Mosaicing Device for Compact Opto-Electronic Display
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing opto-electronic display arrangements for eyeglasses struggle to achieve a large field of view while maintaining a compact size, as they require relatively large optical systems and miniature screens to project virtual images effectively.
Innovation Solution
An opto-mechanical assembly that subdivides a source image into multiple screen images, which are spatially offset and time-shifted, using a mosaicing device with a light pipe and polarization control elements to reconstruct the image, allowing for a smaller miniature screen and extended field of view greater than 20°.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a large field of view is achieved using conventional optical systems, then the field of view increases, but the size of the optical system and miniature screen increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the optical system into a waveguide portion and a separate opto-mechanical assembly. The waveguide acts as a light guide that transports light from a small miniature screen to the user's eye, while the opto-mechanical assembly contains the optical elements for image projection. This segmentation allows the field of view to be determined by the opto-mechanical assembly while the waveguide remains thin and compact for integration into eyeglasses.
2Volume of moving object
If the miniature screen size is reduced, then the system becomes more compact, but the field of view decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The waveguide serves as an intermediary element that decouples the size of the miniature screen from the field of view. The waveguide transports light from the small miniature screen over an extended optical path, allowing the opto-mechanical assembly to provide a large field of view while the miniature screen remains small for compact integration.
3Length of stationary object
If the waveguide thickness is reduced for better integration, then the system becomes thinner, but the optical path length increases
Solution Approach 1:
The waveguide uses total internal reflection to guide light along a path that is folded within the thin waveguide structure. By utilizing the lateral dimensions of the waveguide and folding the optical path, the system achieves a long optical path length for large field of view while maintaining a thin waveguide profile suitable for integration into eyeglasses.
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 enables a more compact system with an extended field of view by shortening the optical path length and using a light pipe between the miniature screen and the polarization control element, allowing for a smaller size while maintaining high image quality and reduced flicker.
Implementation Method 1
said light pipe being constituted by a light guide of material that is transparent in the visible domain
Implementation Method 2
said mosaicing device being constituted by a light polarization control element
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic display arrangement for taking light signals forming an image emitted from a miniature screen (2) and referred to as a screen image, and for conveying them to the eye (O) of a user to enable a virtual image (I) to be viewed, the arrangement having a miniature screen control device having an arrangement for subdividing a source image into N screen images (IE) and in that it includes a mosaicing device (3) having an exit viewport (10) and serving to convey the N screen images in a manner in which they are spatially offset from one another and time shifted from one another at a period (τ) shorter than the remanence time of the retina of the eye divided by N, each screen image (IE) being conveyed towards the eye of the wearer for viewing a virtual sub-image (IN), the N resulting and adjacent virtual sub-images together forming said virtual image (I) in full, said mosaicing device (3) being constituted by a light polarization control element (5) and by an element (7) for spatially reconstructing the virtual image (I). A mosaicing device has a light pipe (6) of material that is transparent in the visible domain and said light pipe is disposed between said control element (5) and said element for spatially reconstructing the virtual image.