Curved Micromirror AR Display for Wide FOV and Deep Focus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional augmented reality (AR) display technologies suffer from vergence-accommodation conflict, leading to user dizziness, and the use of pinhole mirrors results in a bulky design with limited field of view.
Innovation Solution
An AR display device employing a curved eyepiece with scattered micromirrors on its surface, allowing for a large field of view ranging from 80 to 110 degrees, achieved through the use of first and second displays and micromirrors disposed on opposite sides of the eyepiece, enhancing depth of field and space utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pinhole mirrors are arranged on a plane to solve vergence-accommodation conflict, then the depth of field is improved, but the field of view is limited and the device becomes bulky
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature to the eyepiece surface, arranging micromirrors on a curved surface rather than a flat plane. This curved arrangement expands the field of view while maintaining the pinhole mirror optical path for deep depth of field, resolving the contradiction between limited FOV and bulky design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional flat arrangement of micromirrors to a three-dimensional curved surface arrangement. This dimensional change allows micromirrors to be distributed across a curved eyepiece surface, increasing the effective field of view without requiring a larger horizontal arrangement space.
2Area of stationary object
If more pinhole mirrors are used to increase viewing angle, then the field of view is improved, but the horizontal arrangement range increases making the device bulky
Solution Approach 1:
By arranging micromirrors on a curved surface, the patent utilizes the third dimension (curvature radius) to accommodate more mirrors within a compact horizontal footprint. The curved distribution allows increased FOV without proportionally increasing the horizontal arrangement range.
Solution Approach 2:
The micromirrors are nested on the curved surface of the eyepiece, utilizing the curved geometry to pack more mirrors into a compact form factor. This nested arrangement on a curved surface allows high mirror density without increasing the overall device dimensions.
3Reliability
If conventional VR or AR display technologies are used to generate stereoscopic vision, then three-dimensional sensation is improved, but vergence-accommodation conflict occurs causing user dizziness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the eyepiece into multiple pinhole mirrors distributed on a curved surface, with each mirror creating a slightly different optical path. This segmentation enables stereoscopic vision through multiple discrete viewpoints while maintaining deep depth of field for each path, reducing vergence-accommodation conflict.
Solution Approach 2:
The curved eyepiece surface acts as an intermediary structure that distributes multiple pinhole mirrors. This intermediary arrangement allows the system to achieve both stereoscopic vision and deep depth of field by mediating between the display and the user's eyes through multiple controlled optical paths.
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
The device effectively addresses vergence-accommodation conflict while maintaining a compact form factor by providing a large field of view with good space utilization, enabling simultaneous viewing of external scenery and virtual images.
Implementation Method 1
These first micromirrors are for imaging two first image beams emitted by the two first displays onto a retina of the eye to form the augmented reality image
Data Source
AI summary
An augmented reality display device is used to provide an augmented reality image to one eye of a user. The augmented reality display device includes a curved eyepiece, multiple first micromirrors and two first displays. These first micromirrors are disposed on the curved eyepiece. The two first displays are respectively disposed on two opposite sides of the curved eyepiece. Each first display is for emitting a first image beam. These first micromirrors are for imaging two first image beams emitted by the two first displays onto a retina of the eye to form the augmented reality image. Among them, the horizontal field of view formed by these first micromirrors to the eyes falls within the range of 80 degrees to 110 degrees.