AR Headset Optical Assembly for Compact Form Factor
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional augmented-reality headsets are often cumbersome due to their size, weight, and compromised performance and battery life, making them uncomfortable and inefficient for users.
Innovation Solution
The development of a compact, lightweight augmented-reality headset with a shape similar to non-augmented reality glasses, utilizing specifically designed components and lightweight materials, and employing monochrome light emitting panels, separate optical paths, and an optical waveguide combiner to provide a wide field-of-view and high pixel per degree resolution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional augmented-reality headsets are designed with sufficient components for performance, then performance is improved, but size and weight increase making them uncomfortable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple optical components (waveguide, combiner, light emitter panel) into an integrated optical assembly that functions as a unified system. This merging reduces the overall number of separate components and their associated mounting structures, thereby reducing weight while maintaining performance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a nested arrangement where the light emitter panel is positioned within the optical path of the waveguide, and the combiner is integrated within the same structure. This nesting allows multiple functional elements to occupy overlapping or adjacent spaces, minimizing the overall volume and weight of the headset
2Reliability
If traditional augmented-reality headsets include necessary components, then performance is improved, but size increases making them awkward to wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from traditional planar component layouts to a three-dimensional integrated optical assembly. The waveguide, combiner, and light emitter panel are arranged in multiple layers and angles, utilizing vertical and depth dimensions to pack functionality into a compact form factor that fits the contours of the face
3Volume of moving object
If traditional augmented-reality headsets are made compact, then form factor is improved, but performance and battery life are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs thin-film optical elements including the waveguide and combiner, which provide substantial optical functionality in extremely thin profiles. These thin films enable compact form factor while maintaining the optical performance needed for augmented reality display
4Measurement precision
If monochrome light emitter panels are used, then field-of-view and resolution are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the color generation function from the light emitter panel itself, using monochrome LEDs combined with optical filtering or sequential coloring methods. This separation allows the light emitter to focus on high-brightness monochrome output while color is added through a dedicated optical path, simplifying the light emitter design while achieving full-color display capability
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 achieves a compact and comfortable form factor while maintaining high performance and battery longevity, providing an enhanced user experience.
Implementation Method 1
an optical waveguide combiner for providing a wide field-of-view and high pixel per degree resolution
Implementation Method 2
monochrome light emitting panels
Data Source
AI summary
An augmented-reality glasses comprises a plurality of panels of light emitters arranged to form an array of light emitters, wherein the array of light emitters includes light emitters of three colors; collimation optics for collimating light received from the array of light emitters; an optical coupler for receiving the collimated light; and a three-channel waveguide combiner for display of augmented-reality content to a wearer of the augmented-reality glasses, wherein each channel of the three-channel waveguide combiner respectively causes display of images of one color of the three colors generated by the light emitters. In some embodiments, the three-channel waveguide combiner is an optical waveguide with pupil replication and the optical coupler is an in-coupling optical element for coupling the collimated light into the three-channel waveguide combiner.