Light-field Generating Device for Near-eye AR Displays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and mixed reality (MR) devices face challenges in providing comfortable long-term viewing due to vergence accommodation conflict (VAC), which causes eye discomfort and sickness, and current light-field display technologies are hindered by large optical device sizes and loss of angular information during sampling.
Innovation Solution
A light-field generating device comprising a display panel divided into sub-areas, a projecting lens-array unit, and a fusion lens unit, where light rays are collimated and converged to form a three-dimensional real image that is perceived as originating from an infinitely far-off place, reducing aberrations and enhancing immersive quality by merging scenes through an eyepiece unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a double telecentric lens unit is used to improve image quality, then image quality is greatly improved, but the sizes of panel and optical device become too big
Solution Approach 1:
The optical system is divided into multiple lens units with specific functions. The first lens unit handles collimation while the second lens unit handles focusing, allowing each unit to be optimized independently for size and performance, resolving the contradiction between image quality and device size.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single complex telecentric lens to a multi-unit optical system that operates in different spatial dimensions and focal planes, enabling compact design while maintaining image quality through distributed optical functions across multiple elements.
2Loss of information
If a microlens array is inserted to obtain four-dimensional light field, then angular information is preserved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and separates the angular information capture function from the main imaging path by using dedicated lens units positioned at specific locations, allowing angular data to be captured without requiring a complex microlens array integrated at the sensor plane.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediary lens units that act as mediators between the light field and the sensor, performing collimation and focusing functions that preserve angular information while maintaining a simpler overall system architecture compared to direct microlens array integration.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the display distance is shortened to improve immersion, then immersive quality is improved, but vergence accommodation conflict increases causing eye discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The optical system dynamically adjusts the vergence of light rays to match the accommodation distance, creating a dynamic optical path that can adapt to different viewing conditions and maintain both immersion and visual comfort by coordinating vergence and accommodation cues.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the optical parameters of the light field, specifically the vergence angle and focal depth, to create a decoupled relationship between viewing distance and accommodation distance, allowing the display to appear at different virtual depths while maintaining comfortable focal accommodation for the viewer.
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 device effectively reduces VAC, providing clear and deep field-focus images, minimizing aberrations, and enhancing the immersive quality of light field vision, making it suitable for AR, VR, and MR applications by accurately reproducing light fields and reducing user discomfort.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of scenes are emitted at a position beyond common diaphragm from the sub-areas of the display panel through the projecting lens-array unit
Implementation Method 2
light rays passing through the projecting lens-array unit are displayed on an imaging plane to form a three-dimensional real image of light field
Implementation Method 3
the real image emits into eye pupil through an eyepiece unit to be displayed on retina
Data Source
AI summary
A device is provided to generate a three-dimensional (3D) real image. A display panel is divided into several sub-areas for emitting scenes. Through a projecting lens-array unit, the scenes enter a fusion lens unit to form a real image of light field at a position beyond common barrier. Through an eyepiece unit, the image is emitted to human eye. Thus, the present invention provides a device for near-eye viewing, which reduces existing human-eye vergence accommodation conflict (VAC) in most augmented reality and mixed reality devices. Therein, the display of near-eye light field is a process of light-field reproduction, which merges the scenes and reduces aberration.