Collimated Stereo Display System Vergence-Accommodation Conflict
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Solution Overview
Problem
Three-dimensional displays often induce eye strain due to conflicts between accurate presentation of stereopsis, vergence, and accommodation, as viewers are forced to decouple learned focus and convergence relationships, leading to fatigue and stress over time.
Innovation Solution
A collimated stereo display system that includes an image generator for stereoscopic images, an image modulator to form light into left and right eye images, and a collimation apparatus to ensure rays of light are substantially parallel, allowing viewers to focus at infinity rather than the screen plane, reducing strain by aligning vergence and accommodation cues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a planar display is used to present stereoscopic images, then depth perception is achieved through vergence cues, but accommodation cues conflict with vergence cues causing eye strain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the optical parameter of light rays from divergent (conventional display) to collimated (parallel), creating a virtual image at infinity. This allows the display surface to be physically close to the viewer while maintaining accommodation at infinity, resolving the conflict between vergence and accommodation cues and eliminating eye strain during prolonged 3D viewing
2Reliability
If the focal plane remains at the screen plane, then the screen stays in focus, but the viewer's eyes are forced to converge on stereoscopic objects at different implied distances
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces collimating optics as an intermediary between the display and the viewer's eyes. These optics transform divergent light rays into parallel rays, creating a virtual image at infinity that serves as a mediator between the physical screen location and the perceived depth location, allowing simultaneous focus stability and viewing comfort
3Measurement precision
If stereoscopic images are presented with parallax implying objects at different distances, then depth perception is enhanced, but the decoupling of focus and convergence relationships induces fatigue
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the accommodation parameter from finite distance (screen plane) to infinity while maintaining vergence cues for various depths. This parameter change allows the viewer to maintain the learned coupling between focus and convergence relationships even when viewing objects at different implied distances, enabling extended viewing durations without fatigue
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 provides a more comfortable and realistic three-dimensional viewing experience with reduced eye strain, improved depth perception, and enhanced resolution, allowing viewers to engage with immersive environments for extended periods without fatigue.
Implementation Method 1
collimation apparatus enabled to receive and collimate the light from the at least one image modulator, such that rays of light are substantially parallel when the stereoscopic images are received at the viewing apparatus
Data Source
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AI summary
A collimated stereo display system is provided. The system comprises: an image generator enabled to provide a stream of stereoscopic images comprising left eye images and right eye images; at least one image modulator enabled to receive the stream of stereoscopic images from the image generator and form light into the stereoscopic images for viewing at a viewing apparatus for filtering the light into the left eye images and the right eye images respectively thereby providing a three dimensional rendering of the stereoscopic images when viewed through the viewing apparatus; and, collimation apparatus enabled to receive and collimate the light from the at least one image modulator, such that rays of light are substantially parallel when the stereoscopic images are received at the viewing apparatus.