Passive Prism Glasses Overlay for Smartphone AR Viewing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing augmented reality (AR) glasses are bulky, uncomfortable, costly, have limited battery life, require complex hardware, and hinder social interactions and situational awareness due to their design and functionality, leading to issues such as reduced eye contact, increased risk of accidents, and decreased safety during use.
Innovation Solution
A passive optical device that superimposes a smartphone screen view over the scenery view using a prism optical system, which can be attached to regular eyeglasses, eliminating the need for complex hardware and allowing users to maintain eye contact and situational awareness while using their devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If prior art HMD and AR glasses systems are used to overlay display images on scenery, then augmented reality functionality is achieved, but the devices become bulky, heavy, and uncomfortable to wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the display device (smartphone) from the head-mounted system and positions it handheld, removing the need for heavy integrated displays, batteries, and processors in the glasses. Only lightweight optical components (beam splitter, relay optics) remain in the head-mounted portion, dramatically reducing weight and bulk while preserving AR functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is segmented into two independent components: a handheld display device (smartphone) and a head-mounted optical device (glasses with beam splitter). This separation allows each component to be optimized independently—the smartphone provides processing power and display, while the glasses provide only the necessary optical combining function, reducing overall system complexity and weight.
2Illumination intensity
If powerful image sources and optical relay optics are embedded in HMD systems to enhance viewed image over ambient light, then image visibility is improved, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a beam splitter as an intermediary optical element that combines the smartphone display image with the real-world scenery view. This simple passive optical component enables image overlay without requiring complex active illumination systems, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining visibility.
3Adaptability or versatility
If display hardware drivers, controllers, and power sources are integrated within HMD systems, then self-contained operation is achieved, but weight and balance considerations become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts all heavy electronic components (battery, processor, display panel) from the head-mounted device and relocates them to the handheld smartphone. The head-mounted glasses contain only lightweight passive optical elements, eliminating weight and balance issues while the smartphone continues to provide all necessary computational and power functions.
4Adaptability or versatility
If AR glasses cover most of user face to provide augmented reality display, then augmented reality immersion is improved, but social interactions and situational awareness are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses partial action by allowing the user to selectively activate the AR overlay function only when needed, rather than continuously covering the face. The transparent beam splitter design enables the user to see through the optical device when not in use, maintaining natural social interaction while providing AR functionality on demand.
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
Enhances social interactions and situational awareness by allowing users to view smartphone information without diverting their gaze, reducing the risk of accidents and improving safety in public and driving scenarios.
Implementation Method 1
A beam splitter or optical combiner is an optical device (e.g., a semi-transparent mirror), which enables the superimposing, or combining of two images to one.
Implementation Method 2
A beam splitter or optical combiner is an optical device (e.g., a semi-transparent mirror), which enables the superimposing, or combining of two images to one.
Data Source
AI summary
A Glasses Augmented Passive Device (GAPD) for combining a down display image of a handheld device over a transparent or semi-transparent optical combiner, known as HMD (Head Mounted Display). The GAPD pertains to a reflected optical system producing an augmented image of a hand-held display device overlaid on the normally viewed scenery. The device may be a standalone single block device mounted on the glasses lens(es) or embedded in one or more of the lenses using surface optics. The device keeps all handheld devices benefits and operation, smartphones for example, while minimizing headwear gears and mass. A user enjoys all smartphone benefits that appear on his normal sight without the disadvantages of HMD and solves the Missing Socialization and Missing Situation Awareness problems of our generation while engaging in daily activity. The use of surface optic technology offers a simple implementation of the invention on a variety of glasses.