Near-Eye Display Subpupil Modulation for Wide Gaze Angles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing near-eye display systems face challenges in providing unvignetted and high-quality images across a wide range of gaze directions due to the limitations of traditional optical subsystems and subpupil modulation techniques.
Innovation Solution
The proposed near-eye display system incorporates a flat-panel two-dimensional image-display array and a subpupil modulator with a two-dimensional modulation array, controlled by an eye-tracking subsystem to dynamically adjust the active subpupil region, ensuring optimal image presentation regardless of eye rotation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional optical subsystems are used, then device complexity is reduced, but image quality deteriorates due to vignetting and limited field of view
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the optical subsystem into multiple independent components: a waveguide projector for light generation, a conditioner lens for optical conditioning, and a magnifier lens for angular magnification. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, resolving the contradiction by enabling high image quality through specialized design while managing overall system complexity through modular architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from traditional two-dimensional display to volumetric visual environment by adding the third dimension through optical path manipulation. The waveguide projector creates light fields that propagate through three-dimensional space, and the magnifier lens provides angular magnification in multiple dimensions, enabling unvignetted viewing across a large angular field of view without proportionally increasing device complexity.
2Manufacturing precision
If the active subpupil region is dynamically adjusted, then image quality is improved by minimizing extraneous light reflection, but device complexity increases due to eye-tracking subsystem
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control through an eye-tracking subsystem that continuously monitors eye pupil position and orientation, then dynamically adjusts the active subpupil region of the modulation array accordingly. This feedback mechanism resolves the contradiction by automatically optimizing image quality for each user's specific gaze direction, with the control system intelligently managing the increased complexity to deliver superior visual experience.
3Manufacturing precision
If a large angular field of view is provided, then image quality is improved by unvignetted viewing, but device complexity increases due to optical component requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic optical elements including a varifocal lens that can change its focal length and a modulation array that dynamically adjusts which subpupils are active based on eye tracking data. This dynamic adaptability allows the system to maintain high image quality across a large angular field of view by optimizing the optical path for each viewing condition, resolving the contradiction between wide field of view and manageable device complexity.
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 unvignetted viewing of virtual images across a large angular field of view, minimizing extraneous light reflection and improving image quality by dynamically adjusting the active subpupil region based on eye pupil position and orientation.
Implementation Method 1
a waveguide projector, which generates light of an image and projects the light onto an exit pupil of an optical subsystem, into an eye of a user, and as a real image onto a retina of the eye
Implementation Method 2
an associated conditioner lens and a magnifier lens
Implementation Method 3
the conditioner and magnifier lenses, which incorporate at least one Fresnel surface
Implementation Method 4
the conditioner and magnifier lenses, which incorporate at least one Fresnel surface
Data Source
AI summary
A beam of light is directed onto, and scanned across, a controllably-selected portion of a concave-curved light-redirecting surface that provides for redirecting and redistributing the light and illuminating a two-dimensional image-display modulation array. A virtual image of the two-dimensional image-display modulation array is formed by an optical subsystem. Light thereof propagating from an aperture of the optical subsystem is collected onto a subpupil within an exit pupil of the optical subsystem on a surface proximate to an outer surface of an eye location. The subpupil is associated with the controllably-selected portion of the concave-curved light-redirecting surface, and with a corresponding portion less than all of the light of the virtual image that is associated with a gaze direction of the eye when viewing the subpupil. A location of the subpupil within the exit pupil corresponds to a location of the controllably-selected portion on the concave-curved light-redirecting surface.