Wide Angle Immersive Display System Using Scanner Dome Collimation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional display systems for simulators, such as flight simulators, fail to provide a realistic wide-angle immersive experience due to limitations in field of view and optical components, leading to physiological responses that contradict the simulated visual environment, potentially causing discomfort or illness.
Innovation Solution
A wide angle immersive display system comprising a scanner with a reflective surface, a dome with a reflective inner surface, and a linear arrangement of light sources, where the scanner reflects beams of light towards the dome's inner surface to collimate and direct them towards the observer, achieving a compact and energy-efficient solution with a large field of view.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional display systems with pixel matrices are used, then the visual context can be emulated, but the objects appear to come from short distances away causing physiological contradiction and potential illness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional pixel matrix display mechanics with a collimated light beam system. Each pixel element generates a collimated beam that maintains parallel propagation, substituting the mechanical pixel structure with an optical beam generation approach that mimics distant light sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the optical parameter of light propagation from divergent (conventional display) to collimated (parallel beams). This parameter change in beam divergence angle transforms the perceived distance of virtual objects, making them appear at optical infinity rather than close proximity.
2Reliability
If a large projection lens is used to create a virtual image at great distance, then collimated display is achieved, but the system becomes large, heavy, and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the optical system into multiple small projection lenses, each associated with a pixel element. Instead of one large lens, many small lenses work in parallel, each generating collimated beams for its corresponding pixel, thereby reducing individual component size and total system weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single large optical element in one dimension to a two-dimensional array of small optical elements. This dimensional change allows the system to achieve the same collimation function distributed across many small components rather than concentrated in one large component.
3Volume of moving object
If Fresnel lenses are used to reduce size, then the system becomes more compact, but optical aberrations increase requiring multiple lenses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different optical properties to different parts of the display system. Each pixel element has its own optimized projection lens with specific focal length and aperture tailored to that location, allowing local optimization of optical quality without requiring multiple corrective lenses throughout the system.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the field of view is increased to provide immersive experience, then the observer is surrounded by images, but conventional systems cannot maintain collimation across wide angles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the wide field of view into multiple angular zones, with each pixel element and its projection lens responsible for a specific angular direction. This segmentation allows each small lens to maintain optimal collimation for its specific angle while collectively covering a wide total field of view.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extends the display from a single angular direction to a two-dimensional angular space by arranging pixel elements and projection lenses in a spatial array. This dimensional expansion allows collimated beams to be generated across multiple angles simultaneously, creating a wide immersive field of view while maintaining collimation quality in each direction.
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 system generates a large number of collimated beams from various directions, providing a wide-angle immersive experience without the need for large optical components, enhancing realism and comfort by maintaining consistent optical properties across the field of view.
Implementation Method 1
the reflective surface of the scanner reflects the beams of light towards the reflective inner surface of the dome
Implementation Method 2
the dome with a reflective inner surface, the inner surface having an axis of revolution which is coincident with the axis of rotation of the scanner; and wherein the reflective surface of the scanner reflects the beams of light towards the reflective inner surface of the dome which in turn collimates the beams of light
Implementation Method 3
the dome with a reflective inner surface... reflects them towards an observer positioned within the wide angle display system
Data Source
AI summary
A wide angle display system, comprising a scanner having at least one reflective surface and an axis of rotation, a dome having a reflective inner surface, the inner surface having an axis of revolution which is coincident with the axis of rotation of the scanner, at least one linear arrangement of light sources producing beams of light. The reflective surface of the scanner reflects the beams of light towards the reflective inner surface of the dome which in turn collimates the beams of light and reflects them towards an observer positioned within the wide angle display system.