Polarization-Dependent Planar Optics for Achromatic Head-Mounted Displays

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing optical imaging systems face challenges in achieving compact form factors while maintaining decent achromatic performance, particularly in head-mounted displays where refractive optics are bulky and diffractive optics suffer from severe chromatic aberrations.

Innovation Solution

The proposed optical imaging system incorporates a display assembly, a planar lens assembly, a frequency-dependent polarization converter, and an aberration-correcting polarization-dependent planar optics assembly. This configuration enables achromatic imaging by converting light polarizations and providing positive or negative optical powers based on polarization, effectively correcting chromatic aberrations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If refractive optics are used to provide decent color performance, then achromatic imaging performance is improved, but form factor becomes bulky and weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveachromatic imaging performanceVSAvoidform factor

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines refractive and diffractive optical elements into a hybrid lens assembly. The refractive element provides bulk chromatic aberration correction while the diffractive element contributes to focusing and additional aberration correction, achieving compact form factor without sacrificing achromatic performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The optical system uses composite optical elements that integrate multiple functional properties. The hybrid lens assembly combines materials and structures that provide both refractive and diffractive characteristics, enabling compact design with improved chromatic aberration correction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Length of moving object

If diffractive planar optics are used to achieve ultrathin form factor, then compactness is improved, but severe chromatic aberrations occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveform factorVSAvoidachromatic imaging performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges diffractive planar optics with refractive optical elements. The diffractive element provides ultrathin form factor while the refractive element compensates for chromatic aberrations, achieving both compactness and acceptable achromatic performance simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The refractive optical element acts as an intermediary that corrects the chromatic aberrations introduced by the diffractive planar optics. This mediator component enables the diffractive element to maintain its ultrathin advantage while the system as a whole achieves acceptable color performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Manufacturing precision

If metalenses are used to achieve acceptable color performance, then achromatic imaging is improved, but lens aperture becomes small and efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveachromatic imaging performanceVSAvoidlens aperture

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines metalens with other optical elements in a hybrid assembly. This integration allows the system to achieve acceptable chromatic aberration correction while maintaining larger effective aperture and improved efficiency through the complementary characteristics of the combined elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 achieves improved achromatic imaging performance while maintaining an ultrathin form factor, significantly reducing lateral color shift and enhancing the field of view, making it suitable for practical applications in head-mounted displays and other imaging systems.

Implementation Method 1

a polarization converter, wherein the polarization converter is a frequency-dependent polarization converter, which can convert the lights of a first frequency to a first polarization and convert the lights of a second frequency to a second polarization

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFrequency-dependent polarization conversion: Polarisation

Implementation Method 2

an aberration-correcting optical assembly, which is a polarization-dependent planar optics assembly

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPolarization-dependent optical path difference: Polarisation

Implementation Method 3

This configuration enables achromatic imaging by converting light polarizations and providing positive or negative optical powers based on polarization, effectively correcting chromatic aberrations

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectChromatic aberration correction: Refraction

Data Source

PatentUS12306411B2Optical imaging system and imaging device

Publication Date: 2025.05.20 UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA RESEARCH FOUNDATION INC

AI summary

An optical imaging system and an imaging device are disclosed. The optical imaging system includes: a display assembly, which outputs lights of an image; a lens assembly, which enlarges the image; a polarization converter, wherein the polarization converter is a frequency-dependent polarization converter, which can convert the lights of a first frequency to a first polarization and convert the lights of a second frequency to a second polarization; and an aberration-correcting optical assembly, which is a polarization-dependent planar optics assembly.