Multibeam Element Head-Up Display for Depth Perception
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional head-up displays lack the ability to provide multiple views of a scene or image from different perspectives, limiting their use in applications where depth perception and immersion are crucial, such as in automotive or augmented reality systems.
Innovation Solution
A multibeam element-based display system that projects a plurality of different views of a multiview image into an eye box, combining these views with a physical environment view, using a light guide and an array of multibeam elements to produce directional light beams with varying principal angular directions, and an optical combiner to superimpose the image onto the user's field of view.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional head-up display is used, then the display can be viewed simultaneously with the physical environment, but it cannot provide multiple views from different perspectives
Solution Approach 1:
The display is segmented into multiple independent multibeam elements, where each element generates a separate light beam corresponding to a specific view direction. This segmentation enables multiple perspective views to be generated simultaneously within a single head-up display system, resolving the contradiction between versatility and complexity by organizing the system into modular, functionally distinct units.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new dimension of view direction control by varying the principal angular directions of light beams emitted by different multibeam elements. Instead of displaying multiple views on a single planar surface, the system uses spatial distribution of light beams in three-dimensional space, allowing users to perceive depth and perspective differences without increasing the physical footprint of the display device.
2Reliability
If multiple views are provided to enhance depth perception, then immersion and accommodation cues are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each multibeam element is designed with specific local optical properties tailored to its designated view direction. The principal angular direction of each element is optimized for its particular function, allowing the system to provide accurate depth perception cues through locally optimized light beam characteristics rather than requiring a uniformly complex optical system throughout.
Solution Approach 2:
The multibeam element array serves multiple functions simultaneously: it generates multiple perspective views, provides depth perception cues, maintains accommodation accuracy, and enables immersive viewing. This multi-functionality is achieved through a unified optical architecture where each element contributes to several perceptual functions, reducing overall system complexity compared to implementing each function separately.
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
Enables users to perceive depth and immersion by providing multiple perspective views of a scene, enhancing accommodation and retinal blurring cues, thus improving the user's experience in applications requiring depth perception.
Implementation Method 1
The multibeam element array is configured to scatter a portion of the guided light as a plurality of directional light beams, each beam having a different principal angular direction
Implementation Method 2
a light guide configured to provide guided light from a light source to the multibeam element array
Data Source
AI summary
A head-up display and a multiview head-up display system provide a plurality of different views of a multiview image combined with a view of a physical environment to an eye box as a combined view. The head-up display includes a multibeam element-based display configured to provide the different views of the multiview image and an optical combiner configured to relay the different views to the eye box along with the view of the physical environment view. The multibeam element-based display includes an array of multibeam elements configured to provide a plurality of directional light beams having directions corresponding to respective view directions of the plurality of different views and an array of light valves configured to modulate the plurality of directional light beams to provide the multiview image.