Crossed Optics Head-Borne Viewing System Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing helmet-mounted viewing systems face challenges in providing a large, unobstructed field of view while maintaining a compact and ergonomic design, particularly in integrating optical components that do not disrupt natural vision and are compatible with prescription eyeglasses, and are often complex and bulky in existing solutions.
Innovation Solution
The use of crossed optics with a thin, semi-transparent optical combiner having substantially parallel curved faces and a specific inclination, combined with a doublet of convergent-divergent lenses and an eccentric biconvex lens, allows for a binocular or monocular system that preserves direct vision and is easily integrated under a helmet, with the optical relay positioned above the other eye for a seamless forehead placement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the mixer is placed with a significant off-axis to ensure good transmission and minimize optical elements in the field of view, then the transmission quality is improved, but the manufacturing precision and optical quality become more difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of placing the optical relay laterally (conventional approach), the patent inverts the arrangement by placing the optical relay above the user's head in a forehead-facing position. This inversion allows the light path to cross between eyes, achieving good transmission quality while simplifying the optical configuration and manufacturing requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a lateral horizontal arrangement to a vertical forehead-facing arrangement, utilizing the vertical dimension above the user's head. This dimensional change allows the optical components to be positioned in space without obstructing the lateral field of view, maintaining transmission quality while reducing optical complexity.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the mixer is integrated into the screen to protect the eyes while ensuring good visibility, then the mechanical protection is improved, but the visual obstructions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the optical relay from the lateral position and places it above the user's head, separating the protective screen function from the optical projection function. This allows the screen to provide eye protection without the optical components creating visual obstructions in the lateral field of view.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of integrating the optical relay into the lateral screen structure, the patent inverts the arrangement by positioning the optical relay above the user's head, allowing the screen to remain clear and provide unobstructed vision while still offering mechanical protection.
3Ease of manufacture
If the system is placed laterally to contain the entire system in a horizontal plane, then the integration simplicity is improved, but the device complexity and bulk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional lateral arrangement by placing the optical relay above the user's head in a vertical forehead-facing position. This inversion simplifies the optical path and reduces the number of optical elements required, thereby reducing device complexity despite the changed configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
By utilizing the vertical dimension above the user's head instead of the lateral horizontal plane, the patent achieves a more compact configuration. The optical relay and associated components can be positioned in the vertical space, reducing the lateral bulk and simplifying the overall system integration.
4Volume of moving object
If the system is placed facing the forehead to be contained in a vertical plane, then the bulk is reduced, but the device complexity and integration difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional arrangement by placing the optical relay above the user's head rather than laterally. This inversion naturally positions the system in a vertical plane facing the forehead, reducing bulk while the crossed-optics design simplifies the optical path, counteracting the potential increase in complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs a universal optical configuration that can be integrated into various helmet types and head-borne devices. The forehead-facing vertical arrangement serves multiple functions: reducing bulk, simplifying integration with prescription eyeglasses, and providing a compact design that works for both monocular and binocular applications.
5Area of stationary object
If the visual field is made large (20-40 degrees) to cover the necessary viewing area, then the field of view is improved, but the number of optical elements increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional lateral optical arrangement to a vertical forehead-facing configuration. This inversion allows the optical relay to project images with a wide field of view (20-40 degrees) while using fewer optical elements, as the crossed-optics design efficiently manages the light paths for both eyes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the optical paths for both eyes through the crossed-optics configuration, where the optical relay above the head serves both monocular and binocular applications. This consolidation achieves a wide field of view for both eyes while reducing the total number of optical elements compared to separate lateral systems.
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 minimizes visual obstructions, reduces bulk, and allows for a wide field of view while maintaining ergonomic simplicity, making it suitable for both monocular and binocular applications and compatible with prescription eyeglasses, thus addressing the limitations of existing systems.
Implementation Method 1
an optical relay and an optical combiner or 'mixer' that ensures both the reflection of the image projected and collimated on the eye of the user and the transmission of the exterior landscape
Implementation Method 2
project toward the eye of the user an aerial image collimated to infinity
Data Source
AI summary
Monocular or binocular viewing systems worn on the head of a user are provided. Each monocular assembly comprises a display and an optical assembly including an optical relay and a partially transparent optical combiner taking the form of an inclined curved plate, each optical assembly arranged to form a second image at infinity from a first image displayed by a display. The optics are to be crossed such that, in the case of a binocular system, if one optical combiner is placed in front of the right eye of the user, the optical relay and the corresponding display are placed in a forehead-facing position above the left eye of the user and under the optical combiner located on the left-hand side. This arrangement is obtained by judiciously choosing the geometric parameters of the various optical elements, their curvatures and the form of their surfaces.