Anamorphic Near-Eye Display Waveguide for Wide Field of View
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current near-eye display apparatuses for augmented and virtual reality struggle to provide high-resolution, high-luminance images with wide fields of view while maintaining a compact form factor, low weight, and high transparency, and they often suffer from glare and image distortions due to limitations in optical design and light management.
Innovation Solution
An anamorphic near-eye display apparatus featuring a spatial light modulator and an optical system with anamorphic properties in both lateral and transverse directions, utilizing a transverse and lateral anamorphic component, an input waveguide, and an extraction waveguide with reflective extraction features to expand the exit pupil and reduce light loss, glare, and chromatic aberrations, while maintaining a compact design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If conventional optical systems are used in near-eye displays, then the device can be made compact, but the field of view is limited and image quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The optical system is segmented into distinct anamorphic components with specific optical powers in lateral and transverse directions. Each component handles specific directional control of light rays, allowing the system to achieve wide field of view while maintaining compact form factor through functional decomposition of the optical path.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces anamorphic properties that treat lateral and transverse directions differently, adding dimensional differentiation to the optical system. This allows independent optimization of field of view in different directions and enables compact waveguide integration by folding the optical path in multiple dimensions.
2Measurement precision
If the optical system is made more complex to improve image quality, then resolution and luminance improve, but the device weight and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple optical functions (anamorphic expansion, waveguide coupling, light extraction) are merged into integrated components. The anamorphic components are directly coupled to waveguides, eliminating separate mounting structures and reducing overall system weight while maintaining high resolution image quality through precise optical design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses thin waveguide structures with integrated optical features. The waveguides are made sufficiently thin to reduce weight while maintaining optical performance through careful design of coupling interfaces and extraction features, allowing high resolution imaging without excessive weight.
3Area of stationary object
If the optical system is made more complex to achieve wide field of view, then the field of view expands, but manufacturing cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The anamorphic components are designed to perform multiple functions: they provide anamorphic expansion for wide field of view, couple light into waveguides, and control ray directions. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, simplifying manufacturing while achieving wide field of view performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical system uses composite structures combining different materials with complementary properties. Waveguides may use materials with specific refractive indices for optimal light guidance, while anamorphic components use materials optimized for their optical power requirements. This material optimization enables wide field of view with manageable manufacturing complexity.
4Volume of moving object
If conventional waveguide coupling methods are used, then the form factor is reduced, but light loss and glare increase
Solution Approach 1:
Anamorphic components serve as intermediaries between the light source and waveguide coupling interface. These components pre-condition the light rays by providing appropriate angular distribution and spatial configuration, enabling more efficient coupling into the waveguide and reducing light loss while maintaining compact form factor.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes key optical parameters including the optical power of anamorphic components, the numerical aperture of waveguide coupling, and the angular distribution of light rays. By carefully adjusting these parameters, the system achieves efficient light coupling with minimal loss while maintaining compact dimensions.
5Ease of operation
If the eyebox is made larger to improve comfort, then viewing comfort improves, but the device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The anamorphic components expand the exit pupil in specific directions (lateral and transverse) by manipulating light ray angles. This angular expansion translates to a larger effective eyebox without increasing the physical footprint of the device, as the expansion is achieved through optical path folding rather than physical size increase.
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 solution provides high brightness, efficiency, and a wide field of view with reduced glare and chromatic aberrations, enabling comfortable long-term use and improved image quality by expanding the eyebox and minimizing image distortions, making it suitable for both augmented and virtual reality applications.
Implementation Method 1
a transverse anamorphic component having positive optical power in the transverse direction, wherein the transverse anamorphic component is arranged to receive light from the spatial light modulator and the illumination system is arranged so that light output from the transverse anamorphic component is directed in directions that are distributed in the transverse direction
Implementation Method 2
an input waveguide arranged to guide light from the transverse anamorphic component to the lateral anamorphic component along the input waveguide
Implementation Method 3
a lateral anamorphic component having positive optical power in the lateral direction, the input waveguide being arranged to guide light from the transverse anamorphic component to the lateral anamorphic component along the input waveguide
Implementation Method 4
an extraction waveguide that is arranged to receive light from the lateral anamorphic component, wherein the extraction waveguide comprises an array of reflective extraction features disposed internally within the extraction waveguide, the reflective extraction features being arranged to extract light guided along the extraction waveguide towards an eye of a viewer
Data Source
AI summary
An anamorphic near-eye display apparatus comprises a spatial light modulator with asymmetric pixels; an input transverse anamorphic lens; an input waveguide that passes input light to a lateral anamorphic component arranged to provide imaging of the spatial light modulator in the lateral direction; and an extraction waveguide arranged to receive light from the lateral anamorphic component. Partially reflective extraction elements are arranged between the rear and front guide surfaces of the extraction waveguide to extract the imaged light towards the pupil of an observer, maintaining the directionality of the fan of light rays from the spatial light modulator and anamorphic imaging system. A thin, transparent and efficient anamorphic display apparatus for Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality displays is provided.