Head-Mounted Display Light Modulator Encoding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing head-mounted display devices are limited in their ability to generate large three-dimensional representations and are cumbersome due to their weight and complex manufacturing processes, and they often require tracking of the observer's position, which complicates the design and increases costs.
Innovation Solution
A head-mounted display device with a frame resembling a helmet or goggles, featuring light modulators positioned close to the observer's eyes, an optical system, and an encoding device that computes and encodes complex wave fronts or holograms directly onto the modulators, allowing for a compact and lightweight design that adjusts automatically with the observer's movements, eliminating the need for tracking devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional holographic display components are mounted on headgear, then three-dimensional visual display is achieved, but the weight of the headgear increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the hologram from a physical medium and encodes it digitally on a light modulator. Instead of carrying a physical holographic plate or complex optical elements, the system uses a programmable light modulator that can display different holograms electronically, significantly reducing the weight of the head-mounted display while maintaining three-dimensional visual display capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the state of the hologram from a static physical form to a dynamic digital representation that can be modulated by light. By encoding the hologram as controllable light patterns on a modulator, the system achieves weight reduction while preserving and even enhancing the three-dimensional display function through electronic control.
2Ease of manufacture
If prefabricated optical and holographic components are used, then the display device can be assembled, but the design is limited and manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a universal light modulator that can display any holographic pattern through digital encoding. This single component replaces multiple specialized optical elements, providing both ease of manufacture through standardized production and unlimited design flexibility since different holograms can be displayed by changing the encoded patterns rather than replacing physical components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates digital copies of holographic information that can be stored and reproduced on demand. Instead of manufacturing unique physical holographic components for each display scenario, the system encodes holographic data digitally and reproduces it on the light modulator, simplifying manufacturing while enabling unlimited design variations.
3Area of stationary object
If the light modulator is positioned farther from the observer's eyes, then a larger hologram can be displayed, but the field of view and immersion are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves the spatial conflict by transitioning from a purely physical dimension to include the digital information dimension. The light modulator can be positioned close to the observer's eyes while still displaying large holographic content by encoding the holographic information digitally and using optical expansion techniques, thus achieving both large display size and immersive field of view simultaneously.
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 solution enables the creation of a lightweight, cost-effective head-mounted display that can generate large three-dimensional representations without the need for complex tracking systems, providing a seamless viewing experience with reduced manufacturing complexity and weight.
Implementation Method 1
at least one light modulator (16, 17) which can be encoded with complex values of a wave front
Implementation Method 2
at least one optical system (12, 15) for directing light onto the light modulator and/or for transforming wave fronts into the observer plane
Data Source
AI summary
A head-mounted display device for generating reconstructions of three-dimensional representations including a frame, in which at least one light source, at least one optical system and at least one encodable light modulator are situated, wherein the light modulator with an encoding of a wavefront of the three-dimensional representation in the encoding area is positioned at the place of an observer window defined in an observer plane or the light modulator with an encoding of a hologram of the wavefront of the three-dimensional representation in the encoding area is positioned in the region closely in front of the observer window for transforming the hologram into the observer window. When the light modulators are illuminated, complex wavefronts of the three-dimensional representation are situated in the observer window and the reconstruction of the three-dimensional representation is visible in a visual cone spanned by the observer window and the light modulator.