AR See-Through Display Diffractive Backlight Substrate
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Solution Overview
Problem
Augmented reality (AR) displays face challenges in achieving a large field-of-view, high resolution, and a compact form factor, with existing designs often relying on bulky optics and inefficient light usage, limiting their effectiveness and user experience.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a pinhole camera architecture using a diffractive backlight substrate with directional pixels and a transmissive LCD panel, which eliminates bulky optics and leverages guided-wave illumination to create a wide field-of-view AR display with improved resolution and energy efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If bulky optics are used to achieve high resolution and large field-of-view, then image quality is improved, but device size and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional bulky mechanical optics with a waveguide-based optical system that uses diffraction gratings and total internal reflection to achieve the same imaging function with significantly reduced size and weight
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses thin waveguide substrates with integrated diffractive optics to create a lightweight, compact display system that maintains high image quality without the bulk of conventional optical components
2Area of stationary object
If traditional optical components are used, then field-of-view can be achieved, but light efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The waveguide design enables continuous light propagation through total internal reflection with minimal loss, allowing efficient light delivery across the entire field-of-view area without the inefficiencies of traditional optical component chains
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces diffractive gratings as intermediary elements within the waveguide that efficiently couple light into and out of the waveguide mode, maximizing light utilization while expanding the field-of-view
3Measurement precision
If display size is increased to improve resolution, then image quality is improved, but device footprint increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a planar display architecture to a three-dimensional waveguide structure that uses light propagation in the depth dimension to achieve high resolution while maintaining a compact footprint at the eye interface
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
This solution enables a comfortable, immersive AR experience with a large field-of-view and high resolution, while maintaining a small form factor, by using diffractive gratings and an LCD panel to modulate light, reducing the presence of the device and enhancing user interaction.
Implementation Method 1
a diffractive backlight substrate including diffractive gratings... wherein the diffractive gratings scatter light provided by a light source out of the backlight substrate to form an array of directional pixels
Implementation Method 2
an LCD panel to modulate the array of directional pixels to form an image that augments a real world view visible through the backlight substrate and the LCD panel
Implementation Method 3
leverages guided-wave illumination to create a wide field-of-view AR display
Data Source
AI summary
Examples disclosed herein include an augmented reality (AR) see-through display system, which includes a diffractive backlight substrate including diffractive gratings. The display system includes a light source to transmit light into the backlight substrate, wherein the diffractive gratings scatter the light out of the backlight substrate to form an array of directional pixels. The display system includes an LCD panel to modulate the array of directional pixels to form an image that augments a real world view visible through the backlight substrate and the LCD panel.