Pupil-Tracking Display Light Source for Low-Latency Exit Pupil Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing augmented and virtual reality display systems face challenges in efficiently aligning the exit pupil with the ocular pupil, leading to optical artifacts and inefficient light utilization, particularly when the viewer's eye moves.
Innovation Solution
A display system that aligns the exit pupil with the ocular pupil by capturing images of the eye, inverting them to create a negative image, and using a light source with selectively-activated light output locations to track and adjust the exit pupil's position, ensuring efficient light utilization and reduced optical artifacts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a conventional display system uses a fixed light source position, then the device structure is simple, but the exit pupil cannot track the ocular pupil when the viewer's eye moves, leading to optical artifacts and inefficient light utilization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the light source position adjustable and trackable. The exit pupil is dynamically repositioned to follow the ocular pupil movement through a tracking mechanism, transforming a static system into a dynamic one that adapts to user eye movements, thereby maintaining high light utilization efficiency without requiring a completely complex restructured device
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback through a pupil tracking system that detects the position of the ocular pupil and uses this information to adjust the exit pupil position accordingly. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures the light source remains optimally positioned relative to the user's eye, improving light utilization while managing device complexity through intelligent control
2Productivity
If the display system continuously tracks and adjusts the exit pupil position to align with the ocular pupil, then light utilization efficiency improves, but the device complexity increases due to additional tracking and adjustment mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing optical components that serve multiple functions. The same optical elements used for image projection also participate in pupil tracking and positioning, reducing the need for separate dedicated tracking components and thereby managing device complexity while maintaining high productivity in light utilization
3Manufacturing precision
If the display system uses selective light output locations to track eye position, then optical artifacts are reduced and image quality improves, but power consumption increases due to selective activation of multiple light sources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by selectively activating only the light source locations that are currently needed for the user's viewing position. Instead of illuminating all possible output locations continuously, the system activates only the local regions corresponding to the tracked eye position, thereby maintaining high image quality while reducing overall power consumption through localized illumination
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 high light utilization efficiency, reduces optical artifacts, and allows for a more compact and longer-operating display device by continuously aligning the exit pupil with the ocular pupil, enhancing image quality and reducing power consumption.
Implementation Method 1
A light source is provided and configured to emit light. An inverted image of a pupil of an eye of the viewer is displayed on the light source. Light forming the inverted image of the pupil is modulated to provide image content to the eye of the viewer.
Data Source
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AI summary
A display system aligns the location of its exit pupil with the location of a viewer's pupil by changing the location of the portion of a light source that outputs light. The light source may include an array of pixels that output light, thereby allowing an image to be displayed on the light source. The display system includes a camera that captures images of the eye and negatives of the images are displayed by the light source. In the negative image, the dark pupil of the eye is a bright spot which, when displayed by the light source, defines the exit pupil of the display system. The location of the pupil of the eye may be tracked by capturing the images of the eye, and the location of the exit pupil of the display system may be adjusted by displaying negatives of the captured images using the light source.