Refractive Optics Integration with Diffractive Waveguide Display
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing augmented reality systems face challenges in providing compact and high-quality display solutions with integrated lenses that reduce optical aberrations and maintain user experience.
Innovation Solution
Integration of refractive optics with a diffractive eyepiece waveguide display using laminated lenses and optical elements, which are fabricated by casting a curable resin between mold plates and curing it to form lenses with specific optical powers, allowing for closer positioning and reduced thickness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If conventional separate lens assembly is used, then optical quality can be maintained, but device thickness and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple lens elements into a single integrated optical component that is directly coupled to the waveguide display. This merging of separate lenses into one unified structure reduces the overall thickness and number of discrete components while maintaining the necessary optical functions through carefully designed refractive and diffractive surfaces within the single element.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated lens element performs multiple optical functions simultaneously - it provides both refractive focusing and diffractive beam steering capabilities within a single component. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate lens assemblies while achieving the same optical performance, thereby reducing device thickness without sacrificing optical quality.
2Length of moving object
If lens distance is reduced for compactness, then device size decreases, but optical aberrations increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite optical structure combining refractive index-matched materials for the lens element with diffractive optical patterns embedded within the same component. This composite approach allows the integrated lens to compensate for optical aberrations that would normally arise from reduced lens spacing, as the diffractive elements can be precisely engineered to correct wavefront distortions while maintaining compact dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes precise control of optical parameters including refractive index, curvature radii, and diffractive grating periods to optimize the performance of the integrated lens. By carefully adjusting these parameters, the system achieves aberration correction at reduced lens distances, allowing compact form factor while maintaining optical quality through parameter optimization rather than relying on larger physical separations.
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 results in a thinner, lighter, and higher optical quality display system with reduced aberrations, enabling virtual images to appear at non-infinite depth planes, improving user experience.
Implementation Method 1
curing the castable material
Implementation Method 2
a pair of lenses are utilized to create a virtual image depth plane, while preserving the depth planes of real world objects
Implementation Method 3
diffractive eyepiece waveguide display
Data Source
AI summary
A method of fabricating an optical element includes providing a substrate, forming a castable material coupled to the substrate, and casting the castable material using a mold. The method also includes curing the castable material and removing the mold. The optical element includes a planar region and a clear aperture adjacent the planar region and characterized by an optical power.