Optical Path Layout for Wide-Angle Compact Observation Optics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical systems face challenges in achieving a wide viewing angle while minimizing the size and correcting aberrations, as they often require additional components that increase the system's size and complexity.
Innovation Solution
The optical system employs a configuration with half-transmissive reflective surfaces and an aperture stop to guide light through a first optical path for an enlarged display image and a second optical path for a reduced pupil image, using quarter waveplates and polarization-selective reflective elements to control light polarization, and incorporates a second lens unit outside the effective light beam area to correct aberrations, ensuring the imaging surface is closer to the display surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the viewing angle of the observation optical system is increased, then the imaging angle of the observer's eye increases, but the number of parts and the size of the optical system increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the observation optical system and imaging optical system into a single integrated structure. The observation optical system includes a first lens unit with a first half-transmissive reflective surface and a second half-transmissive reflective surface, while the imaging optical system uses the same lens unit with an aperture stop and optical element. This merging allows both functions to share common components, reducing the overall number of parts while achieving wide viewing angle and proper imaging angle
Solution Approach 2:
The first lens unit serves multiple functions: it acts as both an observation optical element and an imaging optical element. The half-transmissive reflective surfaces enable the same lens unit to function in both the observation path (forming enlarged image of display surface on exit pupil) and imaging path (forming reduced image of exit pupil on imaging surface), thereby reducing component count while maintaining both wide viewing angle and proper imaging characteristics
2Adaptability or versatility
If the viewing angle of the observation optical system is increased, then the imaging angle of the observer's eye increases, but the size of the optical system increases
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the observation and imaging optical systems into a single integrated unit sharing the same lens unit, the patent reduces the overall volume of the optical system. The observation optical system forms an enlarged image of the display surface on the exit pupil, while the imaging optical system forms a reduced image of the exit pupil on the imaging surface, both within the same compact structure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses half-transmissive reflective surfaces that can transmit or reflect light based on polarization state, effectively adding a dimensional control mechanism. This allows the same physical space to serve dual purposes for observation and imaging paths, optimizing space utilization and reducing overall system size while achieving wide viewing angle
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 configuration achieves a reduced optical system size with a wide viewing angle and improved aberration correction, integrating the display and imaging elements effectively.
Implementation Method 1
a first half-transmissive reflective surface and a second half-transmissive reflective surface
Implementation Method 2
is reflected by the second half-transmissive reflective surface, is reflected by the first half-transmissive reflective surface
Data Source
AI summary
An optical system includes a first unit having first and second half-transmissive reflective surfaces, and a second unit having an aperture stop and an optical element. Light from the display surface transmits through the first half-transmissive reflective surface, is reflected by the second half-transmissive reflective surface, is reflected by the first half-transmissive reflective surface, transmits through the second half-transmissive reflective surface, and is guided to the exit pupil. Light from the exit pupil transmits through the second half-transmissive reflective surface, transmits through the first half-transmissive reflective surface, and is guided to the imaging surface via the aperture stop and the optical element. In a direction orthogonal to an optical axis of the optical system, a distance from the optical axis to a center of the imaging surface is equal to or less than a distance from the optical axis to a center of the aperture stop.