Nanowire Micro-LED Displays for Lightweight AR Optics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing head-mounted display systems face challenges with bulkiness, weight, frame rate limitations, and optical artifacts, leading to discomfort and inefficiencies in presenting virtual and augmented reality content.
Innovation Solution
The use of nanowire LED micro-displays with waveguide assemblies and eyepieces to direct image light to the user, utilizing in-coupling and out-coupling optical elements for variable wavefront divergence and high-resolution imaging, without the need for bulky optics or moving parts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If traditional display systems are used in head-mounted displays, then image quality can be maintained, but the system becomes bulky and heavy
Solution Approach 1:
The display system is segmented into multiple nanowire micro-LED displays, each handling specific color channels (red, green, blue). This segmentation allows for miniaturization of individual display elements while maintaining overall image quality through color synthesis, directly reducing the weight and size of the head-mounted display system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from traditional planar LED structures to vertically-oriented nanowire structures. This dimensional change enables higher light emission intensity from a smaller footprint, allowing compact display elements that reduce system weight while maintaining or improving image brightness and quality.
2Device complexity
If traditional optics are used, then image projection can be achieved, but the system becomes complex with moving parts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical moving parts in traditional display systems with electronically controllable nanowire micro-LED arrays. The nanowire structures are driven by electrical signals to change emission states, eliminating mechanical components and improving reliability while maintaining high frame rates for VR/AR applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The nanowire micro-LED display structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as both the light source and the display element, eliminating the need for separate projectors, lenses, and screens. This multi-functionality reduces optical complexity while ensuring consistent performance without moving parts.
3Use of energy by moving object
If high brightness is achieved through traditional means, then image visibility is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the LED structure by using nanoscale wire geometries instead of traditional planar or spherical shapes. This parameter change increases the surface-area-to-volume ratio, improving light extraction efficiency and enabling higher brightness output with lower power consumption due to reduced material volume and improved thermal management.
Solution Approach 2:
The nanowire structures utilize composite material approaches, combining different semiconductor materials with optimized optical properties. This allows for enhanced light emission efficiency and targeted wavelength control, achieving high brightness while minimizing energy waste through improved quantum efficiency and reduced non-radiative recombination.
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 approach enables high-brightness, power-efficient, and compact display systems with improved image quality and comfort for extended wear, reducing motion blur and optical artifacts.
Implementation Method 1
a nanowire LED micro-display configured to output image light
Implementation Method 2
a waveguide assembly including one or more waveguides... configured to output the outcoupled light with variable amounts of wavefront divergence
Data Source
AI summary
A wearable display system includes one or more nanowire LED micro-displays. The nanowire micro-LED displays may be monochrome or full-color. The nanowire LEDs forming the arrays may have an advantageously narrow angular emission profile and high light output. Where a plurality of nanowire LED micro-displays is utilized, the micro-displays may be positioned at different sides of an optical combiner, for example, an X-cube prism which receives light rays from different micro-displays and outputs the light rays from the same face of the cube. The optical combiner directs the light to projection optics, which outputs the light to an eyepiece that relays the light to a user's eye. The eyepiece may output the light to the user's eye with different amounts of wavefront divergence, to place virtual content on different depth planes.