Optical System Parameter Determination for AR Eyewear

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing augmented reality eyewear optical systems face challenges in determining optimal parameter values for optical elements encapsulating a waveguide to provide clear see-through and supplementary image vision, requiring methods to accurately set these parameters.

Innovation Solution

A method for determining optical system parameters involving a front and back optical element with a waveguide, where the back optical element is positioned closer to the eye, using an intended power map to set parameters for near and far vision parts, ensuring the back element is regressive in type, allowing for natural accommodation behavior and minimizing aberrations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the back optical element is made regressive to enable natural accommodation behavior, then user comfort is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases due to customized back elements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenatural accommodation behaviorVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The optical system is divided into two distinct parts: a front optical element that can be mass-produced with standard parameters, and a back optical element that is customized with regressive power values. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized independently - the front element for manufacturing efficiency and the back element for optical performance and natural accommodation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The regressive property is applied locally to the back optical element rather than the entire optical system. The back element has power values that decrease from the optical axis outward, creating local variations in optical power that enable natural accommodation behavior while keeping the front element simple and manufacturable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Manufacturing precision

If optical element parameters are carefully selected to provide clear see-through and supplementary image vision, then image clarity is improved, but manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage clarityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The optical elements are segmented into mass-producible front elements and customized back elements. The front elements use standardized parameters that can be manufactured efficiently at scale, while the back elements are customized to achieve optimal image clarity. This reduces overall manufacturing costs compared to fully customized systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies parameter changes by using regressive power values in the back optical element, where the power decreases from the optical axis toward the periphery. This parameter variation optimizes both see-through and supplementary image vision clarity while maintaining a systematic approach to manufacturing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4575449A1Method for determining values of parameters of an optical system
Publication Date: 2025.06.25 ESSILOR INTERNATIONAL(COMPAGNIE GENERALE D OPTIQUE)
  • EP4575449A1 patent drawingFigure 1a
  • EP4575449A1 patent drawingFigure 1b
  • EP4575449A1 patent drawingFigure 2~3

AI summary

Method for determining values of parameters of an optical system. The optical system comprises a front optical element, a back optical element and a wave guide. The back optical element is intended to be positioned closer to an eye of a wearer of the optical system than the front optical element. The wave guide is between the front optical element and the back optical element. The wave guide has an exit surface being arranged to output an image to the wearer. The method comprises determining values of parameters of a first part of the front optical element corresponding to the near vision part of the optical system and values of parameters of a second part of the front optical element corresponding to a far vision part of the optical system based on an intended power map of the optical system.