Adaptive Lens Assemblies for VR Vergence-Accommodation Conflict
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Solution Overview
Problem
Virtual reality and augmented reality headsets often cause visual fatigue and nausea due to their inability to correctly render or compensate for vergence and accommodation conflicts, leading to discomfort for users.
Innovation Solution
A multifocal system with adaptive lenses that adjust optical power to converge or diverge light, matching the vergence distance to accommodate the user's eye focus, using a combination of directly optically coupled lenses and eye tracking to ensure comfortable viewing experiences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fixed optical power lenses are used in VR/AR headsets, then device structure is simple, but vergence-accommodation conflict occurs causing visual fatigue and nausea
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic optical power adjustment by replacing fixed lenses with adaptive lens assemblies that can change their focal length in real-time. The first lens assembly switches between a first plurality of optical powers and the second lens assembly switches between a second plurality of optical powers, allowing the system to dynamically match vergence distance with accommodation distance, thereby resolving the vergence-accommodation conflict and improving visual comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the optical parameter (optical power) of the lens assemblies to resolve the technical contradiction. By switching between multiple optical powers in the first and second lens assemblies, the system can adjust the focal length to match different vergence distances, transforming the fixed parameter system into a variable parameter system that adapts to different viewing conditions and eliminates visual fatigue.
2Ease of operation
If adaptive lens assemblies are used to adjust optical power, then vergence-accommodation conflict is mitigated, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the optical system into two separate lens assemblies (first lens assembly and second lens assembly) instead of using a single complex adaptive lens. Each assembly can independently switch between multiple optical powers, allowing the system to achieve complex optical adjustments through simpler, modular components. This segmentation reduces the complexity of individual lens assemblies while maintaining the ability to mitigate vergence-accommodation conflict.
Solution Approach 2:
The first and second lens assemblies serve multiple functions: they can independently adjust optical power, work in combination to achieve various focal lengths, and adapt to different viewing conditions. This multi-functionality allows the system to maintain viewing comfort across different scenarios without requiring separate specialized components for each function, thereby managing overall device complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively mitigates vergence-accommodation conflicts by dynamically adjusting the focal length, reducing user fatigue and nausea by ensuring that the virtual image is displayed at the correct distance for eye accommodation, providing a more comfortable viewing experience.
Implementation Method 1
a first lens assembly controllable to switch between a first plurality of optical powers. The first lens assembly includes a plurality of directly optically coupled lenses, and is configured to converge or diverge a light transmitted therethrough
Implementation Method 2
a second lens assembly coupled with the first lens assembly, and controllable to switch between a second plurality of optical powers that are opposite to the first plurality of optical powers
Data Source
AI summary
A device is provided. The device includes a first lens assembly controllable to switch between a first plurality of optical powers. The first lens assembly includes a plurality of directly optically coupled lenses, and is configured to converge or diverge a light transmitted therethrough. The device also includes a second lens assembly coupled with the first lens assembly, and controllable to switch between a second plurality of optical powers that are opposite to the first plurality of optical powers.