Planar Optical Assembly for Chromatic Aberration Correction in HMDs
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional head-mounted displays (HMDs) face challenges with chromatic aberrations due to the use of singlet lenses, which are limited in aberration controllability, leading to reduced imaging quality and increased computational burden for digital correction, while traditional doublet lenses make the system bulkier and heavier.
Innovation Solution
A compact optical display system incorporating a planar optical assembly between the display and lens assemblies, which produces aberrations of an opposite direction to correct chromatic aberrations, utilizing a circular polarizer and diffractive Pancharatnam-Berry phase optics for lightweight and compact form factor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If a singlet lens is employed to magnify the display panel, then the system achieves compact form factor and lightweight design, but significant chromatic aberrations occur at edge field due to limited aberration controllability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the optical system into multiple components: a singlet lens for magnification and a planar optical assembly for aberration correction. This segmentation allows each component to have specialized functions - the singlet lens provides the required magnification with minimal weight, while the planar optical assembly specifically addresses chromatic and monochromatic aberrations without adding significant weight or bulk.
Solution Approach 2:
The planar optical assembly acts as an intermediary component between the singlet lens and the display panel. It introduces opposite aberrations that cancel out the aberrations produced by the singlet lens, thereby correcting imaging quality issues without requiring a heavier doublet lens design.
2Manufacturing precision
If computational digital chromatic aberration correction is implemented, then chromatic aberrations are corrected, but considerable computation power and memory are required when high-resolution graphics are processed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces computational digital correction methods with an optical correction approach using the planar optical assembly. This assembly physically corrects chromatic and monochromatic aberrations through optical design, eliminating the need for computationally intensive digital post-processing and reducing power consumption during graphics processing.
3Manufacturing precision
If a traditional doublet lens is used to reduce aberrations, then chromatic and monochromatic aberrations are corrected, but the system becomes bulkier and heavier
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a traditional doublet lens as a single complex component, the patent segments the correction function into a separate planar optical assembly. This assembly uses multiple planar optical elements with different optical powers arranged in sequence, achieving aberration correction without the bulk and weight of a conventional doublet lens.
Solution Approach 2:
The planar optical assembly employs thin planar optical elements rather than thick curved lenses. These planar components achieve the required optical correction while maintaining a compact, lightweight profile suitable for head-mounted display applications.
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 solution effectively corrects chromatic aberrations, enhancing imaging quality and reducing computational load, while maintaining a compact and lightweight design suitable for head-mounted applications.
Implementation Method 1
the planar optical assembly produces the second aberration of a second direction opposite to the first direction to correct the first aberration
Implementation Method 2
a first circular polarizer, which converts light of an image from a display component into a circular polarization light
Implementation Method 3
a lens assembly, placed in front of the display assembly to enlarge the image
Data Source
AI summary
A head-mounted display apparatus and an optical display system are disclosed. The head-mounted display apparatus comprises: a display assembly, which outputs light of an image, a lens assembly, placed in front of the display assembly to enlarge the image and produce the first aberration of a first direction; and a planar optical assembly, placed between the display assembly and the lens assembly, wherein the planar optical assembly produces the second aberration of a second direction opposite to the first direction to correct the first aberration.