Active Alignment for AR Optical Engine Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional assembly methods for augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) near-eye imaging systems rely solely on mechanical housings, leading to variations in optical components that can result in inconsistent optical performance and deteriorate user experience due to sensitivity to individual component variations.
Innovation Solution
An active alignment method using an optical detector and a multi-axis controller to dynamically adjust the optical engine's position based on parameters of a virtual image, ensuring optimal alignment and optical path adjustment for consistent performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional mechanical housing assembly is used, then assembly simplicity is maintained, but optical performance consistency deteriorates due to component variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-adjusting optical components to their optimal positions before final assembly. The active alignment system allows components to be positioned and adjusted in advance, then fixed in place, ensuring consistent optical performance across production batches without requiring complex real-time adjustment mechanisms during assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces purely mechanical housing-based alignment with an active alignment system that uses optical detectors and control mechanisms. This substitution allows for dynamic adjustment and compensation of component variations, achieving superior optical consistency without relying solely on mechanical precision of housings.
2Device complexity
If mechanical housing fixation is used, then device structure is simplified, but optical path precision deteriorates due to tolerance accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback through optical detectors that monitor the actual optical path and component positions. This feedback information is used to adjust and correct alignment deviations, ensuring precise optical paths even when mechanical tolerances exist in the housing structure. The system continuously monitors and compensates for deviations from the ideal optical path.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic adjustment capabilities to the otherwise static mechanical structure. The active alignment system allows components to be dynamically positioned and adjusted during assembly and potentially during operation, compensating for mechanical tolerances and ensuring precise optical paths without requiring overly tight mechanical tolerances throughout the entire structure.
3Productivity
If individual component variations are accepted, then production efficiency is maintained, but product performance uniformity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by using the active alignment system to adjust and optimize optical parameters (position, angle, focal length) for each component during assembly. This allows components with varying manufacturing parameters to be compensated and tuned to achieve uniform optical performance across all products, maintaining high production efficiency while ensuring consistency.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects for active alignment for assembling optical imaging systems are described herein. As an example, the aspects may include aligning an optical detector with an optical component. The optical component is configured to alter a direction of one or more light beams emitted from an image displayed by an optical engine. The aspects may further include detecting, by the optical detector, a virtual image generated by the one or more light beams emitted by the optical engine; and adjusting, by a multi-axis controller, an optical path of the one or more light beams based on one or more parameters of the virtual image collected by the optical detector.