can or does enter the base body, and a plurality of exit side surfaces through which partial light beams obtained from the entering combined light beam can or do exit the base body, as well as at least one semi-transparent, reflective element arranged in the base body, wherein the entering combined light beam can be or is split into the partial light beams inside the base body by means of the at least one semi-transparent, reflective element. The base body is designed as a straight prism with a trapezoidal base surface and a trapezoidal top surface.

[0066] The operating principle of the beam splitter corresponds to the operating principle of the beam combiner according to the second aspect of the invention, with the entrance side surfaces and exit side surfaces being interchanged. The exit angle is defined as the angle between the plane of the exit side surface, i.e. the surface through which the main beams exit the beam combiner, and the normal established on this plane. For a more detailed description, reference can therefore be made to the corresponding statements above regarding the beam splitter according to the second aspect of the invention. The beam splitter combines the advantages of the beam combiner according to the second aspect of the invention, i.e., a beam splitter with a small size and low weight can be created.

[0067] The beam splitter according to the seventh aspect of the invention can be combined with optically active elements assigned to the exit side surfaces, designed to interact with the partial light beams emerging from the base body, to form a beam splitter arrangement.

[0068] The invention is explained in more detail below using exemplary embodiments. The accompanying figures show:

[0069] Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of an exemplary data glasses; Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of an exemplary

[0070] spectacle lens;

[0071] Fig. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a

[0072] Beam combination arrangement according to the state of the art;

[0073] Fig. 4a - 4d sectional views of the beam paths in a beam combiner with a cube-shaped base body at different angles of incidence and central display arrangement;

[0074] Fig. 5 is a diagram showing the beam paths in a beam combination arrangement with a beam combiner having a cube-shaped base body at angles of incidence other than zero and with the displays arranged off-center;

[0075] Fig. 6a - 6c Illustrations for size comparison of beam combiners with a cube-shaped base body at non-zero angles of incidence and off-center display arrangement;

[0076] Fig. 7 is a schematic perspective view of a beam combination arrangement with a beam combiner having a prismatic base body whose base and cover surfaces are diamond-shaped;

[0077] Fig. 8a - 8c sectional views of the beam paths in a beam combiner with a prismatic base body, the base and top surfaces of which are diamond-shaped, at different tilt angles;

[0078] Fig. 9 is a sectional view of the beam paths in a beam combiner with a prismatic base body, the base and top surfaces of which are generally trapezoidal in shape;

[0079] Fig. 10 is a diagram of a beam combiner with a cube-shaped base body for size comparison with the beam combiner shown in Fig. 8; Fig. 11 is a diagram illustrating the dependence of the required edge length of a beam combiner with a cube-shaped base body on the angle of incidence;

[0080] Fig. 12 is a representation of the beam paths in a beam splitter arrangement with a beam splitter with a cube-shaped base body at an angle of reflection different from zero and an off-center arrangement of the optically active elements;

[0081] Fig. 13 is a schematic perspective view of a beam splitter arrangement with a beam splitter having a prismatic base body whose base and cover surfaces are diamond-shaped.

[0082] In the examples explained below, reference is made to the accompanying figures, which form a part hereof, and in which are shown, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. In the figures, identical or similar elements are designated by identical reference numerals where appropriate.

[0083] It is understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is understood that the features of the various exemplary embodiments described herein may be combined with one another unless specifically stated otherwise. The following detailed description is therefore not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims.

[0084] The term "and / or" used herein, when used in a series of two or more elements, means that each of the listed elements can be used alone, or any combination of two or more of the listed elements can be used. For example, the term "inlet side surface and / or outlet side surface" can mean the inlet side surface alone, the outlet side surface alone, or both the inlet side surface and the outlet side surface.

[0085] Figure 1 schematically illustrates an exemplary pair of data glasses 300. The data glasses 300 comprise two lenses 200 according to the invention, which are held by a frame 301 with two temples 302. The lenses 200 can be configured to generate a virtual image from an output image presented by means of displays, as described below. Optionally, only one of the lenses 200 can be configured to generate a virtual image, while the other lens is a conventional lens without the ability to generate a virtual image.

[0086] Figure 2 shows a spectacle lens 200 such as can be used for data glasses 300 according to Figure 1. The spectacle lens 200 can be made of glass or plastic. The spectacle lens 200 has a coupling section 201 with a beam combination arrangement 100, wherein the beam combination arrangement 100 has a plurality of displays 15, 16, 17, of which only the first display 15 is shown in Figure 2 for simplification purposes, and a beam combiner 1. The beam combination arrangement is explained in more detail below with reference to Figures 3 to 10.

[0087] The image electronically generated by the beam combination arrangement 100 is coupled into the optical waveguide 202 between the inner and outer surfaces by means of the coupling section 201 and guided by total internal reflection in the spectacle lens 200 to the coupling section 203. The coupling section 203 serves to couple the beam path of the electronically generated image out of the spectacle lens 200 toward the user's eye 204. In this way, the user can also perceive the electronically generated image in addition to the surrounding image.

[0088] Optionally, the coupling section 201 can have further optically active elements arranged in the beam path between the beam combination arrangement 100 and the waveguide 202. Figure 3 shows a beam combination arrangement 100 according to the prior art. The beam combination arrangement 100 has a cube-shaped base body 6 formed from four prisms whose base and top surfaces are isosceles triangles. The four prisms are connected to one another, e.g., glued, in such a way that the triangular legs of the base and top surfaces of each prism are connected to the adjacent prism. A first semi-transparent, reflective element 13 is arranged in a first plane 11, and a second semi-transparent, reflective element 14 is arranged in a second plane 12 between the prisms.The semi-transparent, reflective elements 13, 14 can be formed, for example, by appropriately coating the contact surfaces of the four prisms that form the base body 6 with dichroic coating. The first plane 11 and the second plane 12 intersect along a straight line 23, which pierces the center of the base surface 18 and the cover surface 19 of the base body 6, i.e., the intersection point between the straight line 23 and the base or cover surface 18, 19 corresponds to the intersection point of the diagonal of the base or cover surface 18, 19. The angle y between the first plane 11 of the first semi-transparent, reflective element 13 and the second plane 12 of the second semi-transparent, reflective element 14 is 90 degrees.

[0089] Of the four cube faces of the base body 6, three cube faces are entrance side faces 7, 8, 9, and one cube face is the exit side face 10. Light beams 2, 3, 4 enter the base body 6 through the entrance side faces 7, 8, 9 at an angle of incidence α. After being combined inside the base body 6 by means of the first semi-transparent, reflective element 13 and the second semi-transparent, reflective element 14, the combined light beam 5 exits the base body 6 through the exit side face 10.

[0090] The beam combination arrangement 100 also has three displays 15, 16, 17, which are assigned to the three entry side surfaces 7, 8, 9, for example glued to the respective entry side surface 7, 8, 9.

[0091] In the embodiment shown in Figure 3, the base body 6 has a first entrance side surface 7, which lies in the plane 20 of the first entrance side surface and to which a first display 15 is assigned. A first light beam 2 emitted by the first display 15 enters the base body 6 through the first entrance side surface 7 at the angle of incidence α. The first display 15 is designed to emit the first light beam 2 with a wavelength in a wavelength range of 620 nm to 750 nm, i.e., red light.

[0092] The second entrance side surface 8 lies in the plane 21 of the second entrance side surface. A second display 16 is assigned to the second entrance side surface 8 of the base body 6. A second light beam 3 emitted by the second display 16 enters the base body 6 through the second entrance side surface 8. The second display 16 is designed to emit the second light beam 3 with a wavelength in a wavelength range of 495 nm to 570 nm, i.e., green light.

[0093] The third entrance side surface 9 lies in the plane 22 of the third entrance side surface. A third display 17 is assigned to the third entrance side surface 9 of the base body 6. A third light beam 4 emitted by the third display 17 enters the base body 6 through the third entrance side surface 9. The third display 17 is designed to emit the third light beam 4 with a wavelength in a wavelength range of 450 nm to 495 nm, i.e., blue light. All three displays 15, 16, and 17 are designed as monochromatic displays.

[0094] The first display 15, the second display 16, and the third display 17 are flat and rectangular or square. The displays 15, 16, 17 are arranged parallel to their associated inlet side surfaces 7, 8, 9. The second inlet side surface 8 is arranged opposite the outlet side surface 10, and the third inlet side surface 9 is arranged opposite the first inlet side surface 7.

[0095] To obtain the combined light beam 5, the first light beam 2, the second light beam 3, and the fourth light beam 4 are combined inside the base body 6. For this purpose, the first semi-transparent, reflective element 13 is designed and arranged such that the first light beam 2 entering through the first entrance side surface 7 is reflected toward the exit side surface 10. The second semi-transparent, reflective element 14 is designed and arranged such that the third light beam 4 entering through the third entrance side surface 9 is reflected toward the exit side surface 10. The second light beam 3, on the other hand, is transmitted through both the first semi-transparent, reflective element 13 and the second semi-transparent, reflective element 14.In other words, the first semi-transparent, reflective element 13 and the second semi-transparent, reflective element 14 are transparent to the second light beam 2.

[0096] According to the prior art, the first display 15, the second display 16, and the third display 17 are arranged centrally with respect to the entry side surface 7, 8, 9 assigned to the respective display 15, 16, 17, i.e., the intersection point of the diagonals of the entry side surfaces 7, 8, 9 coincides with the intersection point of the diagonals of the displays 15, 16, 17. The angle ß between the plane 20, 21, 22 of an entry side surface and the plane 11, 12 with the semi-transparent, reflective element is 45 degrees in each case.

[0097] The disadvantages of the beam combination arrangement 100 according to the prior art are explained in more detail below with reference to Figures 4a to 4d. As long as a parallel arrangement of entry side surfaces 7, 8, 9 and the respectively associated displays 15, 16, 17 is possible with a cube-shaped base body 6, i.e. the angle of incidence a of the main rays is zero degrees, a compact beam combiner 1 and thus a compact beam combination arrangement 100 can be achieved with a cube-shaped or cuboid-shaped design of the base body 6 and a central arrangement of the displays 15, 16, 17. This situation is shown in Figure 4a. First, second and third light beams 2, 3, 4 are each emitted by square displays with an edge length of 2 mm in the direction of the entry side surfaces 7, 8, 9. This requires a base body 6 with an edge length of 4.02 mm.

[0098] For example, in the design and manufacture of spectacle lenses for data glasses and data glasses, optimization processes often lead to an inclined arrangement of one or more displays 15, 16, 17 with respect to the associated entrance side surfaces 7, 8, 9 of a cube-shaped or cuboid-shaped base body 6. This has the consequence that the angle of incidence a of the main rays is no longer zero degrees and the base body 6 must be enlarged so that the combined light beam 5 can exit the base body 6 through the exit side surface 10 as desired.

[0099] Already at an angle of incidence a of the main rays of 5 degrees (Figure 4b), i.e. at an inclination of the display 15, 16, 17 by 5 degrees with respect to the associated entrance side surface 7, 8, 9, the edge length of the base body 6 must be increased to 4.82 mm in order to enable all combined light rays 5 to emerge through the exit side surface 10.

[0100] At an angle of incidence a of the principal rays of 10 degrees (Figure 4c), the edge length of the base body 6 must already be 6.84 mm, and at an angle of incidence a of the principal rays of 15 degrees (Figure 4d), it must even be 12.16 mm. Figure 11 graphically illustrates the dependence of the required edge length of a beam combiner with a cubic base body on the angle of incidence.

[0101] This required magnification is incompatible with the aim of achieving beam combination arrangements that are as small and light as possible, so that the form factor of data glasses is as small as possible and the data glasses can be used in a wider range of applications and with greater user acceptance.

[0102] In order to be able to design the beam combiner 1 as compact as possible despite the inclined arrangement of the displays 15, 16, 17, it is proposed according to the first embodiment shown schematically in Figure 5 to arrange the displays 15, 16, 17 off-center with respect to the entry side surface 7, 8, 9 assigned to this display 15, 16, 17.

[0103] In comparison to the beam combination arrangement 100 described with reference to Figure 1, the first display 15 is offset by the displacement vector AZ d1 arranged shifted in the direction of the exit side surface 10, the second display 16 is offset by the displacement vector AZ d2 arranged shifted in the direction of the third entrance side surface 9 and the third display 17 is displaced by the displacement vector AZ d3arranged displaced in the direction of the second entrance side surface 8. In the exemplary embodiment, the displays 15, 16, 17 are displaced such that the distance between the displays 15, 16, 17 and the base surface 18 and the cover surface 19 of the base body remains constant. The direction of the displacement depends on the direction of inclination of the displays 15, 16, 17 relative to the associated entrance side surface 7, 8, 9 or the direction in which the angle of incidence α deviates from zero degrees.

[0104] The extent of the displacement depends on the angle of incidence a. The larger the angle of incidence a, the greater the displacement should be in order to keep the size of the base body 6 as small as possible. The maximum displacement is determined by a predefined minimum distance E d of the display 15, 16, 17 from the edge of the base body 6 and the minimum distance E rof the outermost combined light beam 5 from the edge of the base body 6. The minimum distances E d and E r can be predetermined, for example, to enable the beam combination arrangement 100 to be fastened in the edge region of the base body 6. Preferably, the displacement should be such that all first, second, and third light beams 2, 3, 4 are combined with one another, ie, overlap, and that all combined light beams 5 can exit the base body through the exit side surface 10.

[0105] Otherwise, the beam combination arrangement 100 according to Figure 5 is constructed analogously to the beam combination arrangement 100 according to Figure 3, so that reference can be made to the explanations for Figure 3. One or more of the entrance side surfaces 7, 8, 9 and / or the exit side surface 10 can be flat. Alternatively, the entrance side surfaces 7, 8, 9 and / or the exit side surface 10 can be designed as spherical surfaces, aspherical surfaces, or freeform surfaces.

[0106] Even though three displays 15, 16, 17 are shown in Figure 5, it should be noted that the invention is not limited to beam combination arrangements 100 with three displays 15, 16, 17, but, for example, only two displays, e.g., a monochromatic display and a duochromatic display, may be present.

[0107] The displays 15, 16, 17 are preferably designed as microdisplays, e.g., with a diagonal length between 1 mm and 10 mm. Furthermore, the displays 15, 16, 17 are preferably flat displays.

[0108] Referring to Figures 6a to 6c, the influence of the proposed off-center display arrangement on the resulting size of the base body 6 is explained below by showing the minimum sizes of the beam combiner 1. The minimum sizes of the beam combiner 1 were determined for square, flat displays 15, 16, 17 with an edge length of 2 mm, with the minimum distance E d of the display from the edge of the base body 6 1 mm and as a minimum distance E r of the outermost combined light beam 5 from the edge of the base body 6 was specified as 0.5 mm.

[0109] As already mentioned, the extent of the shift increases with increasing angle of incidence α of the main rays of the display 15, 16, 17. Figure 6a shows the required beam combiner 1 for an angle of incidence α of 5 degrees. The minimum edge length of the base body 6 is 4.33 mm. Figure 6b shows the required beam combiner 1 for an angle of incidence α of 15 degrees. The minimum edge length of the base body 6 in this case is 5.64 mm. For an angle of incidence α of 25 degrees, the edge of the base body 6 must be at least 8.61 mm long (Figure 6c).

[0110] Compared to the beam combiners 1 of Figures 4a to 4d, the off-center arrangement of the displays 15, 16, 17 results in a significant reduction in the edge length of the base body 6 and thus of the beam combiner 1 and the beam combination arrangement 100 as a whole. Thus, the off-center arrangement of the displays 15, 16, 17 at an angle of incidence α of 15 degrees results in a reduction in the edge length of the base body 6 from 12.16 mm to 5.64 mm. The size savings are independent of the type and manner of fastening or connecting the displays 15, 16, 17 to the base body 6 and can be achieved, for example, with a direct connection as well as with the formation of an air gap or arrangement of microlenses between the display(s) 15, 16, 17 and the base body 6.

[0111] With reference to Figures 7 and 8a to 8c, a further embodiment of a beam combination arrangement 1 is explained below. As with the beam combination arrangement 1 known from the prior art according to Figure 3, the beam combination arrangement 1 of the second embodiment has a beam combiner 1 and displays 15, 16, 17 assigned to the entrance side surfaces 7, 8, 9, which are designed to emit the light beams 2, 3, 4. Only the differences compared to the beam combination arrangement 1 according to Figure 3 are explained below; otherwise, reference is made to the explanations for Figure 3.

[0112] In contrast to the beam combiner 1 of the beam combination arrangement 1 according to Figure 3, the base body 6 of the beam combiner 1 of the second embodiment is designed as a straight prism with a diamond-shaped base surface 18 and a diamond-shaped top surface 18, i.e., it is neither cube-shaped nor cuboid-shaped. Both the inlet side surfaces 7, 8, 9 and the outlet side surface 10 are square. Alternatively, however, rectangular inlet side surfaces 7, 8, 9 and a rectangular outlet side surface 10 would also be possible, for example, when using rectangular displays 15, 16, 17.

[0113] Although the angle γ between the first plane 11 of the first semi-transparent, reflective element 13 and the second plane 12 of the second semi-transparent, reflective element 14 is 90 degrees, as in the cube-shaped design of the base body 6, the plane 20 of the first entrance side surface 7 and the planes 11 associated with the first entrance side surface 7 form an angle β with the first semi-transparent, reflective element 13 that is different from 45 degrees. In the second exemplary embodiment, this angle β is smaller than 45 degrees. The angles between the remaining planes 21, 22 of the entrance side surfaces 8, 9 and the planes 11, 12 of the semi-transparent, reflective elements 13, 14 as well as between the plane of the exit side surface 10 and the planes 11, 12 of the semi-transparent, reflective elements 13, 14 result accordingly according to geometric considerations based on the geometry of the base body 6.

[0114] In the second embodiment, the tilt angle δ of the base body 6 is selected to correspond to the angle of incidence α of the first, second, and third light beams 2, 3, 4. The displays 15, 16, 17 are each arranged substantially parallel to the planes 20, 21, 22 of their associated entrance side surfaces 7, 8, 9, whereby the size of the beam combiner 1 can be minimized, as will be explained below with reference to Figures 8a to 8c.

[0115] However, the described parallel arrangement of the displays 15, 16, 17 and the planes 20, 21, 22 of their associated entrance side surfaces 7, 8, 9 is not mandatory. Rather, deviations from a parallel arrangement may also be permitted, e.g., with different angles of incidence a of the first, second, and third light beams 2, 3, 4.

[0116] In contrast to a cube-shaped or cuboid-shaped base body 6 according to the prior art, the side lengths of the diamond-shaped base and top surfaces 18, 19 are independent of the angles of incidence a of the first, second and third light beams 2, 3, 4. This means that the size of a beam combiner 1 which is designed as a straight prism with a diamond-shaped base and top surface 18, 19 is always smaller than the size of a beam combiner 1 with a cube-shaped or cuboid-shaped base body 6 at angles of incidence deviating from 0 degrees (relative to a cube-shaped or cuboid-shaped base body 6).

[0117] The influence of the tilt angle θ of the base body 6 on the size of the beam combiner 1 is explained below with reference to Figures 8a to 8c. Figures 8a to 8c show the beam paths in a beam combiner 1, the base body 6 of which is designed as a straight prism with diamond-shaped base and top surfaces 18, 19, for different tilt angles θ: Figure 8a - θ = 5 degrees, Figure 8b - θ = 15 degrees and Figure 8c - θ = 25 degrees. The tilt angles θ were each chosen so that they correspond to the angle of incidence α of the first, second and third light beams 2, 3, 4. That is, based on a predetermined position and alignment of the displays 15, 16, 17, e.g. B. in the context of optimizing the design of data glasses, the geometry of the base body 6 was adapted such that the displays 15, 16, 17 are each arranged essentially parallel to the planes 20, 21, 22 of the entry side surfaces 7, 8, 9 assigned to them.

[0118] Regardless of the tilt angle θ, the side length of the diamond-shaped base and top surfaces 18, 19 is 4.02 mm each. In comparison to the beam combiners 1 according to the prior art (see Figures 4a to 4c and the associated description), but also in comparison to the beam combiners 1 of the beam combination arrangements 100 with off-center displays 15, 16, 17 (see Figures 6a to 6c and the associated description), the size of the beam combiner 1 can be significantly reduced. The associated beam combination arrangement 100 can be made significantly more compact, making them better suited for data glasses with a small form factor. For example, the side length of the base and top surfaces 18, 19 of the beam combiner 1 at an angle of incidence α orTilt angle ö of 15 degrees from 12.16 mm (x-cube according to the state of the art), via 5.64 mm (cube-shaped base body 6 with off-center displays 15, 16, 17) to 4.02 mm for a base body 6 designed as a straight prism with diamond-shaped base and cover surfaces 18, 19.

[0119] As the tilt angle ö increases, one of the diagonals of the diamond-shaped base and cover surfaces 18, 19 of the base body 6 is lengthened. This reduces the surface area of ​​the base body 6, so that the volume and thus also the mass of the beam combiner 6 are reduced accordingly.

[0120] As with a cube-shaped base body 6, a base body 6 designed as a straight prism with diamond-shaped base and top surfaces 18, 19 can also be composed of four prisms with triangular base and top surfaces, whereby the semi-transparent, reflective elements can be introduced, for example, as a coating, as described for Figure 3. However, in contrast to a cube-shaped or cuboid-shaped base body 6, the triangles of the base and top surfaces of the individual prisms are not isosceles.

[0121] Figure 9 shows a sectional view of the beam paths in a beam combiner 1 according to a third exemplary embodiment. The beam combiner 1 of the third exemplary embodiment has a prismatic base body 6 whose base and top surfaces 18, 19 are generally trapezoidal, i.e. have exactly one pair of parallel sides. For the rest, reference is made to the explanations for the first and second exemplary embodiments. Such a beam combiner 1 can preferably be used when the main rays from different field points point in very different directions (see Figure 9). In contrast, a beam combiner 1 whose base body 6 is designed as a straight prism with a diamond-shaped base surface 18 and a diamond-shaped top surface 19, as in the second exemplary embodiment, can preferably be used in cases in which the main rays point in the same direction.

[0122] In the third embodiment shown in Figure 9, the edge length of the square displays is again each 2 mm. The main rays of the "lower" field points have an angle of incidence α of -10 degrees, while the main rays of the "upper" field points have an angle of incidence α of +10 degrees. The cone angle for each field point is 10 degrees. The non-parallel sides of the base and top surfaces 18, 19 have a tilt angle δ of -10 degrees and +10 degrees, respectively. The smaller of the two angles γ between the first plane 11 of the first semi-transparent, reflective element 13 and the second plane 12 of the second semi-transparent, reflective element 14 is 80 degrees, in contrast to the first and second embodiments.

[0123] For the base and top surfaces 18, 19 of the base body 6 of the beam combiner 1 of the third embodiment, as shown in Figure 9, side lengths of three times 5.3 mm and 3.3 mm result. The beam combiner 1 can thus be designed significantly smaller than when using a cube- or cuboid-shaped base body 6, which, as shown in Figure 10, would require side lengths of 8.5 mm.

[0124] The proposed miniaturization concept can be used in particular for data glasses 300, without being limited to curved optical waveguides 202. The proposed beam combination arrangements 100 can also be used for data glasses 300 with planar optical waveguides 202 or even for other applications in which a beam combination arrangement 100 according to the prior art has been used to combine images from multiple displays 15, 16, 17 used at incidence angles α of the main beams greater than 0 degrees. The beam combination arrangements 100 can, for example, be used in applications in which X-cubes have been used to display three-dimensional virtual images by projecting each of the three displays at different virtual image distances, as described in WO 2021 / 185 730 A1.

[0125] Figure 12 shows an embodiment of a beam splitter arrangement 400 with a cube-shaped beam splitter 401 for splitting a combined light beam 402 into three partial light beams 403, 404, 405. The beam splitter 401 has a base body 406 with an entrance side surface 407 through which the combined light beam 402 enters the base body 406, and three exit side surfaces 408, 409, 410 through which partial light beams 403, 404, 405 obtained from the incoming combined light beam 402 exit the base body 406. Two semi-transparent, reflective elements 411, 412 are arranged in the base body 406, by means of which the incoming combined light beam 402 is split into the partial light beams 403, 404, 405 inside the base body 406. The first, second, and third partial light beams 403, 404, 405 leave the base body 406 with an exit angle £ deviating from zero degrees through the first, second, and third reflecting elements 411, 412, respectively.third exit side surface 408, 409, 410.

[0126] Optically active elements 413, 414, 415 are assigned to the exit side surfaces 408, 409, 410, which can interact with the partial light beams 403, 404, 405. The optically active elements 413, 414, 415 are arranged off-center with respect to their assigned exit side surfaces 408, 409, 410.

[0127] The basic structure of the beam splitter arrangement 400 is similar to the structure of the beam combination arrangement 100 shown in Figure 5, but the light beams are guided in the opposite direction. Therefore, reference is made to the explanations for Figure 5.

[0128] Figure 13 shows a further embodiment of a beam splitter arrangement 400 with a beam splitter 401 for splitting a combined light beam 402 into three partial light beams 403, 404, 405. The beam splitter 401 has a base body 406 with an entrance side surface 407 through which the combined light beam 402 can enter the base body 406, and a plurality of exit side surfaces 408, 409, 410 through which partial light beams 403, 404, 405 obtained from the incoming combined light beam 402 can exit the base body 406. Two semi-transparent, reflective elements 411, 412 are arranged in the base body 406, by means of which the incoming combined light beam 402 is split into the partial light beams 403, 404, 405 inside the base body 406. Optically active elements 413, 414, 415 are assigned to the exit side surfaces 408, 409, 410, which can interact with the partial light beams 403, 404, 405.The base body 406 is designed as a straight prism with a trapezoidal base surface 416 and a trapezoidal top surface 417.

[0129] The basic structure of beam splitter 401 is similar to the structure of beam splitter 1 of beam splitter arrangement 100 shown in Figure 7, but the light beams are guided in the opposite direction. Reference is therefore made to the explanations for Figure 7.

[0130] 1 beam combiner

[0131] 2 first ray of light

[0132] 3 second light beam

[0133] 4 third ray of light

[0134] 5 combined light beam

[0135] 6 basic bodies

[0136] 7 first entry side surface

[0137] 8 second entry side surface

[0138] 9 third entry side surface

[0139] 10 Exit side surface

[0140] 11 first level with a semi-transparent, reflective element

[0141] 12 second level with a semi-transparent, reflective element

[0142] 13 first semi-transparent, reflective element

[0143] 14 second semi-transparent, reflective element

[0144] 15 first display

[0145] 16 second display

[0146] 17 third display

[0147] 18 floor space

[0148] 19 Cover area

[0149] 20 Level of the first entry side surface

[0150] 21 Level of the second entry side surface

[0151] 22 Level of the third entry side surface

[0152] 23 intersection lines

[0153] 100 beam combination arrangement

[0154] 200 lenses

[0155] 201 Coupling section

[0156] 202 optical fibers

[0157] 203 decoupling section

[0158] 204 Eye

[0159] 300 Data glasses 301 Glasses frame

[0160] 302 eyeglass temples

[0161] 400 beam splitter arrangement

[0162] 401 beam splitter

[0163] 402 combined light beam

[0164] 403 first partial light beam

[0165] 404 second partial light beam

[0166] 405 third partial light beam

[0167] 406 basic body

[0168] 407 Entrance side surface

[0169] 408 first exit side surface

[0170] 409 second exit side surface

[0171] 410 third exit side surface

[0172] 411 first semi-transparent, reflective element

[0173] 412 second semi-transparent, reflective element

[0174] 413 first optically active element

[0175] 414 second optically active element

[0176] 415 third optically active element

[0177] 416 floor space

[0178] 417 Cover surface a Angle of incidence ß Angle between the plane of the entrance side surface and the plane with the semi-transparent, reflecting element

[0179] Y Angle between the first plane of the first semi-transparent, reflective element and the second plane of the second semi-transparent, reflective element ö Tilt angle

[0180] £ Exit angle

[0181] E d Minimum distance of the display from the edge of the base body

[0182] E r Minimum distance of the outermost combined light beam from the edge of the base body

[0183] AZ di Displacement vector of the first display AZ d2 Displacement vector of the second display

[0184] AZ d3Displacement vector of the third display

Claims

Patent claims 1. Beam combination arrangement (100), comprising: a beam combiner (1) for combining a plurality of light beams (2, 3, 4) to form a combined light beam (5), the beam combiner (1) comprising: a base body (6) with a plurality of entry side surfaces (7, 8, 9) through which light beams (2, 3, 4) enter the base body (6), and an exit side surface (10) through which a light beam (5) combined from the entry light beams (2, 3, 4) exits the base body (6), as well as at least one semi-transparent, reflective element (13, 14) arranged in the base body (6), wherein the entry light beams (2, 3, 4) are combined with one another in the interior of the base body (6) by means of the at least one semi-transparent, reflective element (13, 14), and the entry side surfaces (7, 8, 9) associated displays (15, 16, 17), designed to emit the light beams (2, 3, 4), wherein at least one of the displays (15, 16,17) is arranged off-center with respect to the entry side surface (7, 8, 9) associated with this display (15, 16, 17).

2. Beam combination arrangement (100) according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the light beams (2, 3, 4) enters the base body (6) through the entrance side surface (7, 8, 9) with an angle of incidence (α) deviating from zero degrees.

3. Beam combination arrangement (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the base body (6) is cube-shaped or cuboid-shaped.

4. Beam combiner (1) for combining several light beams (2, 3, 4) into a combined light beam (5), the beam combiner (1) comprising a base body (6) with several entry side surfaces (7, 8, 9) through which light beams (2, 3, 4) can enter the base body (6), and an exit side surface (10) through which a light beam (5) combined from incoming light beams (2, 3, 4) can exit the base body (6), as well as at least one semi-transparent, reflective element (13, 14) arranged in the base body (6), wherein the incoming light beams (2, 3, 4) are combined with one another in the interior of the base body (6) by means of the at least one semi-transparent, reflective element (13, 14), and wherein the base body (6) is designed as a straight prism with a trapezoidal base surface (18) and a trapezoidal cover surface (19).

5. Beam combiner (1) according to claim 4, wherein the base body (6) is designed as a straight prism with a diamond-shaped base surface (18) and a diamond-shaped cover surface (19).

6. Beam combiner (1) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein an entrance side surface (7, 9) not arranged opposite the exit side surface (10) is assigned a plane (11, 12) with a semi-transparent, reflective element (13, 14), wherein the semi-transparent reflective element (13, 14) is arranged such that a light beam (2, 4) entering through this entrance side surface (7, 9) is reflected to the exit side surface (10), and wherein a plane (20, 22) of the entrance side surface (7, 9) and the plane (11, 12) assigned to this entrance side surface (7, 9) enclose an angle (ß) different from 45 degrees with the semi-transparent, reflective element (13, 14).

7. Beam combination arrangement (100), comprising: a beam combiner (1) according to one of claims 4 to 6, and displays (15, 16, 17) associated with the entrance side surfaces (7, 8, 9), designed to emit the light beams (2, 3, 4).

8. Beam combination arrangement (100) according to claim 7, wherein at least one of the displays (15, 16, 17) is arranged parallel to the plane (20, 21, 22) of the entrance side surface (7, 8, 9) associated with this display (15, 16, 17).

9. Beam combination arrangement (100) or beam combiner (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the base body (6) has a first entry side surface (7) through which a first light beam (2) can enter or enters the base body (6), a second entry side surface (8) through which a second light beam (3) can enter or enters the base body (6) and a third entry side surface (9) through which a third light beam (4) can enter or enters the base body (6).enters, wherein the second entrance side surface (8) is arranged opposite the exit side surface (10), the third entrance side surface (9) is arranged opposite the first entrance side surface (7), a first semi-transparent, reflective element (13) reflects the first light beam (2) to the exit side surface (10), a second semi-transparent, reflective element (14) reflects the third light beam (9) to the exit side surface (10), and the second light beam (8) is transmitted through the first semi-transparent, reflective element (13) and the second semi-transparent, reflective element (14) to the exit side surface (10).

10. Beam combination arrangement (100) according to claim 9, wherein the first entry side surface (7) is assigned a first display (15) designed to emit the first light beam (2), the second entry side surface (8) is assigned a second display (16) designed to emit the second light beam (3), and the third entry side surface (9) is assigned a third display (17) designed to emit the third light beam (4).

11. Beam combination arrangement (100) according to claim 10, wherein the first display (15) is arranged offset off-center in the direction of the exit side surface (10), the second display (16) is arranged offset off-center in the direction of the third entry side surface (9) and / or the third display (17) is arranged offset off-center in the direction of the second entry side surface (8).

12. Spectacle lens (200) comprising a beam combining arrangement (100) according to one of claims 1 to 3 or 7 to 11.

13. Data glasses (300) with a spectacle lens (200) according to claim 12.

14. Beam splitter arrangement (400), comprising: a beam splitter (401) for splitting a combined light beam (402) into a plurality of partial light beams (403, 404, 405), the beam splitter (401) comprising: a base body (406) with an entry side surface (407) through which the combined light beam (402) enters the base body (406), and a plurality of exit side surfaces (408, 409, 410) through which partial light beams (403, 404, 405) obtained from the entering combined light beam (402) exit the base body (406), and at least one semi-transparent, reflective element (411, 412) arranged in the base body (406), wherein the entering combined light beam (402) is split into the partial light beams (403, 404, 405) in the interior of the base body (406) by means of the at least one semi-transparent, reflective element (411, 412), and optically active elements (413, 414, 415) assigned to the exit side surfaces (408, 409, 410), designed to interact with the partial light beams (403, 404, 405) exiting the base body (406), wherein at least one of the partial light beams (403, 404, 405) exits the base body (406) through one of the exit side surfaces (408, 409, 410) at an exit angle £ deviating from zero degrees, and wherein the optically active element interacting with this partial light beam (403, 404, 405) (413, 414, 415) is arranged off-center with respect to the exit side surface (408, 409, 410) associated with this optical element (413, 414, 415).

15. Beam splitter (401) for splitting a combined light beam (402) into a plurality of partial light beams (403, 404, 405), the beam splitter (401) comprising: a base body (406) with an entry side surface (407) through which the combined light beam (402) can enter the base body (406), and a plurality of exit side surfaces (408, 409, 410) through which partial light beams (403, 404, 405) obtained from the entering combined light beam (402) can exit the base body (406), and at least one semi-transparent, reflective element (411, 412) arranged in the base body (406), wherein the entering combined light beam (402) is reflected in the interior of the base body (406) by means of the at least one semi-transparent, reflecting element (411, 412) can be divided into the partial light beams (403, 404, 405) and wherein the base body (406) is designed as a straight prism with a trapezoidal base surface (416) and a trapezoidal cover surface (417).

Images