Bulging Tip Waveguide for Compact HMD Viewing Region
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current head-mounted displays (HMDs) and head-up displays (HUDs) face challenges in achieving a compact design with effective light wave-guide optical elements that provide large fields of view without requiring users to look away from their usual viewpoints.
Innovation Solution
A light wave-guide optical element with a simplified bulging stack structure, featuring an organic optical material with multiple bulging tips surrounded by a periphery plane, an anti-reflection stack, and an organic optical cover, formed using a method that includes curing a patterned organic layer with a template and applying an anti-reflection stack and cover layer, utilizing materials like acrylic and epoxy, and zirconium oxide and silicon oxide layers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a complex bulging stack structure is used to achieve large fields of view, then the viewing region is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The optical element is divided into distinct functional regions: multiple bulging tips for light guidance and a periphery plane for structural support. This segmentation allows each region to perform its specific function efficiently, achieving large fields of view while maintaining manageable structural complexity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a flat two-dimensional optical surface to a three-dimensional structure with bulging tips. This dimensional change enables light to be guided through multiple paths and angles, expanding the viewing region without proportionally increasing the footprint area of the optical element
2Illumination intensity
If conventional optical materials are used to ensure optical transparency, then the optical performance is maintained, but the manufacturing precision and compactness are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs composite material structures combining transparent organic optical materials with anti-reflection coatings. This composite approach maintains optical transparency while enabling precise control over the bulging tip geometries and periphery plane characteristics through specialized manufacturing processes for each material layer
Solution Approach 2:
The invention optimizes parameters such as the aspect ratio of bulging tips (height-to-width ratio) and the thickness of the periphery plane to achieve the desired optical performance. By carefully controlling these parameters during fabrication, the invention achieves both high optical transparency and manufacturing precision
3Ease of manufacture
If the optical element structure is simplified to improve industrial utility, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the optical performance may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The periphery plane serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support for the bulging tips, defines the boundary of the optical element, and contributes to the overall optical path management. This multi-functionality simplifies the overall structure while maintaining reliable optical performance by eliminating the need for separate support components
4Object-affected harmful factors
If anti-reflection stacking is added to reduce reflections, then the optical performance is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies anti-reflection coatings that convert the harmful reflections at optical interfaces into beneficial effects. By carefully selecting coating materials and thicknesses, the anti-reflection stack reduces unwanted reflections while maintaining structural integrity, effectively turning a problematic feature into an optical performance enhancement
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 more compact and industrially useful HMD or HUD with improved optical performance by conformally covering the bulging tips and periphery plane, enhancing the display's viewing region and reducing reflections.
Implementation Method 1
an anti-reflection stack conformally covers the bulging tips and the periphery plane
Implementation Method 2
a light wave-guide optical element to transmit digital images into the eye(s) of the viewer
Data Source
AI summary
A method to form a light wave-guide optical element is disclosed. First, a flat organic optical layer is formed on an optically transparent substrate before using a template to transfer a pattern onto the flat organic optical layer to obtain a patterned organic optical layer. Then the patterned organic optical layer is cured in the presence of the template to obtain an organic optical material disposed on the optically transparent substrate before removing the template from the organic optical material. Later an anti-reflection stack is formed to conformally cover the organic optical material before applying an organic optical cover layer on the anti-reflection stack to cover the anti-reflection stack.