Directional Pixel Array for High-Angular Resolution Displays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current light-field displays lack high angular resolution and wide field of view, resulting in low resolution and narrow viewing angles, and often cause accommodation-convergence conflict, leading to viewer discomfort.
Innovation Solution
The development of directional pixels with nano- or micro-scale subpixels and optical microcavities that collimate, manipulate, or tune light beams, allowing for precise control of light direction and emission, enabling a high-angular resolution, multiple-view display with improved depth of field.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional lenses or image projectors are used in light-field displays, then the display can be manufactured with standard components, but the field of view remains narrow and angular resolution is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The display is divided into multiple subpixels within each pixel element, with each subpixel emitting light in a specific direction. This segmentation allows the system to achieve wide field of view and high angular resolution by controlling light from different subpixels to reach different viewing angles, while maintaining manufacturability through standardized pixel structures
Solution Approach 2:
The invention adds angular dimension control to the traditional spatial display. By incorporating directional light emission capabilities in addition to spatial pixel arrangement, the system achieves wide field of view and high angular resolution without compromising manufacturability, as each pixel maintains a standard structure with added directional control functionality
2Manufacturing precision
If pixel size is reduced to increase angular resolution, then more light beams can be emitted in distinct directions, but the space for light emission surface is limited and circuitry scaling becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The circuitry is nested within or around the light emission area rather than occupying the same plane. This allows subpixels to be positioned at the periphery or integrated into the pixel structure without sacrificing light emission surface area, enabling reduced pixel size for higher angular resolution while maintaining circuit functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from two-dimensional planar pixel arrangements to three-dimensional integrated structures. By stacking circuit layers or positioning circuitry in vertical arrangements, the system achieves higher angular resolution with smaller pixel footprints while accommodating all necessary circuit components without increasing device complexity
3Adaptability or versatility
If periodic gratings are used to direct light beams, then wide viewing angles can be achieved with traditional pixel sizes, but the display is limited to horizontal parallax and cannot successfully direct light from smaller-scale pixels
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using uniform periodic gratings across the entire display, the invention implements localized directional control elements at each pixel or subpixel level. This allows each light source to be independently directed to specific angles, achieving precise light direction control for smaller-scale pixels while maintaining wide viewing angles through coordinated emission from multiple localized elements
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs dynamically controllable light emission directions rather than fixed grating patterns. By independently controlling the emission angle and direction of each subpixel, the display achieves adaptive light direction control that works effectively at smaller pixel scales and provides both horizontal and vertical parallax, overcoming the limitations of static periodic gratings
4Ease of manufacture
If pixels broadcast light in all directions, then the display is simple to manufacture, but the angular resolution is limited and depth of field quality is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Each pixel is segmented into multiple subpixels, where each subpixel is responsible for emitting light in a specific directional range. This segmentation enables high angular resolution by assigning different viewing angles to different subpixels, while the overall pixel structure remains simple and manufacturable using standard fabrication processes
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the emission parameter from omnidirectional to directional by incorporating micro-optical elements or waveguides at the subpixel level. These elements modify the light emission pattern to achieve specific viewing angles while maintaining compatibility with standard manufacturing processes, thus improving angular resolution without significantly complicating the pixel structure
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 solution enables the creation of high-angular resolution, wide field of view light-field displays that eliminate accommodation-convergence conflict, providing a higher quality depth of field and allowing multiple viewers to see different images from the same display without discomfort.
Implementation Method 1
an optical microcavity comprised of a plurality of reflective surfaces to substantially collimate, manipulate, or tune said light beam
Implementation Method 2
said optical microcavity comprised of a plurality of reflective surfaces to substantially collimate, manipulate, or tune said light beam
Implementation Method 3
said light propagating reflective surface is connected to said directional optical guiding surface to direct said light beam at a specific angle
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a directional pixel for a high-angular resolution, wide field of view, multiple view display. The design teaches a directional pixel comprising a substrate, one or more pixel driving circuits, one or more nano- or micro-scale subpixels, and one or more directional optical guiding surfaces, wherein each of said one or more subpixels is comprised of a light emitting device emitting a light beam and an optical microcavity housing said light emitting device. The optical microcavity is comprised of a plurality of reflective surfaces to specifically manipulate and tune said light beam, wherein one or more of said reflective surfaces is a light propagating reflective surface which propagates said light beam out of said microcavity, and said light propagating reflective surface is connected to said one or more directional optical guiding surfaces to direct said light beam at a specific angle. A high-angular resolution, multiple-view light-field display is created by deploying a plurality of directional pixels into a directional pixel array system.