Near-Eye Scanning Display With Shared 3D Mapping Beam Path

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wearable displays, such as HMDs and NEDs, are bulky and uncomfortable due to their large size and weight, and projector-based displays lack efficient methods for real-time environmental mapping and 3D rendering.

Innovation Solution

A near-eye display using a scanning projector with a tiltable reflector co-scans image and ranging beams, employing a pupil-replicating waveguide and optical ranging device to provide 3D mapping and direct image observation, while sharing a beam scanner for space and cost efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional HMD or NED displays are used to provide VR/AR content, then 3D imaging and immersive experience are achieved, but the device becomes bulky, heavy, and uncomfortable to wear

Engineering Contradiction:

Improve3D imaging capabilityVSAvoiddisplay device weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the display panel and screen from the traditional HMD structure, replacing them with a scanning projector that directly projects images into the user's field of view. This removes the bulky intermediate components while maintaining the 3D imaging capability through angular domain projection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical display panel system with an optical scanning system using light beams. The scanning projector uses electromagnetic fields and optical paths to create images in the user's field of view, eliminating heavy mechanical components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Length of moving object

If a scanning projector is used to reduce size and weight, then compact wearable display is achieved, but efficient real-time environmental mapping and 3D rendering methods are lacking

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay device sizeVSAvoidreal-time environmental mapping capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the imaging function and environmental mapping function into a single scanning projector system. The same light beam and scanning mechanism used for display also perform ranging and environmental scanning, enabling real-time 3D mapping without adding separate bulky components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The scanning projector is designed to perform multiple functions: displaying virtual images, performing optical ranging for depth measurement, and scanning the environment for 3D mapping. This multi-functionality enables real-time environmental mapping while maintaining a compact form factor

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If separate components are used for imaging and ranging functions, then functional capability is improved, but device complexity and bulk increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimaging and ranging functionalityVSAvoidscanner configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the imaging light beam and ranging light beam into a single scanning system that uses one scanner to perform both functions. This integration maintains full imaging and ranging capabilities while significantly reducing device complexity compared to separate systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 compact and comfortable wearable displays with real-time 3D environmental mapping and enhanced user immersion by integrating image and ranging functions into a single scanner, reducing bulk and weight.

Implementation Method 1

A tiltable reflector of a scanner is tilted to angularly scan an image beam provided by a light source to obtain an image in an angular domain, and to angularly scan a ranging beam provided by the light source

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight reflection and angular scanning: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

A pupil-replicating waveguide is coupled to the scanner to convey portions of the scanned image beam to an eyebox of the near-eye display

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical waveguide propagation: Waveguide (optics)

Implementation Method 3

A portion of the ranging beam is received to obtain a portion of an image in the angular domain

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight detection and time-of-flight measurement: Time of Flight

Data Source

PatentUS20250389951A13D mapping in 2d scanning display

Publication Date: 2025.12.25 META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES LLC

AI summary

A wearable display device includes a light source, a beam scanner, a pupil-replicating lightguide, and a detector. The light source is configured to emit an image beam and a ranging beam. The beam scanner co-scans both beams. The image beam is used to form an image in angular domain for displaying to a user of the wearable display device, and a ranging beam is used to scan outside environment at the same time. Light reflected from objects in the outside environment is detected by the detector, and a 3D map of the outside environment is built using time-of-flight measurements of the reflected signal and/or triangulation. For triangulation measurements, the detector may include a digital camera.