Catadioptric VR Optics With Folded Path for High Resolution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Related art VR/AR headsets are bulky and cumbersome due to reliance on refraction for increasing focal length, leading to poor optical performance and user discomfort.
Innovation Solution
A catadioptric optical system utilizing a first lens with a reflective polarizer, a second lens with a quarter waveplate, and a third lens, configured to both reflect and refract light, enhancing optical performance with higher resolution and compactness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If refraction is used to increase focal length, then resolution of virtual image is improved, but headset becomes bulky and cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional refractive optical system with a catadioptric system that uses both reflection (mirrors) and refraction (lenses). Specifically, it employs a reflective polarizer on the first lens and a quarter waveplate on the second lens to create a compact folded optical path that achieves high resolution without requiring long track length, thus reducing headset bulkiness while maintaining image quality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a folded optical path using mirrors and reflective surfaces that bend light in multiple dimensions. The first lens with reflective polarizer and second lens with quarter waveplate create a complex light path that achieves long effective focal length in a compact physical space, resolving the contradiction between resolution and headset size
2Measurement precision
If track length is increased to improve resolution, then focal length increases, but headset compactness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a folded optical path with mirrors and reflective surfaces to achieve long effective focal length without increasing physical track length. The light path is bent through multiple reflections between lenses and mirrors, allowing the optical system to achieve high resolution in a compact configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The catadioptric system nests multiple optical functions within a compact structure. The first lens with reflective polarizer, second lens with quarter waveplate, and additional mirrors are arranged in a nested configuration where each component serves multiple functions, achieving long focal length effect in short physical distance
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 system achieves higher resolution and compactness by combining reflection and refraction, reducing the headset's bulkiness and improving user comfort.
Implementation Method 1
a reflective polarizer on the first curved surface of the first lens
Implementation Method 2
a reflective polarizer on the first curved surface of the first lens
Implementation Method 3
a quarter waveplate on the substantially flat surface of the second lens
Implementation Method 4
Related art optical systems in AR/VR systems utilize only refraction to increase the focal length
Data Source
AI summary
A catadioptric optical system including a first lens having a first curved surface; a reflective polarizer on the first curved surface of the first lens; a second lens having a curved surface facing the first lens and a substantially flat surface facing away from the first lens; a quarter waveplate on the substantially flat surface of the second lens; and a third lens.