Laser Array Transmission for Portable High-Bandwidth VR Headsets

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Solution Overview

Problem

Achieving high-quality video output from virtual reality (VR) headsets while maintaining portability and safety is challenging due to the need for high bit rate data transfer, which is impractical with wearable devices, and existing wireless methods like radio signals lack sufficient bandwidth and are prone to interference.

Innovation Solution

A system using a laser array configured to transmit console data wirelessly to a VR headset via lasers, allowing for high-bandwidth data transfer without physical connections, with orientation adjustments to maintain data flow as the user moves.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If uncompressed video data is transmitted to a VR headset, then video quality is improved, but data transfer bandwidth requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevideo qualityVSAvoiddata transfer bandwidth

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical/wired data transmission systems with optical laser-based transmission. This substitution enables high-bandwidth uncompressed video data to be transmitted wirelessly through laser beams, resolving the contradiction between maintaining video quality and reducing the need for heavy wired connections or high-power wireless transmitters.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If a physical connection is established between the VR headset and host device, then data transfer reliability is improved, but user mobility deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transfer reliabilityVSAvoiduser mobility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical physical connection (cable/tether) with an optical laser-based wireless transmission system. This eliminates the physical constraint on user movement while maintaining reliable data transfer through directed laser beams that track the headset's position, thus improving ease of operation without sacrificing data transfer reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If standard wireless means are used to transmit data, then portability is improved, but transmission bandwidth and reliability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveportabilityVSAvoidtransmission bandwidth

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces standard wireless transmission methods (radio frequency, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth) with optical laser transmission. This substitution provides significantly higher transmission bandwidth and reliability while maintaining the wireless portability benefit, as laser beams can carry much more data with less interference and saturation compared to traditional wireless protocols.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Quantity of substance

If a large and heavy high-performance device is secured onto the user's body, then data transfer capability is improved, but weight and comfort deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transfer capabilityVSAvoidheadset weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the high-performance data transmission functionality from the wearable headset device and relocates it to the host device or external system. The headset only needs lightweight laser receivers, while the heavy processing and transmission components remain outside the wearable, thus improving data transfer capability without increasing headset weight.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the need for heavy onboard processing and transmission hardware in the headset with external optical transmission infrastructure. This substitution allows high-bandwidth uncompressed video transmission without requiring the headset to carry heavy high-performance computing components.

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

The system provides high-quality video output with improved portability and safety by ensuring uninterrupted data transfer through unobstructed laser signals, even when the user moves, without the need for heavy devices or physical tethers.

Implementation Method 1

a laser array comprising one or more lasers, wherein the laser array is configured to receive console data transmitted from a video game console; and a virtual reality headset comprising one or more headset sensors, wherein the laser array is configured to transmit the console data to the one or more headset sensors via the one or more lasers of the laser array

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLaser: Laser

Data Source

PatentUS20250222345A1Systems, Devices And Methods For Transmitting Data To A Virtual Reality Headset

Publication Date: 2025.07.10 SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT LLC

AI summary

Described herein is a system for transmitting data to a virtual reality headset. The system comprises a video game console; a laser array comprising one or more lasers, wherein the video game console is configured to transmit console data to the laser array; and a virtual reality headset comprising one or more headset sensors, wherein the laser array is configured to transmit the console data to the one or more headset sensors via the one or more lasers of the laser array.