Contact Lens Segmentation for Head-Mounted Display Field of View
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional head-mounted displays face challenges in providing a wide field of view and comfortable eye-to-system distance due to their size and appearance, often requiring a display panel to be placed directly in front of the eye, which interferes with the real-world view.
Innovation Solution
A display system comprising a contact lens and an eyewear lens with optical elements such as polarizers and spectral filters, where a projector projects light onto the eyewear lens, which reflects a portion of the light towards the eye, and the contact lens transmits this imaged light while blocking or absorbing projected light, allowing ambient light to pass through.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a display panel is placed directly in front of the eye to provide a wide field of view, then the field of view is improved, but the real-world view is obstructed and comfort is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The contact lens is divided into distinct functional regions: a first region with optical elements (lens, polarizer, spectral filter) for directing imaged light to the retina, and a second region that is optically clear for transmitting ambient light. This segmentation allows the display function and real-world view function to coexist without mutual obstruction.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the contact lens have different optical properties tailored to their specific functions. The first region contains concentrated optical elements with specific refractive indices and filtering characteristics, while the second region maintains uniform optical clarity. This local differentiation enables simultaneous achievement of wide field of view and unobstructed real-world view.
2Measurement precision
If optical elements with high refractive index glass are used to focus light, then light focusing capability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies glass with refractive index greater than 1.8 to enhance light focusing capability and reduce chromatic aberration. By carefully selecting this parameter, the optical elements achieve superior light control while the overall manufacturing process remains feasible through standard ophthalmic-quality insert molding techniques.
3Reliability
If multiple multilayer birefringent polymeric optical films are used in different regions, then optical performance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The contact lens incorporates different multilayer birefringent polymeric optical films in the first and second regions, each tailored to the specific optical requirements of that region. The first region's optical films are optimized for reflecting and directing imaged light, while the second region's films are optimized for transmitting ambient light with minimal distortion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite multilayer birefringent polymeric optical films that combine multiple functional properties in a single integrated structure. These composite materials achieve superior optical performance by integrating polarization, reflection, and spectral filtering capabilities within the lens substrate itself.
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 configuration enables an improved head-mounted display that does not obstruct the real-world view, providing a wider field of view and improved comfort by directing imaged light onto the retina without the need for a display panel in front of the eye.
Implementation Method 1
a first imaged light ray produced by the illuminator is incident on the inner surface and is reflected by the eyewear lens to the first region
Implementation Method 2
The first region is configured to transmit the first imaged light ray
Implementation Method 3
the second region is configured to reflect or absorb a second imaged light ray produced by the illuminator
Implementation Method 4
The eyewear lens is configured to transmit an ambient light ray incident on the outer surface to the second region
Implementation Method 5
a lens substrate and that has a portion configured to direct a light incident on the portion of the contact lens into a pupil of a user
Data Source
AI summary
A head-mounted display system including a contact lens having a first region and a second region adjacent the first region, an eyewear lens having an inner surface facing the contact lens, and an illuminator configured to produce an imaged light output directed toward the inner surface of the eyewear lens. A first imaged light ray produced by the illuminator is incident on the inner surface and is reflected by the eyewear lens to the first region. The first region is configured to transmit the first imaged light ray, and the second region is configured to reflect or absorb a second imaged light ray produced by the illuminator and reflected from the eyewear lens. The eyewear lens is configured to transmit an ambient light ray to the second region and the second region is configured to transmit the ambient light ray.