Compact See-Through Display System Using Nested Beam Splitters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wearable display systems fail to provide an effective and compact solution for overlaying computer-generated images onto a user's real-world view while allowing for simultaneous visibility of the real environment, leading to limitations in augmented reality experiences.
Innovation Solution
A compact see-through display system incorporating a display panel, image former, viewing window, and beam splitters, where the distal beam splitter is optically coupled to the display panel and proximal beam splitter, allowing outside light and virtual images to be viewed along a common axis, with beam-splitting interfaces oriented in specific planes to enable simultaneous real-world and virtual image visibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a display system is placed close to the user's eye to overlay artificial images on the real world, then the field of view is enhanced with virtual content, but the system becomes bulky and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested optical architecture where the distal beam splitter is positioned within the optical path between the display panel and proximal beam splitter. This nesting arrangement allows multiple optical functions (image formation, beam splitting, real-world view integration) to be compactly integrated in a layered configuration, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining augmented reality functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes a beam splitter with its interface in a plane parallel to the viewing axis, representing a dimensional reorganization of the optical path. This orientation allows light from the display panel and light from the real world to be combined along the same viewing axis by exploiting the third spatial dimension, enabling a compact design that integrates virtual and real views without requiring lateral expansion of the system.
2Productivity
If a compact optical system is designed to allow simultaneous viewing of real world and virtual images, then augmented reality experience is enhanced, but optical alignment and image quality become difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the optical system into distinct functional segments: a display panel for generating virtual images, an image former for shaping the virtual image, a distal beam splitter for initial light path separation, and a proximal beam splitter for final image combination. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized and aligned independently, reducing the overall difficulty of achieving precise optical alignment while maintaining high image quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an image former as an intermediary optical element between the display panel and the beam splitters. This intermediary component serves to shape and condition the light from the display panel before it reaches the beam splitting interfaces, facilitating easier alignment and improving image quality by pre-correcting optical path deviations.
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
Enables a compact and efficient augmented reality experience by allowing users to view both real-world and virtual images simultaneously, enhancing interaction with the environment through wearable computing devices.
Implementation Method 1
a proximal beam splitter and a distal beam splitter. The distal beam splitter has a beam-splitting interface in a plane that is parallel to the viewing axis
Data Source
AI summary
An optical system includes a display panel, an image former, a viewing window, a proximal beam splitter, and a distal beam splitter. The display panel is configured to generate a light pattern. The image former is configured to form a virtual image from the light pattern generated by the display panel. The viewing window is configured to allow outside light in from outside of the optical system. The virtual image and the outside light are viewable along a viewing axis extending through the proximal beam splitter. The distal beam splitter is optically coupled to the display panel and the proximal beam splitter and has a beam-splitting interface in a plane that is parallel to the viewing axis. A camera may also be optically coupled to the distal beam splitter so as to be able to receive a portion of the outside light that is viewable along the viewing axis.