Curved See-Through Eyepiece Light Guide for AR Displays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional head wearable displays face limitations due to the cost, size, weight, field of view, and efficiency of their optical systems, which restrict their practical and leisure applications.
Innovation Solution
The eyepiece design incorporates a light guide component with total and partial internal reflections, utilizing a partially reflective layer and coating to guide display light, achieving efficient optical pathways and combining external scene light with display light for augmented reality, while reducing the number of optical components and assembly complexities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional optical systems are used in HMDs, then the system can display CGI images, but the cost, size, weight, and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple optical functions (display light guidance, scene light transmission, and image formation) into a single integrated see-through eyepiece component. This merging eliminates the need for separate optical components and assemblies, directly reducing device complexity while maintaining CGI display functionality through the integrated optical design
Solution Approach 2:
The see-through eyepiece performs multiple functions simultaneously: it guides display light from the display device to the user's eye, transmits external scene light for see-through capability, and forms the magnified virtual image. This multi-functionality reduces the number of components needed, thereby reducing overall system complexity and cost
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional optical systems are used in HMDs, then the system can provide augmented reality capability, but the size and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple optical subsystems into a single compact see-through eyepiece structure, combining display light guidance, scene light transmission, and virtual image formation functions. This integration significantly reduces the overall size and weight of the HMD while maintaining full augmented reality capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a curved light guide component with specific surface geometries (convex and concave surfaces) to achieve compact design. By utilizing curved surfaces and internal reflections within the light guide, the system achieves efficient optical pathways in a reduced dimensional space, lowering the overall device size and weight
3Reliability
If conventional optical systems are used in HMDs, then the system can create magnified virtual image, but the field of view is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs curved surfaces throughout the optical system, including a curved input surface, convex and concave curved surfaces within the light guide component, and a curved exit surface. These curved geometries enable broader field of view by effectively directing light rays from wider angles to the user's eye, while maintaining proper virtual image formation through the controlled optical paths created by the curved surfaces
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 enhances the efficiency and field of view of head wearable displays, enabling cost-effective and compact augmented reality capabilities with reduced complexity and weight, allowing for improved practical and leisure applications.
Implementation Method 1
The light guide component may include a curved input surface, a convex curved surface, and a concave curved surface. The curved side surfaces of the light guide component may act to reflect light via total internal reflection
Implementation Method 2
The light guide component may include a partially reflective portion between the convex curved surface and the concave curved surface. In the partially reflective portion, one or more of the curved side surfaces of the light guide component are partially reflective and may leak light from the light guide component
Implementation Method 3
The illustrated embodiment of light guide component 105 includes a partially reflective portion between the convex curved surface and the concave curved surface. In the partially reflective portion, one or more of the curved side surfaces of the light guide component are partially reflective and may leak light from the light guide component
Data Source
AI summary
An eyepiece for a head wearable display includes a light guide component for guiding display light received at a peripheral location offset from a viewing region and emitting the display light along an eye-ward direction in the viewing region. The light guide component includes an eye-ward facing surface, a world facing surface, and a recess disposed in the world facing surface in the viewing region. The recess has a recessed surface that is discontinuous with the world facing surface. An add-on component is disposed in the recess and has a first surface mated to the recessed surface and a second surface that forms a continuous outer surface with the world facing surface. A partially reflective layer is disposed along an interface between the recessed surface and the first surface of the add-on component.