Eye-Tracking Optical Path Independence in Head-Mounted Displays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current head-mounted viewable devices face technical difficulties in the design of their optical systems, particularly due to the interference between virtual imaging and eye-tracking optical paths, which affects user experience and stability, and requires complex and costly designs with limited field of view and increased assembly challenges.
Innovation Solution
The optical path of the eye-tracking system is designed to be independent of the VR optical lens, with the detection light directly received by a receiving module without passing through the VR lens, simplifying the optical design and reducing the number of optical components, and using an 'inclined imaging' configuration to improve imaging quality and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the eye-tracking optical path passes through the VR optical lens, then the optical system can be more compact, but the optical design becomes complex and the stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the optical system into two independent segments: the virtual imaging optical path through the VR lens and the eye-tracking optical path that bypasses the lens. This segmentation allows each path to be optimized independently, avoiding the complexity and stability issues that would arise from integrating both functions through a single optical path.
Solution Approach 2:
The eye-tracking detection light path is extracted from the main virtual imaging optical path. By taking out the eye-tracking function and creating a separate optical path that does not pass through the VR lens, the system eliminates the interference and complexity that would result from combining both functions in one path.
2Device complexity
If the VR optical lens processes both virtual imaging and eye-tracking light, then the device complexity is reduced, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The optical system is segmented into distinct functional paths: one for virtual imaging through the VR lens and another for eye-tracking that bypasses the lens. This segmentation allows the VR lens to be manufactured with uniform optical parameters optimized solely for virtual imaging, without the additional complexity of simultaneously optimizing for eye-tracking functionality.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a reflector is added to the eye-tracking system to redirect detection light, then the receiving module can be positioned more flexibly, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the reflector component from the eye-tracking system by extracting the detection light path to directly reach the receiving module without requiring reflection. This simplification reduces the number of optical components and associated costs while maintaining the necessary functionality.
4Device complexity
If the optical path is simplified by eliminating the reflector, then the cost and complexity are reduced, but the imaging quality may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
By extracting the detection light path to directly reach the receiving module without passing through the VR lens or requiring a reflector, the system achieves simplified optics while maintaining imaging quality. The direct path eliminates potential quality degradation from additional optical interfaces.
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 enhances the stability and performance of the head-mounted viewable device by simplifying the optical design, reducing costs, and minimizing interference with the user's field of view, while maintaining the independence of the virtual imaging and eye-tracking systems for improved assembly and maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
a receiving module configured to receive the detection light reflected by the user's eye so as to determine the sight direction of the user's eye
Implementation Method 2
a VR (Virtual Reality) optical lens configured to construct an optical path between the display and the user's eye for allowing the virtual scene image being displayed at the display reached at the user's eye through the VR optical lens
Data Source
AI summary
A head-mounted viewable device which includes a display configured to display and project a virtual scene image to a user's eye, a VR optical lens configured to construct an optical path between the display and the user's eye for allowing a virtual scene image being observed by the user's eye, and, an eye-tracking system configured to detect a sight direction of the user's eye and adjust a display position of the virtual scene image based on the detected sight direction. The eye-tracking system includes at least one light source configured to project the detection light and a receiving module configured to receive the reflected detection light reflected to determine the sight direction of the user's eye. The receiving module is positioned at a side of the VR optical lens and arranged to face towards the user's eye such that the detection light reflected by the user's eye is directly received by the receiving module.