Oscillating Display for Head-Mounted Visual Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current 3D displays and virtual reality headsets face challenges with vergence-accommodation conflict, chromatic aberration, field curvature, and fixed pattern noise due to the bulkiness and optical errors associated with multi-planar systems, limiting the number of objects that can be imaged and causing user discomfort.
Innovation Solution
A display system with an oscillating electronic display and an optics block that dynamically adjusts the focal distance by moving along an optical axis, emitting light at different positions to form multifocal content, which mitigates the mentioned issues and provides super-resolution pixels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multi-planar displays are used to mitigate vergence-accommodation conflict, then the ability to render objects at many different virtual distances is improved, but the system becomes bulky and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by implementing a single planar display that can dynamically adjust its focal distance through oscillation along the optical axis. This allows the display to present content at multiple virtual distances sequentially, replacing the need for multiple static planar displays. The display element oscillates between different positions to create the effect of multiple focal planes, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining the ability to render objects at various virtual distances.
2Manufacturing precision
If the separation of planes in multi-planar systems is kept small to match eye depth of focus, then the depth of focus requirement is satisfied, but the number of displays that can be added to the system is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent overcomes the limitation of fixed plane separation by implementing a dynamically adjustable single planar display. The display oscillates along the optical axis to change its effective position relative to the optics block, enabling it to present content at multiple virtual distances. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to effectively add multiple display planes without physically adding multiple displays, thereby increasing versatility while maintaining precise control over plane separation to match eye depth of focus.
3Reliability
If flat displays are combined with curved optical systems, then the optical system can focus light properly, but optical errors such as chromatic aberration, field curvature, and fixed pattern noise are introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent addresses optical errors by dynamically oscillating the flat display element along the optical axis. This oscillation creates temporal separation of wavelengths, allowing the curved optical system to focus different colors at different times rather than simultaneously. By presenting different wavelength components at different positions during the oscillation cycle, the system reduces chromatic aberration and field curvature effects while maintaining proper focusing capability.
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 effectively reduces user discomfort by mitigating vergence-accommodation conflict, chromatic aberration, and field curvature, while increasing the number of objects that can be imaged, and providing a more integrated and clear visual experience.
Implementation Method 1
The oscillating electronic display, in accordance with instructions, oscillates along an optical axis through a range of positions
Implementation Method 2
The optics block is configured to adjust the first image light and second image light emitted by the oscillating electronic display in order to form corrected light
Data Source
AI summary
A head-mounted display (HMD) contains an oscillating electronic display, an optics block, a controller, and an optional eye tracking system. The oscillating electronic display vibrates according to instructions in a manner that allows it to correct optical errors, including vergence-accommodation conflict, field curvature, fixed pattern noise, and chromatic aberration. The oscillating electronic display is configured to emit image light by oscillating through different positions along an optical axis. The optics block is configured to direct the emitted image light to an eyebox. The controller is configured to determine and provide instructions to the oscillating electronic display. These instructions include instructions specifying the amplitude and frequency of vibration as well as instructions specifying a plurality of specific sub-pixels on the display surface to activate. The eye tracking system provides eye tracking information to the controller.