Double-Helix Light-Guide Layout for Wider Smart Glasses FoV
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wearable optical devices, such as near eye displays or smart glasses, are cumbersome, have limited field-of-view (FoV), and require heavy, expensive solutions to increase FoV, which affect comfort and safety.
Innovation Solution
A double-helix optical device with stacked waveguides that utilize total internal reflection and aperture expanders to expand image beams in multiple dimensions, enhancing FoV while maintaining a compact form factor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If total internal reflection is used in a light-guide to transmit images, then the device can be made compact, but the field-of-view width is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from single-dimension light guidance to multi-dimensional beam expansion by introducing aperture expanders that operate in both lateral and vertical dimensions. The first aperture expander expands beams laterally while the second aperture expander expands them vertically, creating a two-dimensional expansion that significantly increases field-of-view without increasing device volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The light-guide system is divided into multiple functional sections: first waveguide for initial beam guidance, first aperture expander for lateral expansion, second waveguide for transmission, second aperture expander for vertical expansion, and third waveguide for final beam combination. This segmentation allows each component to optimize its specific function while collectively achieving wide field-of-view in a compact form factor.
2Ease of manufacture
If low-refractive index light-guide materials are used, then manufacturing is easier, but the angular range transmitted is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent compensates for the limited angular range of low-refractive-index materials by introducing aperture expanders with specific geometric parameters. The aperture expanders use carefully designed angles and dimensions to expand the beam footprint, effectively increasing the transmitted angular range despite the material's optical limitations.
3Area of stationary object
If geometric boundaries are increased to expand field-of-view, then the field-of-view widens, but the device becomes heavy and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces heavy mechanical beam expanders with optical aperture expanders that use total internal reflection and refractive index differences to achieve beam expansion. This substitution eliminates the need for bulky mechanical components while achieving the same field-of-view expansion, significantly reducing device weight.
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 solution provides a wider field-of-view with improved comfort and reduced weight, addressing the limitations of existing wearable optical devices.
Implementation Method 1
The solution provides a wider field-of-view with improved comfort and reduced weight, addressing the limitations of existing wearable optical devices
Data Source
AI summary
An optical device may include a first waveguide to receive and expand in a first dimension a first portion of guided image beams based on a first image field and provide a first plurality of expanded image beams; a second waveguide to receive and expand in the first dimension one of a second portion of guided image beams and a transmitted second portion of guided image beams corresponding to a second image field that is different from the first image field and to provide a second plurality of expanded image beams, the second waveguide to receive the first plurality of expanded image beams and provide a transmitted first plurality of expanded image beams; and a third waveguide to receive and expand in a second dimension the transmitted first plurality of expanded image beams and the second plurality of expanded image beams to provide a third plurality of expanded image beams.