Image Light Generation Module with Variable Gap Optical Path Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional projectors require additional space and weight due to the need for correction lenses to correct magnification chromatic aberration, which increases the apparatus size and weight, and also result in blurring of images due to on-axis and magnification chromatic aberrations in head-mounted display applications.
Innovation Solution
An image light generation module comprising three display elements emitting red, green, and blue light, respectively, and a combining prism, where the gaps between the display elements and the prism are varied in size to adjust optical path lengths, thereby eliminating on-axis and magnification chromatic aberrations, allowing the light to converge correctly on the retina and reducing the need for additional lenses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If correction lenses are added to correct magnification chromatic aberration, then image quality is improved, but apparatus size and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the correction lenses from the optical system by using display elements with different effective display region sizes. This removes the harmful components (lenses) while maintaining the beneficial function (chromatic aberration correction), directly reducing apparatus weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of effective display region size among the red, green, and blue display elements. By varying this parameter, the optical path lengths are adjusted to correct chromatic aberration without requiring additional correction lenses, thus improving image quality without increasing weight.
2Manufacturing precision
If correction lenses are added to correct magnification chromatic aberration, then image quality is improved, but apparatus size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the correction lenses from the system by using display element design variations. This extraction eliminates the need for additional optical components, thereby reducing apparatus size while maintaining image quality through the effective display region size differentiation.
Solution Approach 2:
By changing the effective display region size parameter of the display elements, the patent achieves chromatic aberration correction intrinsically within the display element array, eliminating the need for external correction lenses and reducing overall apparatus size.
3Ease of manufacture
If equal-sized effective display regions are used, then manufacturing is simplified, but chromatic aberration causes image blurring
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the effective display region sizes different for red, green, and blue display elements according to their specific optical requirements. This localized differentiation corrects chromatic aberration for each color channel while maintaining overall manufacturing feasibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces asymmetry in the effective display region sizes among the color channels. This asymmetric design is specifically tailored to correct magnification chromatic aberration, where symmetric (equal-sized) design would fail to address the different optical path requirements of different wavelengths.
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 achieves size and weight reduction of head-mounted display devices while ensuring high-quality image formation by eliminating chromatic aberrations, resulting in a compact and lightweight design with reduced blurring and color bleeding.
Implementation Method 1
a combining prism configured to emit combined image light combined from the first image light, the second image light, and the third image light
Implementation Method 2
at least one of the first gap, the second gap, or the third gap is different in size from another of the gaps
Data Source
AI summary
An image light generation module includes a first display element configured to emit first image light, a second display element configured to emit second image light, a third display element configured to emit third image light, a combining prism configured to emit combined image light combined from the first image light, the second image light, and the third image light, and a first gap defining member that defines a first gap between the first display element and the combining prism, a second gap defining member that defines a second gap between the second display element and the combining prism, and a third gap defining member that defines a third gap between the third display element and the combining prism, in which at least one of the first gap, the second gap, and the third gap is different in size from another of the gaps.