Separated Pupil Optical Systems for AR and VR
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional stereoscopic AR and VR systems suffer from a vergence-accommodation conflict, leading to eye fatigue, headaches, and discomfort due to the mismatch between vergence and accommodation, which limits their ability to provide a rich, binocular, three-dimensional experience.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a light source with spatially separated sub-light sources and an injection optical system to generate spatially separated light beams, which form spatially separated sub-pupils adjacent to light-guiding optical elements. This design reduces the number of optical elements and simplifies the system, addressing the vergence-accommodation conflict.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional stereoscopic AR and VR systems are used, then 3D perception is achieved, but vergence-accommodation conflict causes eye fatigue and discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the optical system into multiple light-guiding optical elements, each handling specific light beams from spatially separated sub-light sources. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each element to reduce overall system complexity while maintaining 3D perception capabilities without vergence-accommodation conflict
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces spatial separation of light beams in multiple dimensions using light-guiding optical elements with different orientations and positions. By distributing light beams across different spatial dimensions and guiding them through separate optical paths, the system achieves 3D perception while eliminating the vergence-accommodation conflict that plagues conventional stereoscopic systems
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple light-guiding optical elements are used to generate spatially separated light beams, then system functionality is improved, but system size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple light-guiding optical elements into a compact integrated assembly where elements are closely coupled and share common structural support. This merging approach maintains the functionality of spatially separating light beams while minimizing the overall volume occupied by the optical system
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a nested arrangement where light-guiding optical elements are positioned within a compact housing structure, with each element nested alongside others in a space-efficient configuration. This nesting allows multiple optical elements to coexist in a minimized volume without compromising their ability to generate spatially separated light beams
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 effectively reduces system size and complexity, enhancing user comfort and providing a more efficient and effective means of generating 3D perceptions in AR and VR applications.
Implementation Method 1
a light-guiding optical element having an in-coupling grating configured to admit a first beam of the plurality into the light-guiding optical element while excluding a second beam of the plurality from the light-guiding optical element
Implementation Method 2
such that the first beam propagates by substantially total internal reflection through the light-guiding optical element
Data Source
AI summary
A method of operating an imaging system to display an image includes providing a light source having an emission area and a light-guiding optical element having an output field of view. The method also includes activating a segment of the light source, causing the light source to produce a light beam that illuminates a portion of the emission area, encoding the light beam with image data, thereby producing an encoded light beam, focusing the encoded light beam onto the light-guiding optical element, and projecting the encoded light beam from a portion of the output field of view of the light-guiding optical element that corresponds to the portion of the emission area of the light source.