Single Light Engine Binocular Eyewear Display
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional binocular eyewear displays require two light engines, increasing the mass and volume of optical components, which is undesirable due to limited form factor constraints.
Innovation Solution
A binocular eyewear display architecture that uses a single light engine shared by both incouplers, with a switchable panel that directs display light to either the left or right lens at a rate imperceptible to the human eye, allowing concurrent image presentation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If two light engines are used in conventional binocular eyewear displays, then each lens can be independently driven, but the mass and volume of optical components increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges two separate light engines into a single shared light engine that sequentially serves both lenses. The optical components (light source, scanning mirrors, beam splitters) are combined into one integrated system that alternates between driving the left and right lenses, eliminating the need for duplicate components and reducing overall mass and volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between serving the left lens and right lens using a controllable panel (such as a liquid crystal shutter or electro-optic modulator) that alternates light transmission. This dynamic switching enables a single light engine to perform the function of two, maintaining independent lens control capability while reducing component quantity.
2Reliability
If two light engines are used in conventional binocular eyewear displays, then each lens receives dedicated light, but the volume occupied by light engine components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines all light engine components into a single shared unit that serves both lenses. The volume occupied by duplicate light sources, scanning mirrors, and optical elements is eliminated, reducing the overall volume of optical components while maintaining reliable light delivery to each lens through sequential operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The single light engine operates periodically, alternating between driving the left lens and right lens at a frequency imperceptible to the human eye (typically above 60 Hz). This periodic switching ensures that each lens receives dedicated light during its active phase, maintaining image quality and reliability while minimizing the volume of required components.
3Volume of stationary object
If a single light engine is shared by both incouplers, then the volume and size of light engine components are reduced, but a switchable panel is required to direct light
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a switchable panel (such as a liquid crystal shutter, electro-optic modulator, or acousto-optic device) as an intermediary element that controls light direction between the single light engine and the two lenses. This intermediary enables the light engine to sequentially serve both lenses by modulating light transmission, accepting the added control complexity as a trade-off for significant volume reduction.
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
This solution reduces the volume and size of light engine components, enabling a more compact and efficient binocular display system within the constrained form factor of eyewear displays.
Implementation Method 1
the display light beams are 'guided' through the waveguide, typically by multiple instances of total internal reflection (TIR), to then be directed out of the waveguide
Data Source
AI summary
An eyewear display includes a first waveguide incorporated into one lens of the eyewear display and a second waveguide incorporated into the other lens of the eyewear display. The first waveguide includes a first incoupler, and the second waveguide includes a second incoupler. The eyewear display also includes a light engine with a switchable panel to alternate between directing display light to the first incoupler and directing display light to the second incoupler.