Reflective Eyepiece Optical System for Head-Mounted Near-to-Eye Display
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical structures for head-mounted display devices face challenges such as heavy weight, low image quality, distortion, insufficient field-of-view, and difficulty in mass production due to complex optical designs and processing difficulties.
Innovation Solution
A reflective eyepiece optical system is designed with a first lens group and a second lens group that includes an optical reflection surface, where the first optical element reflects light refracted by the first lens group to the second lens group, which then transmits and reflects the light to the human eye, optimizing focal lengths and distances to improve image quality and reduce system size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional optical spherical surfaces and even-order aspherical surfaces are used in reflective optical systems, then image quality can be improved, but the difficulty of processing and mass production increases greatly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the surface type parameter from conventional spherical/aspherical surfaces to free-form surfaces, and adjusts the optical path configuration parameters to achieve better image quality while maintaining manufacturability through standardized free-form surface processing techniques
Solution Approach 2:
The optical system is segmented into multiple lens groups (first lens group, second lens group, third lens group) with distinct functions, where each group contributes to overall image quality while using relatively simple individual lens designs that are easier to manufacture
2Manufacturing precision
If the eyepiece optical system achieves large field-of-view angle and high image resolution, then visual experience quality improves, but the system volume and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces free-form surfaces with complex three-dimensional geometries that enable compact optical path folding, achieving large field-of-view and high resolution within a reduced volume by utilizing spatial arrangement in multiple dimensions rather than simple linear extension
Solution Approach 2:
The optical system employs a nested arrangement where lens groups are positioned closely together with overlapping optical paths, allowing multiple optical elements to occupy shared spatial volumes and reducing the overall system envelope
3Manufacturing precision
If relay scheme with free-form surface reflection means is adopted, then optical performance improves, but the difficulty of realizing the entire optical system increases greatly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies free-form surfaces only to specific critical reflection surfaces where they provide the most benefit for optical performance, while other surfaces use simpler conventional designs, thereby achieving high performance without uniformly increasing complexity across the entire system
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediate lens groups that serve as mediators between the free-form surface reflection means and the final image formation, simplifying the overall system realization by breaking down the complex optical path into manageable stages with intermediate imaging planes
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 enhances image quality, increases the field-of-view, and simplifies manufacturing, allowing for high-definition, distortion-free images and improved user experience in head-mounted near-to-eye displays by effectively folding the optical path and correcting aberrations.
Implementation Method 1
the first optical element reflects the light refracted by the first lens group to the second lens group
Implementation Method 2
transmits the light refracted, reflected, and refracted by the second lens group
Implementation Method 3
the second lens group includes an optical reflection surface
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a reflective eyepiece optical system and a head-mounted near-to-eye display apparatus. The system includes: a first lens group, and a first optical element and a second lens group for transmitting and reflecting a light from a miniature image displayer. The second lens group includes an optical reflection surface, and the optical reflection surface is an optical surface farthest from a human eye viewing side in the second lens group. The optical reflection surface is concave to a human eye viewing direction. The first optical element reflects the light refracted by the first lens group to the second lens group, and then transmits the light refracted, reflected, and refracted by the second lens group to the human eye.