Movable Transflective Mirror for AR Eyewear Viewing Modes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current augmented reality eyewear designs face a tradeoff between providing a clear, bright, and wide-angle view of virtual objects and the real world, with existing solutions either excelling at displaying virtual objects or offering a better view of the real world through pass-through lenses.
Innovation Solution
The development of adjustable and/or modular augmented reality eyewear that utilizes a transflective mirror, which can be moved from a peripheral location to a central location in the user's field of view, allowing for optimization of the view between real-world and virtual object display.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a transflective mirror is used to display virtual objects, then the brightness and clarity of virtual objects is improved, but the field of view and naturalness of the real world view deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the transflective mirror movable rather than fixed. The mirror can be positioned in different locations within the field of view, allowing it to be moved to a peripheral location when not in use. This dynamic positioning enables the system to provide bright virtual object display when needed while maintaining an unobstructed wide-angle view of the real world when the mirror is retracted to the periphery or removed from the central field of view.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed transflective mirror is used, then virtual object display is optimized, but the device complexity and lack of adaptability increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements adaptability through a movable transflective mirror that can be repositioned between a central field of view location for optimized virtual object display and a peripheral location for minimized interference with the real world view. This dynamic positioning mechanism provides viewing mode adaptability, allowing the device to switch between different operational states based on user needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies the extraction principle by removing the transflective mirror from the central field of view when it is not needed for displaying virtual objects. By extracting or repositioning the mirror to a peripheral location, the system eliminates unnecessary optical elements from the primary viewing path, thereby maintaining natural real world vision without the complexity of a permanently intrusive mirror structure.
3Loss of information
If the transflective mirror is positioned centrally, then virtual object visibility is improved, but the natural real world view is distorted or blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves the contradiction between virtual object visibility and real world view quality by dynamically positioning the transflective mirror. When virtual objects need to be displayed, the mirror is positioned centrally in the field of view to maximize visibility. When the mirror is not in use, it is moved to a peripheral location, eliminating distortion and blocking of the natural real world view. This dynamic repositioning allows the system to provide clear virtual object information when needed without generating harmful visual distortion during normal viewing.
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 users to maintain a clear, undistorted, and wide-angle view of their environment while also being able to prominently display virtual objects in their field of view when desired, enhancing usability and visual experience.
Implementation Method 1
a transflective mirror (e.g. such as a beam splitter) which partly transmits light and partly reflects light... light from the display is reflected by the transflective mirror to display a virtual object in the person's field of view
Implementation Method 2
a transflective mirror (e.g. such as a beam splitter) which partly transmits light and partly reflects light
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is adjustable and/or modular augmented reality eyewear with a first viewing mode which optimizes a person's view of the real world and a second viewing mode which optimizes the person's view of virtual objects. The viewing mode is changed by moving a transflective mirror from a first location to a second location. The second location is closer to the center of the person's field of view than the first location. When the transflective mirror is in the person's field of view and reflects light from a display toward the person's eyes, then it displays a virtual object in the person's field of view.