Frustum Prism Virtual Display for Multi-Viewer Beam Splitting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle display systems are costly and spatially inefficient, particularly when multiple occupants require individualized and shared viewing perspectives, as they often require multiple large and expensive display components.
Innovation Solution
A virtual display system utilizing a frustrum prism or movable reflective surfaces to split a single projector beam into multiple sub-beams for individual viewers, with adjustable focal lengths and eye boxes, allowing concurrent display of images to multiple occupants using a single projector.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple large display components are used to provide individualized viewing perspectives for multiple occupants, then the viewing quality for each occupant is improved, but the cost and space requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides a single projector beam into multiple sub-beams using a frustrum prism, with each sub-beam directed to a specific occupant. The hologram is also subdivided into multiple sub-holograms, allowing each occupant to receive individualized content without requiring separate projectors or large display components.
Solution Approach 2:
A single projector system performs multiple functions by directing different sub-beams to different occupants. The same hardware infrastructure supports both individualized viewing perspectives and shared viewing experiences, eliminating the need for multiple dedicated display components for each occupant.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple large display components are used to provide individualized viewing perspectives for multiple occupants, then the viewing quality for each occupant is improved, but the system cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the optical path using a frustrum prism to create multiple directed sub-beams from a single projector. This segmentation allows individualized content delivery to multiple occupants while using one projector instead of multiple expensive display components, significantly reducing system cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates optical copies of the hologram content for different occupants through the prism's beam-splitting function. Instead of requiring multiple physical display devices, the system generates multiple directed light paths that appear as separate virtual displays to each occupant, reducing hardware costs.
3Area of stationary object
If a single projector is used to serve multiple occupants, then the number of components and space requirements are reduced, but the system complexity increases due to beam splitting and focal length adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The frustrum prism acts as an intermediary optical element that simplifies the beam distribution task. Instead of requiring complex active beam-steering mechanisms for each occupant, the passive prism naturally divides and directs beams to multiple locations, reducing control system complexity while maintaining space efficiency.
4Adaptability or versatility
If adjustable focal lengths and eye boxes are implemented for each viewer, then the individualized viewing experience is improved, but the control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-encodes multiple sub-holograms with different focal length information into the projected beam before it reaches the occupants. This preliminary encoding allows each occupant's display to be optimized for their specific viewing position and eye box without requiring real-time active adjustment, simplifying the control system while maintaining individualized viewing quality.
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
Minimizes the number of projectors and components, reducing costs and space requirements while enabling individualized and shared viewing perspectives for multiple occupants, supporting applications like gaming and information display.
Implementation Method 1
a frustrum prism including reflective surfaces or refractive surfaces; The frustrum prism is configured to split the light beam into multiple sub-light beams via the reflective surfaces or the refractive surfaces
Implementation Method 2
The refractive surfaces are transmissive and configured to refract the sub-holograms at the eyes of the viewers
Data Source
AI summary
A virtual display system includes: a frustrum prism including reflective surfaces or refractive surfaces; and a projector configured to generate a light beam having a hologram sub-divided into multiple sub-holograms respectively for multiple viewers, and direct the light beam at the frustrum prism. The frustrum prism is configured to split the light beam into multiple sub-light beams via the reflective surfaces or the refractive surfaces, and direct the sub-holograms at eyes of the viewers.