HMD Visor Assembly with IR Opaque and Permissive Regions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current head-mounted displays (HMDs) for augmented reality systems face challenges in minimizing visibility, reducing weight, and optimizing optical properties to enhance user experience, as they often have noticeable components, emit distracting infrared light, and struggle with smudging and waveguide effects that wash out virtual object images.
Innovation Solution
A head-mounted display visor assembly is designed with a molded world-facing visor and user-facing bathtub, using IR opaque and visual light opaque materials, along with IR permissive coatings to minimize visibility and optimize optical performance, featuring anti-reflection and anti-smear coatings to improve image clarity and reduce distractions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If transparent optical elements are used to allow users to view the actual environment, then the user can interact with the real-world environment, but these elements may become smudged which obstructs the user's view and act as waveguides that wash out virtual object images
Solution Approach 1:
The visor is divided into multiple regions with different optical properties: transparent regions for viewing the actual environment, IR-opaque regions for blocking infrared light, and IR-permissive regions for allowing infrared transmission. This segmentation allows each region to be optimized for its specific function while minimizing harmful effects.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the visor are given different optical characteristics tailored to their specific functions. The world-facing surface has transparent regions for optical transmission, while specific areas have IR-opaque or IR-permissive properties to control infrared light locally, preventing smudging and waveguide effects in critical areas.
2Adaptability or versatility
If IR sensors and lighting elements are included in the HMD, then the system can perform depth tracking and other functions, but these components emit visible red glow and are noticeable to the user which detracts from the user experience
Solution Approach 1:
The visor incorporates IR-opaque regions that are transparent to visible light but opaque to infrared wavelengths. This allows IR sensors and lighting elements to function while preventing the visible red glow associated with infrared light, making the HMD less noticeable to the user.
Solution Approach 2:
The visor acts as an intermediary between the IR sensors/lighting and the external environment. The IR-opaque regions block infrared light from becoming visible, while the IR-permissive regions allow necessary infrared transmission for sensor operation, mediating between functionality and aesthetics.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple optical regions are included in the HMD for different functions (head tracking, depth tracking, eye tracking, virtual object display), then the system can perform optimal augmented reality functions, but arranging all these regions in a cohesive and visually appealing configuration is challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The visor serves multiple optical functions simultaneously: it allows visible light transmission for viewing the actual environment, blocks infrared light in specific regions to prevent visible glow, permits infrared transmission for sensor operation, and provides optical elements for virtual object display. This multi-functionality is achieved through integrated design of different optical regions within a single visor structure.
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 enhances user experience by minimizing the visibility of HMD components, reducing distractions from infrared light, and maintaining clear image quality by using IR blocking materials and coatings that prevent smudging and waveguide interference, resulting in a more natural and unobtrusive augmented reality experience.
Implementation Method 1
The visor includes an IR opaque and visual light opaque portion
Implementation Method 2
The visor also includes an IR opaque region. The bathtub includes an IR permissive, but visual light opaque portion
Implementation Method 3
The bathtub includes an IR permissive, but visual light opaque portion and a visual light permissive portion
Implementation Method 4
featuring anti-reflection and anti-smear coatings to improve image clarity
Implementation Method 5
featuring anti-reflection and anti-smear coatings to improve image clarity
Data Source
AI summary
Head-mounted display visor assembly. A head mounted display visor assembly includes a molded world-facing visor coupled to a separately molded user-facing bathtub. The visor includes an IR opaque and visual light opaque portion coupled to a separately manufactured IR permissive portion. The visor also includes an IR opaque portion. The bathtub includes an IR permissive, but visual light opaque portion and a visual light permissive portion.