1D Pixel Array With Scanning Mirror for Higher-Resolution AR Displays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional augmented and virtual reality display systems face challenges in providing a comfortable and natural presentation of virtual image elements amidst real-world imagery due to limitations in pixel density and resolution, leading to discomfort from mismatches between accommodative and vergence states of the user's eyes.
Innovation Solution
A display system utilizing a pixel array with a scanning mirror and relay optics, where pixels are offset and synchronized to increase effective pixel density and resolution, combined with waveguides that provide varying wavefront divergence to match accommodative and vergence cues, allowing for high-resolution image projection with synchronized binocular cues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional pixel arrays are used in AR/VR display systems, then device complexity is reduced, but pixel density and resolution are insufficient leading to user discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms a 1-dimensional linear pixel array into a 2-dimensional spatial distribution by using a scanning mirror to project pixels along both the horizontal and vertical dimensions. The scanning mirror oscillates to create the perception of additional pixels in the vertical direction, effectively doubling the resolution without requiring a physically larger or denser pixel array.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a dynamically scanning mirror that oscillates between positions to sequentially activate different pixel columns. This dynamic scanning approach allows the system to create high-resolution images over time rather than requiring all pixels to be simultaneously active, reducing the physical pixel density requirement while maintaining perceived resolution.
2Manufacturing precision
If pixel array size is increased to improve resolution, then pixel density improves, but device size and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a 1-dimensional linear pixel array combined with a scanning mirror to create a 2-dimensional image space. By scanning the limited pixel array rapidly across the vertical field of view, the system achieves high vertical resolution without requiring a large physical pixel array, thus maintaining a compact display system volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The scanning mirror performs periodic oscillation to sequentially direct light from different pixel columns to the viewer's eye. This periodic scanning action creates the perception of a complete high-resolution image over time, allowing the system to achieve high resolution with a small physical pixel array.
3Manufacturing precision
If more pixels are added to increase resolution, then image quality improves, but accommodative-vergence mismatch increases causing user discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates waveguides with varying optical powers that change the wavefront divergence of light reaching the viewer's eye. By adjusting the wavefront curvature parameter, the system can match the accommodative state of the viewer's lens to the vergence state of the incoming light rays, eliminating the harmful mismatch even when displaying high-resolution virtual images at various depths.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces waveguides as intermediary optical elements between the pixel array and the viewer's eye. These waveguides mediate the light propagation by controlling wavefront divergence and enabling the system to present virtual images at different perceived depths while maintaining proper accommodative-vergence matching, thus reducing user discomfort.
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 achieves high-resolution images with comfortable depth perception by aligning accommodative and vergence states, reducing user discomfort and enhancing the realism of virtual content integration with the real world.
Implementation Method 1
The scanning mirror is disposed to receive the light from the first and second columns of pixels and to reflect the received light toward the relay optics
Implementation Method 2
The relay optics is configured to receive incident light and to output the incident light to a viewer
Implementation Method 3
an in-coupling optical element configured to receive light reflected from the scanning mirror and to redirect the received light for propagation within the waveguide by total internal reflection
Data Source
AI summary
Display systems are described including augmented 1-dimensional pixel arrays and scanning mirrors. In one example, a pixel array includes first and second columns of pixels, relay optics configured to receive incident light and to output the incident light to a viewer, and a scanning mirror disposed to receive the light from the first and second columns of pixels and to reflect the received light toward the relay optics. The scanning mirror may move between a plurality of positions while the first and second columns emit light in temporally spaced pulses so as to form a perceived image at the relay optics having a higher resolution relative to the pixel pitch of the individual columns. Foveated rendering may provide for more efficient use of power and processing resources.