Head-Mounted Image Display with Freeform Polymer Optics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing head-mounted image display systems are inefficient, prone to optical tolerances and chromatic distortion, heavy, expensive, and difficult to manufacture due to the use of hefty materials like glass, making them burdensome for users.
Innovation Solution
A head-mounted display system comprising an optical unit with a first and second optical element, each having reflective surfaces with optical power, and a partially reflective element that allows image display while maintaining real-world visibility, utilizing bi-conical or freeform surfaces and semi-reflective coatings to enhance efficiency and reduce size and weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional glass optical components are used, then optical quality is maintained, but weight and manufacturing complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from traditional glass to polymer optics, and changes the surface geometry parameter from simple spherical surfaces to complex freeform surfaces. This allows achieving the required optical quality with lighter materials while maintaining or improving optical performance through computationally optimized freeform surface designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite optical systems combining polymer optical elements with freeform surfaces, potentially integrating multiple materials with different properties to achieve both lightweight construction and high optical quality. The freeform surfaces are precisely engineered to compensate for material differences.
2Reliability
If traditional glass optical components are used, then optical quality is maintained, but manufacturing difficulty and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material from glass to polymer, which is inherently easier and cheaper to manufacture. The freeform surface parameter is introduced to maintain optical quality that would traditionally require complex glass element arrangements, but the polymer material allows for more economical manufacturing processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple optical functions into single freeform optical elements, reducing the total number of components. The freeform surfaces are designed to perform multiple optical corrections simultaneously, simplifying the overall system architecture and reducing manufacturing steps.
3Volume of moving object
If compact optical systems are designed, then device size is reduced, but optical efficiency decreases and chromatic distortion increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs freeform surfaces with complex curvatures that are optimized for compact configurations. These surfaces are designed to efficiently guide and focus light within a reduced optical path length, maintaining high optical efficiency despite the compact form factor. The freeform geometry allows for optimized light routing that minimizes losses.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the surface geometry parameter from traditional rotational symmetry to asymmetric freeform surfaces, which are specifically optimized for compact arrangements. This allows the system to achieve high optical efficiency in a reduced volume by precisely controlling light paths through computationally designed surface profiles.
4Volume of moving object
If compact optical systems are designed, then device size is reduced, but chromatic distortion increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses freeform surfaces with specifically designed curvatures that compensate for chromatic aberrations inherent in compact optical systems. The asymmetric surface profiles are optimized to correct chromatic distortion across the field of view, achieving high image quality despite the reduced system size.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces freeform surface parameters that are optimized to correct chromatic distortion. By varying the surface curvature and asymmetry parameters, the system compensates for the chromatic aberrations that typically increase in compact configurations, achieving both small size and high precision.
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 system achieves high-quality, lightweight, and cost-effective image display with improved optical efficiency and reduced distortion, allowing users to see both virtual and real-world images comfortably.
Implementation Method 1
an at least partially reflective element configured to enable the displaying of the one or more produced images to the user's eye while allowing the user to continue seeing the real world; wherein light beams projected from the image source travel along an optical path extending between the image source and the user's eye, by traveling through the first optical element and then through the second optical element towards the partially reflective element, and wherein the one or more respective images associated with the one or more light beams are reflected from the partially reflective element and are viewed by the user's eye
Implementation Method 2
a first optical element, including: (i) a first receiving surface, (ii) a first reflective element, and (iii) a first projecting surface, wherein at least one of the first projecting surface, the first reflective element, and the first receiving surface possesses optical power; (c) a second optical element including: (i) a second receiving surface, (ii) a second reflective element, and (iii) a second projecting surface, wherein at least one of the second projecting surface, the second reflective element, and the second receiving surface possess optical power
Data Source
AI summary
The presently disclosed subject matter aims to a head-mounted display (HMD) system including: (i) an image source configured to project one or more light beams associated with one or more respective images, (ii) a first optical element, including (a) a first receiving surface, (b) a first reflective element, and (c) a first projecting surface, at least one of which possesses optical power; (iii) a second optical element including (d) a second receiving surface, (e) a second reflective element, and (f) a second projecting surface, at least one of which possesses optical power; and (iv) an at least partially reflective element configured to enable the displaying of the one or more produced images to the user's eye while allowing said user to continue seeing the real world.