Lightweight Holographic Spectacles for Augmented Reality

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional Augmented Reality (AR) systems are cumbersome, costly, and uncomfortable due to their bulkiness and complexity, making them unsuitable for long-term recreational or personal use, as they require heavy head-mount devices with electronic projectors, displays, and optical accessories.

Innovation Solution

The AR system decouples components, allowing users to wear lightweight, holographic spectacles without electronic devices or power sources, using a holographic plane and a virtual image projector that can be handheld or stationary, projecting virtual images onto a backdrop plane, which are then viewed through holographic glasses with integrated holograms.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional AR systems use head-mount devices with electronic projectors, displays, and optical accessories, then virtual image projection capability is achieved, but device weight and bulk increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevirtual image projection capabilityVSAvoidhead-mount device weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The AR system is divided into separate components: a remote projector unit that generates virtual images and lightweight holographic spectacles that only contain holographic elements for image presentation. This segmentation removes heavy electronic components from the head-mount device, retaining only the essential light-weight holographic elements at the user's eye.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The heavy electronic projector, display, and power supply components are extracted from the head-mount device and placed in a separate remote unit. Only the essential holographic elements remain in the spectacles worn by the user, dramatically reducing the weight and bulk of the head-mount portion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If traditional AR systems include complicated optical guiding systems with beam-splitters,prisms, and mirrors, then virtual image routing is achieved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevirtual image routing capabilityVSAvoidoptical guiding system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The complex mechanical optical guiding system with multiple beam-splitters,prisms, and mirrors is replaced with holographic elements that use optical interference and diffraction principles. The holographic elements directly modulate and present the virtual image without requiring complicated mechanical optical routing components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If viewing plane is located near user's eyes for comfort, then user comfort is improved, but image focusing becomes difficult without additional optical elements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser comfortVSAvoidoptical element requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The holographic elements are designed with specific optical parameters that enable the virtual image to be presented at a comfortable viewing distance near the user's eye without requiring additional optical elements for focusing. The holographic structure itself provides the necessary optical path adjustment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Manufacturing precision

If traditional AR systems use sophisticated virtual images, then image quality is improved, but optical guiding system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevirtual image sophisticationVSAvoidoptical guiding system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Sophisticated virtual images are generated and routed using holographic elements that rely on optical interference and diffraction rather than complex mechanical optical guiding systems. The holographic technology inherently handles complex image routing without requiring additional beam-splitters,prisms, or mirrors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 solution provides a comfortable, cost-effective, and lightweight AR experience, enabling users to overlay virtual images on their surroundings without the discomfort and complexity of traditional systems, facilitating widespread adoption in recreational and personal contexts.

Implementation Method 1

using a holographic plane and a virtual image projector that can be handheld or stationary, projecting virtual images onto a backdrop plane, which are then viewed through holographic glasses with integrated holograms

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHolography: Diffraction

Data Source

PatentUS10317674B2Augmented reality systems and methods

Publication Date: 2019.06.11 CITY UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG

AI summary

The present disclosure describes Augmented Reality (AR) methods and systems allowing one or more user to observe a virtual image (e.g., computer generated image) overlaid on a physical scene (e.g., actual real life surroundings). Embodiments herein allow components of the AR methods and systems to be decoupled from each other, such that a user is able to view a virtual image overlaid on a physical scene while simply wearing thin, lightweight holographic spectacles.