Light Guide Display for Infinity Focus and AR Transparency
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional display techniques cause eye strain in users, especially when viewing devices for extended periods, leading to physical effects and impacting user experience.
Innovation Solution
The use of a light guide technology in display devices, configured in a hand-held form factor, with a light engine optically coupled to the light guide, allowing for a user interface to be displayed along an image plane focused at infinity, enabling minimal eye muscle contraction and supporting transparency for augmented reality and adjustable field of view.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional display techniques are used, then the display can be viewed at a fixed image plane, but eye strain occurs due to constant focus distance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic display system where the light guide can switch between two operational modes: a first mode for displaying content at a first focus distance and a second mode for displaying content at a second focus distance. This dynamic switching capability allows the display to adapt to different viewing distances, eliminating eye strain caused by fixed focus planes while maintaining versatility in display applications.
2Area of stationary object
If the display is made transparent for augmented reality, then the field of view increases, but the display clarity may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamically controllable light guide that can transition between transparent and opaque states. In the transparent state, the light guide allows viewing of the physical environment, expanding the field of view for augmented reality applications. In the opaque state, it provides clear display of digital content. This dynamic state control enables the system to optimize both field of view and display clarity as needed.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the light guide is made transparent, then augmented reality viewing is enabled, but the display contrast may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamically switchable light guide that can change its optical properties between transparent and opaque states. When opacity is increased, the light guide provides high contrast display suitable for immersive content. When transparency is increased, it enables augmented reality viewing with expanded field of view. This dynamic optical control allows the system to optimize display contrast and augmented reality capability as needed.
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
Reduces eye strain by allowing users to view the display with minimal eye muscle contraction, supports augmented reality by displaying augmentations concurrently with the physical environment, and increases the field of view as the device is brought closer, enhancing user interaction and experience.
Implementation Method 1
a light guide supported by the housing and having a first side that is viewable by a user
Implementation Method 2
a light engine disposed within the housing and optically coupled to the light guide
Implementation Method 3
cause the light engine to output a user interface for display using the light guide along an image plane focused at infinity
Implementation Method 4
The light guide may be configured to support transparency such that physical surroundings of the light guide are viewable through the light guide
Data Source
AI summary
Light guide techniques are described. In one or more implementations, an apparatus includes a housing, a light guide supported by the housing, a light engine disposed within the housing and optically coupled to the light guide, and one or more modules disposed within the housing and implemented at least partially in hardware. The one or more modules are configured to cause the light engine to output a user interface for display using the light guide along an image plane focused at infinity.