See-Through Display Conductors With Local Thickness for Diffraction Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
AR displays suffer from diffraction patterns caused by patterned transparent conductors, which degrade the perceived quality by creating artifacts such as blur and double images when users view both display light and external world light simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
Reduce the thickness of transparent conductors in specific regions of the AWO display layer, employing multiple distinct thicknesses to minimize phase differences and diffraction artifacts, while maintaining conductive integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If patterned transparent conductors are used in AR displays, then electrical conductivity is achieved, but diffraction patterns are created that degrade image quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different thicknesses of transparent conductor material in different regions of the display. Specifically, the conductor layer is made thinner in regions where diffraction artifacts are problematic while maintaining sufficient thickness in other areas to preserve electrical conductivity. This local variation in material properties resolves the contradiction by optimizing each region for its specific function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter of conductor thickness to control diffraction effects. By adjusting the thickness parameter of the transparent conductor layer, the patent reduces phase differences and minimizes diffraction patterns while maintaining the necessary electrical conductivity for display operation.
2Ease of manufacture
If uniform thickness transparent conductors are used, then manufacturing is simplified, but phase differences cause diffraction artifacts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by depositing transparent conductor material at varying thicknesses across different regions of the substrate. This allows the manufacturer to address diffraction issues in specific areas without requiring complete redesign of the entire deposition process, balancing manufacturing feasibility with optical performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces thickness variation as an additional dimensional parameter to control diffraction effects. Instead of only varying the lateral dimensions or pattern geometry, the patent utilizes the thickness dimension to manipulate phase differences and reduce artifacts, adding a new degree of freedom to the design.
3Reliability
If thicker transparent conductors are used, then conductive integrity is improved, but diffraction artifacts increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using thicker conductor material in regions where high conductivity is critical while using thinner material in regions where diffraction control is paramount. This spatially differentiated approach allows optimization of both conductive integrity and artifact reduction in their respective optimal locations.
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
Mitigates diffraction artifacts, enhancing the clarity and quality of augmented reality displays by reducing phase shifts and enabling clear viewing of both display and external environments.
Implementation Method 1
display light from an image source is coupled into a waveguide substrate, guided through the substrate via one or more instances of total internal reflection (TIR), and then directed out of the waveguide (toward an eye of a user)
Implementation Method 2
AR displays suffer from diffraction patterns caused by patterned transparent conductors, which degrade the perceived quality by creating artifacts such as blur and double images
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are described regarding production and use of addressable world occlusion elements for reducing or eliminating diffraction artifacts in a wearable or other augmented reality (AR) display in which the user views the world through an optical combiner. An addressable world occlusion display layer is optically coupled to a lens element of the AR display to selectively occlude external world light passing through lens elements. The addressable world occlusion display layer comprises patterned depositions of a substantially transparent conductor disposed across multiple regions, such that the patterned depositions disposed within a first region of the multiple regions have substantially a first thickness, and the patterned depositions disposed within a second region of the multiple regions have a second thickness that is different than the first thickness.