Compact LCOS Light Engine for Wearable AR
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wearable AR devices have an image generation system that is complex and aesthetically unpleasing, often placed on top of the lenses near the viewer's forehead, which can be inconvenient.
Innovation Solution
A wearable AR device design featuring a reduced-size light engine with a micro-display, polarized beam splitter, and optical waveguide, allowing the light engine to be positioned at the side of the device, such as near the ear, using an input grating to direct light through an optical waveguide to the viewer's eye.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the image generation system is placed on top of the lenses near the viewer's forehead, then the device can provide information to the viewer, but the device becomes inconvenient and aesthetically unpleasing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent repositions the light engine from a vertical placement (on top of lenses near forehead) to a lateral placement (at the side near ear) by changing the spatial arrangement dimension. This dimensional shift allows the system to maintain functionality while improving comfort and aesthetics, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and device complexity placement
2Reliability
If the image generation system includes multiple components (light sources, lenses, processors, battery), then the device can generate and display images, but the device size and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple components (light source, liquid crystal layer, polarizing beam splitter, and imaging lens) into a single compact light engine assembly. This merging of previously separate components into one integrated unit reduces the overall weight and size of the wearable device while maintaining complete image generation functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The light engine is designed as a multi-functional integrated unit that simultaneously performs light generation, liquid crystal modulation, polarization splitting, and imaging functions. This multi-functionality allows the device to maintain full image generation capability while reducing the number of separate components, thereby reducing weight
3Reliability
If the image generation system includes multiple components (light sources, lenses, processors, battery), then the device can generate and display images, but the device size and volume increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple components (light source, liquid crystal layer, polarizing beam splitter, and imaging lens) into a single compact light engine assembly. This merging of previously separate components into one integrated unit reduces the overall volume of the wearable device while maintaining complete image generation functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The light engine employs a nested arrangement where the liquid crystal layer is positioned within the optical path between the light source and the polarizing beam splitter, and the imaging lens is integrated into the same compact volume. This nesting of optical components within each other's spatial envelope reduces the total volume required for the image generation system
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 design results in a more compact and aesthetically pleasing wearable AR device, reducing the size and weight of the light engine while maintaining image projection functionality.
Implementation Method 1
a micro-display configured to emit light to form an image
Implementation Method 2
a polarized beam splitter positioned horizontally adjacent to the micro-display and configured to receive the emitted light that passes through the polarized beam splitter
Implementation Method 3
One or more first imaging lenses positioned horizontally adjacent to the polarized beam splitter and configured to receive the diverged light. One of the first imaging lenses may include a reflection surface configured to reflect and converge the light
Implementation Method 4
The optical waveguide may be configured to guide the converged light to a predetermined position
Implementation Method 5
One of the first imaging lenses may include a reflection surface configured to reflect and converge the light
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects for a wearable augmented reality (AR) device are described herein. The aspects may include a light engine that includes a micro-display configured to emit light to form an image, a polarized beam splitter positioned horizontally adjacent to the micro-display and configured to receive the emitted light that passes through the polarized beam splitter, and one or more first imaging lenses positioned horizontally adjacent to the polarized beam splitter and configured to receive the diverged light. One of the first imaging lenses may include a reflection surface configured to reflect and converge the light. The polarized beam splitter may include a reflective coating configured to reflect the converged light. The aspects may further include an optical waveguide configured to guide the converged light to a predetermined position.