Refractive Periscope for XR Parallelism and Virtual Imaging Distance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current optical measurement tools, such as optical collimators, wavefront sensors, and interferometers, are inadequate for accurately measuring optical parallelism across different eye box locations or pupils in extended reality (XR) devices, as they have limited spatial resolution, are sensitive to environmental changes, and cannot effectively sample optical rays from various eye box locations, leading to errors and reduced image quality.
Innovation Solution
An optical system comprising a refractive lens system with two or more entrance pupils and an imaging plane, allowing for precise measurement of optical parallelism and virtual imaging distances by casting light rays as spots on the imaging plane, enabling the determination of parallelism based on spot correspondence and offset from the focus position, and capable of measuring modulation transfer functions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If current optical measurement tools (optical collimators, wavefront sensors, interferometers) are used, then measurements can be performed, but measurement precision deteriorates due to limited spatial resolution and inability to sample optical rays from various eye box locations
Solution Approach 1:
The measurement system divides the optical measurement function into multiple discrete optical paths, each corresponding to a specific eye box location. Multiple apertures are positioned at different locations to sample optical rays from different eye box positions independently, allowing parallelism measurements at each location without requiring a single complex scanning system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple optical measurement channels into a single integrated system. Multiple apertures, optical paths, and imaging planes work together simultaneously to measure optical parallelism across different eye box locations, eliminating the need for separate measurement tools and reducing overall system complexity.
2Reliability
If environmental sensitivity is reduced to improve measurement stability, then reliability improves, but measurement precision deteriorates due to inability to capture fine optical ray deviations
Solution Approach 1:
The system measures optical ray deviations in multiple spatial dimensions simultaneously by using apertures positioned at different locations and orientations. This multi-dimensional approach captures fine angular deviations while maintaining stability through the geometric arrangement of multiple measurement channels rather than relying on a single sensitive instrument.
3Device complexity
If a single optical path is used to simplify the system, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability deteriorates because the system cannot measure parallelism across different eye box locations
Solution Approach 1:
The measurement system is designed with multiple apertures and optical paths that can measure optical parallelism at different eye box locations using the same fundamental optical principles. This universal design allows the system to adapt to various measurement locations and configurations without requiring fundamentally different measurement approaches or additional specialized equipment.
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 optical system provides high-precision parallelism measurements, eliminates alignment and motion errors, and enhances virtual imaging distance measurements, ensuring accurate alignment of virtual content with the user's physical environment, improving image quality and user experience in XR applications.
Implementation Method 1
a refractive lens system with two or more entrance pupils and an imaging plane, allowing for precise measurement of optical parallelism and virtual imaging distances by casting light rays as spots on the imaging plane
Data Source
AI summary
An optical system for measuring a parallelism of rays of a light emitter and virtual imaging distances (VIDs) of the light emitter, the optical system including an enclosure, a pair of apertures, and a lens system disposed between the front and rear end of the enclosure, wherein a first and second of the apertures allows a first and second set of rays into the enclosure to be disposed through the optical lens system to be cast on an imaging plane as a first and second spot, respectively, wherein a parallelism of the sets of rays is based on a correspondence of a distance between the spots with a distance between sets of rays and a VID of the light emitter is based at least in part on an offset of the imaging plane from the lens system focus position when the light emitter is not optically disposed at infinity.