Pinlight See-Through Near-Eye Display for Wide Field of View
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical see-through near-eye displays have a limited field of view, typically less than 20 degrees, which is insufficient for a satisfactory augmented reality experience, and existing solutions using freeform optics or beam splitters result in bulky and uncomfortable devices.
Innovation Solution
A pinlight see-through near-eye display system that uses an array of pinlights positioned between a near focus plane and the pupil to generate light cones, determining overlap regions and modulating them to produce a target image at or beyond the near focus plane, allowing for a wider field of view while maintaining a compact and comfortable form factor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If freeform optics or beam splitters are used to increase field of view, then field of view is improved, but device size and weight increase making it bulky and uncomfortable
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the optical system into multiple pinlight sources arranged in an array, where each pinlight generates a light cone corresponding to a specific angular range. This segmentation allows the system to achieve a wide field of view through multiple discrete light sources rather than requiring a single large optical component, thereby avoiding the bulk associated with conventional freeform optics or beam splitters.
2Area of stationary object
If freeform optics or beam splitters are used to increase field of view, then field of view is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces complex mechanical optical systems (freeform optics, beam splitters) with a simpler arrangement of pinlight sources and a spatial light modulator. The pinlights serve as point light sources that can be precisely positioned and controlled electronically, eliminating the need for complex mechanical optical components while achieving the same field of view expansion function.
3Device complexity
If conventional optical see-through displays are used, then device structure is simple, but field of view is limited to less than 20 degrees
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces a spatial dimension by arranging pinlights in an array at different angular positions. Each pinlight corresponds to a specific angular range, and by activating multiple pinlights across the array, the system expands the field of view in the angular dimension without adding significant structural complexity. This dimensional approach allows wide field of view while maintaining a relatively simple device structure.
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 pinlight see-through near-eye display provides a field of view greater than 20 degrees, enabling a satisfactory augmented reality experience with a compact and comfortable design, capable of overlaying synthetic images onto real-world scenes effectively.
Implementation Method 1
Light cones configured to substantially fill a field-of-view corresponding to a pupil are generated by an array of pinlights positioned between a near focus plane and the pupil
Implementation Method 2
Overlap regions where two or more light cones intersect at a display layer positioned between the array of pinlights and the pupil are determined. The two or more light cones are modulated based on the overlap regions to produce a target image
Data Source
AI summary
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for implementing a pinlight see-through near-eye display. Light cones configured to substantially fill a field-of-view corresponding to a pupil are generated by an array of pinlights positioned between a near focus plane and the pupil. Overlap regions where two of more light cones intersect at a display layer positioned between the array of pinlights and the pupil are determined. The two or more light cones are modulated based on the overlap regions to produce a target image at or beyond the near focus plane.