Organic Solid Crystal Waveguide for Lightweight AR Optics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical elements for virtual and augmented reality devices, such as high refractive index substrates, face challenges in weight and thickness, compromising form factor and wearability while aiming for a wide field-of-view, optical clarity, and color uniformity.
Innovation Solution
The use of organic solid crystal (OSC) materials in planar waveguides with optically anisotropic properties, featuring a high refractive index and birefringence, which are lightweight and efficient, allowing for a wide field-of-view and optimized color uniformity through strategically aligned gratings and coupling structures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If high refractive index substrates are used to achieve wide field-of-view and optical clarity, then optical performance is improved, but weight and thickness increase, compromising form factor and wearability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameters by transitioning from traditional inorganic high refractive index substrates to organic solid crystal materials. This parameter change maintains the necessary optical properties (refractive index, field-of-view) while fundamentally altering the weight characteristics, achieving lightweight optical elements without sacrificing optical performance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material strategies by combining organic solid crystal materials with specific molecular structures and configurations. These composite organic materials achieve the desired high refractive index and optical clarity while maintaining lightweight properties, resolving the contradiction between optical performance and weight
2Adaptability or versatility
If high refractive index substrates are used to achieve wide field-of-view, then viewing angle is improved, but thickness increases, compromising form factor and wearability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes parameter changes in the organic solid crystal materials, specifically exploiting their optically anisotropic properties and birefringence characteristics. These parameter changes enable achieving wide field-of-view with reduced thickness compared to traditional isotropic high refractive index substrates, as the anisotropic optical properties allow for more efficient light guidance in thinner configurations
3Illumination intensity
If traditional high-index substrates are used, then optical performance is achieved, but color uniformity is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality principles by strategically designing the molecular structure and optical properties of different regions within the organic solid crystal material. The material's inherent optically anisotropic properties allow for localized control of light interaction, enabling improved color uniformity across the optical element while maintaining high optical performance, addressing the contradiction between overall performance and uniformity
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 OSC-based waveguides provide a lightweight, efficient, and high-performance optical solution with improved color uniformity and a wide field-of-view, enhancing the viewing experience in wearable devices like VR/AR headsets without the bulk of traditional high-index substrates.
Implementation Method 1
a waveguide body extending from an input end to an output end and configured to guide light by total internal reflection from the input end to the output end
Implementation Method 2
The use of organic solid crystal (OSC) materials in planar waveguides with optically anisotropic properties, featuring a high refractive index and birefringence
Data Source
AI summary
An optical element includes a waveguide body that is configured to guide light by total internal reflection from an input end to an output end, an input coupling structure located at the input end for coupling light into the waveguide body, and an output coupling structure located at the output end for coupling light out of the waveguide body, where the waveguide body includes a layer of an optically anisotropic organic solid crystal. Such an optical element may have low weight and exhibit good color uniformity while presenting a 2D diagonal field-of-view of at least approximately 10°.