Optical Engine Light Routing for Multiple Incouplers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wearable heads-up displays (WHUDs) face challenges in efficiently directing light to multiple incouplers due to space constraints, requiring separate projectors and optical scanners for each incoupler.
Innovation Solution
The use of a plurality of transmissive and reflective elements, such as mirrors, beam splitters, and optical relay elements, to selectively direct light based on optical characteristics to multiple incouplers within a single waveguide or waveguide stack.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate projectors and optical scanners are used for each incoupler, then each incoupler can receive dedicated light, but the device size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate projectors and optical scanners into a single integrated optical engine that serves multiple incouplers. The optical scanner directs light from a single projector to multiple incouplers at different locations on the waveguide, eliminating the need for separate optical paths for each incoupler while maintaining dedicated light delivery capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The single optical scanner is designed with multi-functionality to serve multiple incouplers simultaneously. By incorporating multiple beam splitters and reflective elements, the scanner can route light to different incouplers based on spatial and angular characteristics, making one optical engine perform the function of multiple separate scanners.
2Productivity
If multiple incouplers are used in a single waveguide, then incoupling efficiency improves, but space constraints make it difficult to accommodate separate optical engines
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple optical engines into a single compact optical engine that feeds multiple incouplers. The waveguide itself serves as the distribution medium, carrying light from a single input to multiple incoupler locations through the waveguide's length, thereby reducing the overall device volume while maintaining high incoupling efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the longitudinal dimension of the waveguide to distribute light to multiple incouplers positioned at different locations along the waveguide path. This spatial distribution along the waveguide length allows multiple incouplers to be accommodated within a compact form factor without requiring separate optical engines for each location.
3Device complexity
If light is directed to multiple incouplers using a single optical engine, then device size reduces, but precise light directionality becomes more challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The optical scanner incorporates multiple beam splitters and reflective elements that segment the light path into distinct directional channels. Each beam splitter is positioned and oriented to direct light to specific incouplers, creating well-defined optical paths that maintain precise light directionality even when multiple incouplers are served by a single optical engine.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediate optical elements (beam splitters, mirrors, and waveguide sections) that act as mediators between the single optical engine and multiple incouplers. These intermediary elements precisely control light directionality by reflecting and redirecting light along specific paths to each incoupler location, ensuring accurate light delivery without requiring direct control from the optical engine itself.
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 allows for higher incoupling efficiency and improved image quality in WHUDs with smaller form factors, enabling the use of multiple incouplers without the need for separate projectors and optical scanners.
Implementation Method 1
the beam splitter is a dichroic beam splitter to separate light into two or more of the plurality of wavelength ranges
Implementation Method 2
the optical relay element includes one or more of a lens group, reflector, metasurface, prism assembly with a total internal reflection (TIR) gap with the plurality of reflective and transmissive elements
Implementation Method 3
the light beams are 'guided' through the substrate, typically by multiple instances of total internal reflection (TIR) to then be directed out of the waveguide
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure describes techniques and arrangements for directing light from an optical engine to one of a plurality of incouplers in a multiple incoupler waveguide system. For example, the present disclosure describes a plurality of reflective and transmissive elements to selectively direct light based on a plurality of optical characteristics to a first incoupler or a second incoupler.