Rotating HMD with Scanning LED Array for Compact AR
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional head-mounted displays (HMDs) for augmented reality are bulky, expensive to manufacture, and have limited field of view due to complex optical arrangements and the use of rectangular displays, which result in obscured vision and reduced image clarity.
Innovation Solution
A mechanical-based HMD system featuring a substrate with light emitting elements oriented towards the world side, a non-planar reflective surface, and a motor for rotating the substrate and reflective surface, along with a display driver to selectively activate the light emitting elements, creating a polar-coordinate-based image with improved transparency and reduced complexity in optical design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If conventional rectangular displays with multiple LEDs are used, then image coverage is achieved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The display is segmented into a single column of light emitting elements that are scanned sequentially across the field of view, replacing the conventional rectangular grid of multiple LEDs. This segmentation reduces the number of simultaneous light sources needed while maintaining complete image coverage through time-multiplexed scanning.
Solution Approach 2:
The display transitions from a static rectangular array to a dynamic scanning system where a single column of LEDs is rotated through different angular positions to sequentially illuminate different parts of the field of view. This dynamic approach reduces device complexity while maintaining full image coverage area.
2Illumination intensity
If conventional opaque displays are used, then image projection is achieved, but field of view is limited and external vision is obscured
Solution Approach 1:
The display system employs a spherical or curved reflective surface instead of a planar opaque display. This curvature allows the light from the scanning LED column to be reflected across a wider field of view while maintaining image brightness, and the spherical geometry enables simultaneous visibility of both the displayed image and the external world through transparent portions.
Solution Approach 2:
The display transitions from a two-dimensional opaque surface to a three-dimensional spherical scanning system. By adding the temporal dimension of scanning and the spatial dimension of spherical geometry, the system achieves wider field of view and maintains image brightness without requiring an opaque surface that would block external vision.
3Manufacturing precision
If complex optical arrangements are used, then image clarity is improved, but device complexity and bulk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and eliminates complex optical arrangements (multiple lenses, mirrors, and optical components) by using a simpler mechanical scanning approach with a single column of LEDs and a spherical reflective surface. Image clarity is maintained through the scanning mechanism and optical geometry rather than through complex optical path management.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex optical systems with a mechanical scanning system where a single column of LEDs is physically rotated through different angular positions. This mechanical approach achieves image projection and clarity without requiring complex optical arrangements, reducing overall device complexity and bulk.
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 provides a more compact, cost-effective HMD with enhanced image clarity and a wider field of view, allowing both digital and real-world imagery to be visible simultaneously, while minimizing optical distortions and manufacturing costs.
Implementation Method 1
a substrate supporting a set of light emitting elements, wherein each light emitting element is oriented toward a world side of the HMD system
Implementation Method 2
a non-planar reflective surface oriented toward a user eye and positioned on the world side of the set of light emitting elements
Implementation Method 3
a motor coupled to the substrate and the reflective surface for motion of the substrate and reflective surface, wherein the motor is configured for rotating the substrate and the reflective surface
Data Source
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AI summary
A head mounted display (HMD) system (300, 1000) includes a display for emitting light (106) toward an eye-ward side of the system and which allows both ambient light (105) and emitted light to reach an eye (107) of a user. The system provides augmented reality (AR) based viewing and includes a rotatable substrate (315) supporting a set of light emitting elements (301). Each light emitting element is oriented toward a world side of the HMD system. A rotatable reflective surface (316) is positioned on the world side of the set of the light emitting elements. The reflective surface reflects emitted light toward a user eye. A motor, coupled to the rotatable substrate and the rotatable reflective surface, rotates these elements about a common axis and a display driver (317) selectively activates the light emitting elements during this rotation in accordance with an illumination sequence so as to provide an image (310).