Head-Mounted Display Using Liquid Crystal Lens Phase Modulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current head-mounted displays face challenges in achieving a wide field of view (FOV) while minimizing volume, weight, and manufacturing complexity, as conventional solutions either increase volume and weight with optical mirrors or complicate the manufacturing process with multilayer light splitting structures.
Innovation Solution
A head-mounted display design incorporating a transparent display and a liquid crystal lens that phase modulates both image and ambient light beams, allowing them to coexist and pass through a pupil without the need for multiple reflections or complex light guiding structures, thereby reducing volume, weight, and manufacturing complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If optical mirrors or reflection system are used to achieve wide FOV, then the field of view is improved, but the volume and weight of the head mounted display increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the projection device from the traditional optical path that requires multiple mirrors, and instead integrates it directly with the light guiding member. This removes the need for separate reflection systems while maintaining wide FOV capability, thereby reducing overall volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the projection device with the light guiding member into an integrated structure. The projection device is positioned at one end of the light guiding member, eliminating the need for separate optical mirrors and reflection systems, thus reducing volume and weight while achieving wide FOV.
2Adaptability or versatility
If optical mirrors or reflection system are used to achieve wide FOV, then the field of view is improved, but the weight of the head mounted display increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the separate reflection system (optical mirrors) from the design and extracts only the essential light guiding function, integrating it directly with the projection device. This elimination of redundant components reduces weight while maintaining wide FOV.
Solution Approach 2:
By merging the projection device and light guiding member into a single integrated unit, the patent eliminates the weight of separate optical mirrors and mounting structures, achieving wide FOV with reduced overall weight.
3Adaptability or versatility
If light guiding member with multilayer light splitting structure is used, then the projection device can be disposed outside FOV, but the manufacturing process becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the light splitting function from complex multilayer bonded structures and implements it through a simplified single-layer light guiding member with optimized optical properties, eliminating coating, bonding, alignment, cutting and polishing processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the optical parameters of the light guiding member (such as refractive index distribution, thickness, and geometry) to achieve light splitting and directional control without requiring complex multilayer structures, thereby simplifying manufacturing while maintaining the ability to position the projection device outside the FOV.
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 design achieves a wide FOV without the bulk of optical mirrors and simplifies production by allowing image and ambient light to coexist, reducing the display's volume and weight, and streamlining the manufacturing process.
Implementation Method 1
allow at least a part of the image light beam emitted from the transparent display passing through a pupil by phase modulating of at least a part of the main liquid crystal lens
Implementation Method 2
The main liquid crystal lens is disposed near the transparent display... adapted to receive an ambient light beam... phase modulating of at least a part of the main liquid crystal lens
Data Source
AI summary
A head-mounted display including a transparent display, a main liquid crystal lens and a first liquid crystal lens is provided. The transparent display is configured to emit an image light beam. The main liquid crystal lens is disposed near the transparent display. The transparent display is disposed between the main liquid crystal lens and the first liquid crystal lens. The first liquid crystal lens is configured to receive an ambient light beam. The head-mounted display allows at least a part of the image light beam emitted from the transparent display passing through a pupil by phase modulating of at least a part of the main liquid crystal lens.