Near Eye Wavefront Emulating Display for AR
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing near-eye display systems for augmented reality struggle to overlay high-resolution virtual content over the entire user's field of view without causing physical discomfort due to accommodation-vergence conflicts and optical aberrations, particularly in optical see-through configurations.
Innovation Solution
A near-eye display system employing a sparse array of emission points with intensity-modulated collimated light beams, scanned by a second beam scanning layer to form image tiles, which emulate wavefronts to cover the user's field of view, minimizing optical aberrations and accommodating depth cues, thereby reducing user discomfort and enhancing realism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a dense array of embedded addressable emission points with coupled collimating optics is used, then high resolution virtual content can be displayed, but optical aberrations of transmitted ambient light occur
Solution Approach 1:
The display system is segmented into multiple independent light guide plates, each handling a specific angular envelope of the field of view. Each light guide plate contains a subset of emission points and collimating optics, reducing the density and impact of aberrations while maintaining overall high resolution through the composite image formed by all segments.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the display system are optimized with different properties. The emission points and collimating optics are strategically distributed and configured to provide appropriate local optical characteristics for different angular ranges, reducing aberrations in specific regions while maintaining resolution where needed.
2Device complexity
If pure optical image relay systems are used, then the system architecture is simplified, but the field of view is inherently limited by the waveguide material critical angle
Solution Approach 1:
The system extends the field of view by utilizing multiple light guide plates arranged to cover different angular envelopes. This multi-dimensional approach allows the composite image to span a wider total field of view while each individual light guide plate maintains a simpler optical architecture within its specific angular range.
3Measurement precision
If scanning Virtual Retinal Display is used, then the display can project image directly onto the retina, but bulky system architecture near the user's line of sight is required
Solution Approach 1:
The bulky intermediary projection optics that converge the image onto the eye pupil are extracted and replaced with light guide plates that directly guide light to the user's eye. This removes the large projection optic assembly from the user's line of sight while maintaining the ability to form high-quality retinal images through the waveguide structure itself.
4Device complexity
If collimated light beams are used to cover the user's field of view, then the system maintains simple architecture, but accommodation-vergence conflicts occur causing physical discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the vergence of light beams by using multiple light guide plates with different optical configurations. Each light guide plate can be optimized for specific vergence requirements corresponding to different depths in the virtual scene, allowing the system to maintain simple architecture while reducing accommodation-vergence conflicts through dynamic optical adaptation.
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
The system provides a comfortable form factor with enhanced field of view coverage and realistic 3D content presentation by eliminating optical aberrations and accommodation-vergence conflicts, allowing for seamless integration into standard eyewear with efficient image processing and untethered configurations.
Implementation Method 1
A near-eye display system employs a sparse array of emission points with intensity-modulated collimated light beams
Implementation Method 2
scanned by a second beam scanning layer in synchrony with the intensity modulation, over a range of angles covering a portion of the user's field of view to form an image tile
Implementation Method 3
Each beam represents an emulated wavefront emanative from a virtual object in the user's FOV
Data Source
AI summary
A near eye display device includes a sparse array of intensity modulated light beam emission and steering points disposed on a transparent lens, capable of forming a wide field of view composite image directly on the retina with variable degrees of apparent depth controlled by an image forming timing signal. The active regions of the beam emission and steering elements is configured so as not to generate optical aberrations of transmitted ambient light that is apparent to the eye. The display may be applied to small form factor stereoscopic head worn display systems and used in conjunction with Augmented Reality software applications.