Pupil Scan Apparatus Parallax Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Biocular displays face challenges in maintaining image quality and correcting parallax errors, which lead to double images, eyestrain, and discomfort due to uncorrected differences in light ray angles projected into different optical aperture locations, especially in large aperture optics where precise parallax correction is complex and costly.
Innovation Solution
A pupil scanning apparatus that dynamically projects images into selected sub-apertures coinciding with the viewer's pupils, using a combination of eye tracking and microlens arrays to steer light beams and correct parallax, allowing for efficient power use and exclusive image projection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If parallax correction is implemented over the whole aperture using traditional optical design methods, then parallax errors are reduced, but device complexity and physical size increase due to additional lenses and aspheric surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the large optical aperture into multiple smaller sub-apertures, each corresponding to a specific eye position. By projecting images selectively into these sub-apertures rather than correcting the entire aperture, the system achieves parallax correction without requiring complex optical elements across the full aperture. This segmentation approach maintains image quality while reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic control of light projection, using spatial light modulators and optical switching to direct images to specific sub-apertures based on detected eye positions. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain precise parallax correction for each eye position without requiring static complex optical correction for all possible positions simultaneously.
2Manufacturing precision
If the number of lenses is increased to correct parallax for all aperture positions, then parallax errors are reduced, but the physical size of the optical system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the optical aperture into discrete sub-apertures and uses optical switching to direct light to only the currently needed sub-aperture based on eye position. This eliminates the need for multiple lenses across the entire aperture, reducing the optical system volume while maintaining parallax correction precision for each eye position.
3Adaptability or versatility
If images are projected to large apertures covering the entire eye motion box, then coverage for eye motion is improved, but illumination efficiency decreases due to light distribution over large area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically tracks eye positions and projects images only into the sub-apertures currently occupied by the eyes, rather than continuously illuminating the entire eye motion box. This dynamic projection approach maintains full eye motion coverage while concentrating illumination energy only where needed, significantly improving illumination efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses eye tracking feedback to automatically determine which sub-apertures need illumination and directs light accordingly. The optical system serves itself by using detected eye positions to control light projection, ensuring efficient illumination only of the currently viewed regions.
4Manufacturing precision
If precise parallax correction is implemented across the whole aperture, then image quality is improved, but the cost of the optical system increases due to additional optical elements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the aperture into sub-apertures and uses electronic optical switching to achieve parallax correction selectively. This approach replaces expensive complex optical elements (such as multiple aspheric lenses) with more cost-effective combinations of simpler optical components and electronic control, reducing manufacturing cost while maintaining precision.
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
This approach enhances illumination efficiency, reduces parallax errors, and enables full-color display in monochromatically optimized systems, improving image uniformity and reducing physical size and cost while maintaining high frame rates for stereoscopic imaging.
Implementation Method 1
using a combination of eye tracking and microlens arrays to steer light beams
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3(A)~3(B)
AI summary
An apparatus and method by which an image is projected to pupils of a viewer Preferably, the image covers only areas occupied by the pupils and tracks the areas occupied by the pupils such as to provide continuous display of the imagery to a viewer The method is to dynamically control the direction of light into sub-apertures selected by a tracking device By imaging selectively into the sub- apertures where the pupils are temporally located instead of imaging into a generally large area, the disclosed apparatus is power efficient and exclusive because the projected images are covert This method is applicable to most biocular displays, for instance, but not limited to "see through" systems, which overlay imagery over real world scenes and where geometrically precise projection is critical In one embodiment, the pupil scan apparatus is combined with a retinal scan apparatus to provide security.