HMD Illumination System Mitigating Visor Optical Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing head-mounted display (HMD) designs suffer from optical loss and distortion of light due to visors, which interfere with camera operations and create non-uniform light distribution, leading to performance issues in capturing images.
Innovation Solution
An enhanced illumination system using light steering optical elements that direct light along diverging axes, tilted to mitigate optical loss caused by curved visors, comprising illuminators, collimators, diffusers, and beam splitters to produce an idealized annulus illumination profile.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a curved visor is positioned in front of the illumination system, then protective shielding is provided, but optical loss and light distortion occur
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination system is divided into multiple independent illuminators positioned at different locations and orientations. Each illuminator emits light along a specific axis, and the combined effect of multiple segmented light sources creates a uniform illumination pattern that penetrates the curved visor more effectively, reducing overall optical loss.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the visor are illuminated by dedicated illuminators optimized for their specific locations. The illumination characteristics (intensity, angle, wavelength) are locally adjusted to match the specific optical properties and curvature of each visor region, minimizing light loss and distortion at each local point.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a curved visor is positioned in front of the illumination system, then protective shielding is provided, but light distortion occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination system employs asymmetric illumination patterns that specifically counteract the symmetric curvature of the visor. Illuminators are positioned and angled to create non-uniform light distribution that compensates for the visor's curvature-induced distortion, achieving uniform overall illumination despite the curved interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts illumination parameters (intensity, angle, wavelength) to compensate for visor-induced distortion. By changing these parameters based on the specific visor geometry and positioning, the system maintains uniform light distribution and minimizes distortion effects.
3Adaptability or versatility
If illuminators are positioned behind a visor, then integration into HMD is achieved, but round-trip optical loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination system transitions from a single-axis illumination approach to multi-dimensional illumination by positioning illuminators at various angles and locations. This dimensional expansion allows light to reach objects through multiple paths around and through the visor, reducing round-trip optical loss while maintaining HMD integration.
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 effectively reduces optical loss and distortion, ensuring consistent and optimal light distribution for improved image capture by coordinating light profiles along diverging axes, even through curved visors.
Implementation Method 1
Light steering optical elements direct the light along diverging axes
Implementation Method 2
Light steering optical elements direct the light along diverging axes
Implementation Method 3
diffusers positioned to receive light along the diverging axes, each diffuser producing a field of illumination having a predetermined angle
Implementation Method 4
a single light source and a beam splitter for receiving light from the light source and directing light along the first axis and the second axis
Data Source
AI summary
An enhanced illumination system is provided. In some configurations, an illumination system comprises one or more illuminators for emitting light. Light steering optical elements direct the light along diverging axes. In some configurations, the camera module assembly can cause an output to be tilted down or tilted up relative to a horizontal plane. In some configurations, the illumination system comprises diffusers positioned to receive light along the diverging axes, each diffuser producing a field of illumination having a predetermined angle. The illumination system can be mounted on a computing device, such as an HMD providing a field of view to a camera, sensor, and/or a user. By the use of the techniques disclosed herein, an illumination system can mitigate optical loss that may be caused by a curved visor positioned between the illumination system and an object in the field of view.