Virtual Retinal Scan Display Optical System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing virtual retinal scan displays face challenges in achieving a large effective total eyebox with a wide field of vision while maintaining comfort and tolerance for eye movements and inter-pupil distance variations, often requiring complex dynamic eyebox control and increased energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
The optical system includes an image source, an image-processing device, a projector unit with a temporally modulated light source and deflecting device, an optical segmentation element, and an optical replication component, which together generate multiple spatially offset exit pupils to project image content onto the user's eye, allowing for a large eyebox and reduced complexity and energy use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If dynamic eyebox control is implemented to adjust exit pupil positions based on eye movements, then the field of vision and eyebox utilization are improved, but the device complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The optical system segments the eyebox into multiple static exit pupils arranged in a spatial pattern. Instead of dynamically adjusting a single exit pupil position, the system creates multiple discrete exit pupil locations that collectively cover a larger effective eyebox area, allowing users to move between fixed positions rather than requiring continuous dynamic adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical replication component pre-creates multiple exit pupils in advance at predetermined spatial locations before the user looks through the device. This preliminary arrangement of multiple exit pupils eliminates the need for real-time dynamic adjustment during use, reducing both device complexity and energy consumption while maintaining adaptability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple exit pupils are generated to accommodate inter-pupil distance variations, then the adaptability for different users is improved, but the optical system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a single-point exit pupil in one dimension to multiple exit pupils distributed across a two-dimensional spatial pattern. This dimensional expansion allows the system to accommodate variations in inter-pupil distance and eye position without adding complex dynamic adjustment mechanisms, as users can simply move their eyes to different positions in the spatial pattern.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical replication component creates multiple copies of the exit pupil at different spatial locations. These replicated exit pupils provide alternative viewing positions that accommodate different user anatomies and inter-pupil distances, achieving adaptability through replication rather than through complex adjustable mechanisms.
3Ease of operation
If the effective total eyebox is enlarged to provide tolerance for eye movements, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The enlarged eyebox is achieved by segmenting it into multiple discrete exit pupils distributed across a larger spatial area. This segmentation allows the system to provide a large effective eyebox without requiring complex continuous adjustment mechanisms, as users can move between segmented positions rather than requiring precise continuous control.
Solution Approach 2:
The multiple static exit pupils enable the system to automatically accommodate eye movements and position variations without requiring active control or adjustment mechanisms. The user simply moves their eye to a different exit pupil location, and the system self-adjusts by providing the appropriate viewing position, eliminating the need for complex eye-tracking or dynamic adjustment systems.
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 design achieves a large effective total eyebox with a wide field of vision, providing comfortable usage and accommodating various inter-pupil distances with reduced complexity and energy consumption, while minimizing double images and maintaining image quality.
Implementation Method 1
an optical segmentation element, positioned between the projector unit and the diverting unit, with whose aid the image content is projectable via different imaging paths
Implementation Method 2
an optical segmentation element, positioned between the projector unit and the diverting unit, with whose aid the image content is projectable via different imaging paths
Implementation Method 3
an optical replication component which is disposed in the at least one projection region of the diverting unit and is equipped to direct the projected image content, replicated and spatially offset, onto the eye of the user
Implementation Method 4
an optical replication component which is disposed in the at least one projection region of the diverting unit and is equipped to direct the projected image content, replicated and spatially offset, onto the eye of the user
Data Source
AI summary
An optical system for a virtual retinal scan display. The system includes: an image source providing image content as image data; an image-processing device; a projector unit for generating at least one light beam, and having a controllable deflecting device for the at least one light beam for the scanning projection of the image content; a diverting unit, onto which the image content is projected, equipped to direct the projected image content onto an eye of a user; an optical segmentation element using which the image content is projectable via different imaging paths onto at least one projection region of the diverting unit, at least individual imaging paths being controllable individually; and an optical replication component equipped to direct the projected image content, replicated and spatially offset, onto the eye of the user, so that a plurality of mutually spatially offset exit pupils having the image content is produced.