AR Waveguide Assembly With Reflective Coating for Light Output
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing augmented reality devices face challenges in efficiently guiding and projecting light to a user's eye using waveguides, particularly in wearable devices like electronic glasses, due to limitations in light confinement and propagation within the waveguide structure.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a transparent member with a waveguide and a coating layer having a lower refractive index than the transparent member, along with a light source attached to the coating layer, to reflect and output light efficiently within the waveguide assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a waveguide structure is used to confine and guide light in augmented reality devices, then light can be directed to the user's eye, but light propagation efficiency and output clarity are reduced due to limitations in light confinement and propagation within the waveguide
Solution Approach 1:
A coating layer with lower refractive index than the transparent member is introduced as an intermediary between the waveguide and external environment. This coating layer acts as a mediator that reflects light propagated within the transparent member, improving light output efficiency while maintaining the waveguide's light confinement function. The coating layer serves as a reflective interface that resolves the contradiction between guiding light and outputting light efficiently.
2Loss of energy
If a coating layer with lower refractive index is attached to the transparent member, then light reflection and output efficiency are improved, but device complexity increases due to additional layers and attachment requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The coating layer is implemented as a thin film structure attached to the transparent member. This thin film approach improves light reflection efficiency without significantly increasing the overall device complexity. The coating layer's thin nature allows it to be integrated into the existing waveguide assembly with minimal structural modification, maintaining ease of manufacture while achieving improved optical performance.
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
Enhances the light projection efficiency and clarity in augmented reality devices by optimizing light propagation and output, providing improved visual experiences for users.
Implementation Method 1
The coating layer is configured to reflect at least a portion of light propagated within the transparent member
Implementation Method 2
The waveguide may propagate the coupled light within the waveguide by total internal reflection
Implementation Method 3
the waveguide may include a diffraction grating that couples the incident light into the waveguide
Data Source
AI summary
An augmented reality device includes a transparent member in which a waveguide is defined. The transparent member includes a first region through which light is inputted thereto and a second region through which at least a portion of the light is outputted therefrom. The augmented reality device includes a coating layer attached to the transparent member and around the first region of the transparent member in a plan view. The augmented reality device includes a light source, configured to output light onto the first region of the transparent member, and attached to the coating layer. The coating layer is configured to reflect at least a portion of light propagated within the transparent member.