Near-Eye Display Light Guide for Visual Field Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional near-eye displays (NEDs) often block a portion of the user's visual field, limiting transparency and comfort, especially in augmented reality applications where see-through functionality is essential.
Innovation Solution
The use of diffractive exit-pupil expanders (EPEs) as transparent light guides, which act as periscopes to transfer environmental light around opaque parts of the NED, allowing the user to view the blocked visual field by in-coupling light at non-opaque areas and out-coupling it towards the eyes, providing a see-through functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If conventional NEDs use opaque portions to deliver images, then image quality is improved, but transparency and visual field coverage deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The NED apparatus is segmented into opaque image delivery portions and translucent view recovery portions. The light guide is divided into input section, output section, and intermediate transfer path. This segmentation allows simultaneous operation of both image display and environmental view functions without interference.
Solution Approach 2:
A light guide acts as an intermediary element between the environment and the user's eye. It captures light from the environment through the translucent portion and redirects it through the opaque portion, serving as a mediator that enables both image display and environmental visibility.
2Area of stationary object
If larger light guides are used to increase transparency, then transparency is improved, but device complexity and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide is designed with different functional zones: an input section at a first location, an output section at a second location, and intermediate transfer paths. Each section has optimized local properties for its specific function, allowing high transparency without requiring a uniformly large light guide structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide utilizes optical path redirection through the opaque portion, effectively adding a spatial dimension to light transmission. This allows transparency to be achieved not by increasing physical area but by optimizing light path geometry through the existing structure.
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 enhances visibility and comfort by maintaining transparency, allowing users to see the real world while wearing NEDs, improving safety and usability with a simple, cost-effective, and real-time optical see-through capability.
Implementation Method 1
The light guide is configured to transfer an image corresponding to a visual field of the user blocked by a substantially opaque portion of the apparatus
Implementation Method 2
The light guide includes an output section and an input section. The light guide is configured to transfer an image
Implementation Method 3
The use of diffractive exit-pupil expanders (EPEs) as transparent light guides, which act as periscopes to transfer environmental light around opaque parts of the NED
Data Source
AI summary
In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a member, an optical engine, and a light guide. The member is configured to be placed proximate a face of a user. The optical engine is connected to the member. The optical engine is configured to provide an image viewable by the user. The light guide is connected to the member. The light guide includes an output section and an input section. The light guide is configured to transfer an image corresponding to a visual field of the user blocked by a substantially opaque portion of the apparatus.