Contact Lens Phase Map Display Retina Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional near-eye displays are bulky and inefficient due to the need for precise optical components and high power consumption, which complicates image relay and fidelity maintenance.
Innovation Solution
The use of a phase map display that modulates the phase of light waves to form images directly on the retina, eliminating the need for bulky optical relays and reducing power consumption by using a thin waveguide to deliver illumination light to a phase map, which adjusts the phase of in-phase wavefronts to create images.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional near-eye displays use micro-display and image relay with lenses and mirrors, then image fidelity can be maintained, but the device becomes bulky and power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the bulky image relay components (lenses and mirrors) from the conventional near-eye display system. By using a waveguide that directly couples light from the micro-display to the eye, the patent removes the intermediate optical components while maintaining image delivery functionality, thereby reducing device bulk.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a waveguide as an intermediary component that replaces the traditional lens-mirror relay system. The waveguide acts as a new mediator between the micro-display and the eye, using total internal reflection to guide light directly to the viewer without requiring bulky optical components, thus resolving the contradiction between image fidelity and device bulk.
2Reliability
If conventional near-eye displays use precise optical components for image relay, then image fidelity is maintained, but manufacturing complexity and alignment precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the complex optical relay components (lenses and mirrors) that require precise manufacturing and alignment. By replacing these with a waveguide structure, the patent eliminates the need for tight manufacturing tolerances and complex alignment procedures while maintaining image delivery quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical optical relay system (lenses and mirrors requiring physical alignment) with a waveguide system that uses optical principles (total internal reflection) to guide light. This substitution eliminates the need for precise mechanical alignment and manufacturing tolerances, simplifying the manufacturing process while maintaining image fidelity.
3Reliability
If conventional near-eye displays use traditional optical relay components, then image can be delivered to the eye, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the power-intensive optical relay components (lenses and mirrors) from the system. By using a passive waveguide structure that relies on total internal reflection rather than active optical components, the patent significantly reduces power consumption while maintaining image delivery capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The waveguide structure is designed to guide light through passive optical principles (total internal reflection) without requiring external power input. The waveguide serves itself by utilizing the inherent optical properties of its structure to redirect light from the micro-display to the eye, eliminating the need for powered components and reducing overall system power consumption.
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 approach reduces the bulk and power requirements of near-eye displays while maintaining image fidelity, allowing for more compact and efficient image delivery directly to the eye, with potential applications in aerospace, public safety, and entertainment.
Implementation Method 1
a thin waveguide to deliver illumination light to a phase map
Implementation Method 2
a phase map display that modulates the phase of light waves to form images directly on the retina
Data Source
AI summary
A contact lens includes a transparent material, a substrate material, a light source, an optical system, and a phase map. The transparent material has an eye-side opposite an external side. The eye-side is curved to fit the human eye. The light source is configured to emit illumination light. The optical system is configured to receive the illumination light from the light source and output the illumination light as an in-phase wavefront. The phase map is configured to adjust a phase of the in-phase wavefront to form an image at a retina-distance in response to being illuminated by the in-phase wavefront. The phase map is pre-recorded with a phase pattern that is included in the image.