AR Eyepiece Waveguide for Accommodation Vergence Mismatch
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional virtual reality, augmented reality, and mixed reality systems often fail to provide a comfortable and realistic perception of depth due to mismatched accommodation and vergence, leading to discomfort and ineffective depth cues for users.
Innovation Solution
The eyepiece waveguide system incorporates a substrate with diffractive optical features, including input coupler, orthogonal pupil expander, and exit pupil expander regions, which divide and redirect light beams to simulate three-dimensional image data by providing different presentations corresponding to multiple depth planes, aligning with the user's accommodated states and vergence movements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional virtual reality systems present computer-generated image data through a head-mounted display, then users can experience a simulated environment, but the accommodation and vergence are mismatched leading to discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the light path into multiple independent channels, each corresponding to a different depth plane. The input coupler region divides the incident light beam into multiple guided light beams that propagate through the substrate at different angles, with each beam representing a separate depth layer. This segmentation allows each depth plane to be independently optimized for accommodation and vergence matching.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new optical dimension by utilizing the angular distribution of light beams to encode depth information. Instead of presenting a single flat image, the system creates multiple light paths at different angles corresponding to different depth planes, adding a spatial dimension to the display that enables simultaneous accommodation and vergence matching across multiple depths.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional augmented reality systems supplement real-world environment with simulated elements, then contextual information is provided, but depth cues remain ineffective
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different optical properties to different regions of the waveguide substrate. Each region corresponds to a specific depth plane and has tailored optical characteristics including specific refraction indices and angular orientations. This allows each depth layer to provide accurate depth cues appropriate to its spatial position, improving the precision of depth information for contextual elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates optical copies of the real-world environment at multiple depth planes by superimposing simulated elements onto the real-world view through the waveguide. Each simulated element is rendered as a separate light path that can be independently positioned and focused, providing accurate depth cues that match the spatial relationships of the contextual information being displayed.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the eyepiece waveguide uses a substrate with diffractive optical features to divide and redirect light beams, then multiple depth planes are simulated, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple optical functions into a single integrated waveguide substrate. The input coupler region, multiple orthogonal pupil expander regions, and exit pupil expander region are all combined in one substrate, eliminating the need for separate optical components for each depth plane. This integration reduces assembly complexity while maintaining multi-depth plane capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The waveguide substrate serves multiple functions simultaneously: it guides light at different angles, expands pupils orthogonally, and separates light into multiple depth planes. The single substrate performs what would traditionally require multiple separate optical elements, reducing overall device complexity while enabling versatile multi-depth display functionality.
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 approach enhances the realism and comfort of depth perception by ensuring a better match between accommodation and vergence, providing a more immersive and believable simulation of depth through the distribution of light across multiple depth planes.
Implementation Method 1
an input coupler region formed on or in the substrate and configured to divide and re-direct at least one input light beam that is externally incident on the input coupler region into first and second guided light beams that propagate inside the substrate
Implementation Method 2
a first orthogonal pupil expander (OPE) region formed on or in the substrate and configured to divide the first guided light beam from the input coupler region into a plurality of parallel, spaced-apart light beams
Implementation Method 3
a common exit pupil expander (EPE) region formed on or in the substrate and configured to re-direct the light beams from both the first and second OPE regions such that they exit the substrate
Data Source
AI summary
An eyepiece for an augmented reality display system. The eyepiece can include a waveguide substrate. The waveguide substrate can include an input coupler grating (ICG), an orthogonal pupil expander (OPE) grating, a spreader grating, and an exit pupil expander (EPE) grating. The ICG can couple at least one input light beam into at least a first guided light beam that propagates inside the waveguide substrate. The OPE grating can divide the first guided light beam into a plurality of parallel, spaced-apart light beams. The spreader grating can receive the light beams from the OPE grating and spread their distribution. The spreader grating can include diffractive features oriented at approximately 90° to diffractive features of the OPE grating. The EPE grating can re-direct the light beams from the first OPE grating and the first spreader grating such that they exit the waveguide substrate.