Liquid Lens for Compact AR Glasses
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing AR and VR glasses face challenges in achieving a lightweight, compact, and adjustable optical system with low power consumption, particularly due to mechanical adjustment mechanisms that increase volume and weight, and the difficulty in calibrating optical components after system encapsulation.
Innovation Solution
The electronic image device incorporates a barrel-shaped container filled with a conductive liquid and an insulating liquid of the same density but different refractive indices, forming a liquid lens with adjustable focal length through electrowetting effects, eliminating the need for mechanical adjustments and reducing the overall system size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If mechanical adjustment mechanisms are used to adjust the distance between lenses, then the vision of users can be adapted, but the volume and weight of the glasses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical adjustment mechanisms with an electronic control system. A motor-driven module adjusts the position of the lens or mirror assembly electronically, eliminating the need for manual mechanical knobs and linkages. This substitution reduces the overall mechanical complexity and weight while maintaining adaptability for different diopters through electronic control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs variable focus lenses whose optical parameters (focal length) can be dynamically changed. By using lenses with adjustable optical properties rather than fixed mechanical adjustments, the system achieves adaptability for different vision requirements without adding mechanical bulk, thereby reducing weight while maintaining versatility.
2Adaptability or versatility
If mechanical adjustment mechanisms are used to adjust the distance between lenses, then the vision of users can be adapted, but the volume of the glasses increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces bulky mechanical adjustment mechanisms with a compact electronic control system and motor-driven module. This substitution significantly reduces the volume required for adjustment mechanisms, allowing the glasses to maintain adaptability for different diopters while minimizing the overall volume of the device.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent integrates the adjustment mechanism within the existing optical path structure. The motor-driven module and lens assembly are nested within the frame structure, utilizing available space efficiently. This nesting approach allows mechanical adjustment components to be compactly arranged, reducing the overall volume of the glasses while maintaining adjustability functionality.
3Volume of moving object
If optical parts are embedded into a glass frame, then the structure can be compact, but it becomes extremely difficult to design and assemble the structure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the optical system into modular components that can be independently designed, tested, and assembled. The optical parts are segmented into separate modules (lens assembly, mirror assembly, electronic control module) that can be manufactured independently and then integrated into the glass frame. This segmentation simplifies the manufacturing process and assembly while maintaining the compact structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs preliminary calibration and positioning of optical components during the manufacturing process. Optical parts are pre-positioned and calibrated before final assembly into the glass frame, ensuring proper alignment and reducing the complexity of final assembly. This preliminary action approach maintains compact structure while significantly easing the manufacturing and assembly process.
4Measurement precision
If high resolution OLED microdisplay is used, then the image quality is improved, but the manufacturing accuracy requirements become extremely high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary calibration and positioning of the OLED microdisplay relative to other optical components during manufacturing. The high-resolution display is pre-aligned with the lens and mirror assemblies before final encapsulation, ensuring that the extremely high manufacturing accuracy requirements are met. This preliminary action approach maintains image quality while making the manufacturing process more manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms during the manufacturing and assembly process. Optical alignment systems and precision measurement tools provide real-time feedback on the positioning of the high-resolution OLED microdisplay relative to other components. This feedback enables continuous adjustment and ensures that the extremely high manufacturing accuracy requirements for high-resolution displays are satisfied while maintaining image quality.
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 enables a compact, lightweight, and power-efficient wearable image device with improved optical performance, allowing for real-time adjustment of the focal length without mechanical components, thus addressing the limitations of existing AR and VR glasses.
Implementation Method 1
forming a liquid lens with adjustable focal length through electrowetting effects
Implementation Method 2
the conductive liquid and the insulating liquid have the same density and different optical refractive indices
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an electronic image device, which includes a barrel-shaped container, a conductive liquid, an insulating liquid, an electronic image element, a light-transmissive window, a first electrode, a second electrode, and a voltage source. The conductive liquid and the insulating liquid have the same density and different optical refractive indices, are immiscible with each other, and are filled into the barrel-shaped container. The electronic image element is disposed at a first end of the barrel-shaped container and in contact with the conductive liquid. The light-transmissive window is disposed at a second end of the barrel-shaped container and in contact with the insulating liquid. The first electrode is in contact with the conductive liquid and the second electrode forms a capacitive coupling with the conductive liquid. A variable voltage is applied between the first electrode and the second electrode.