Smart Glasses Optical System Misalignment Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Smart glasses with optical systems, including laser projectors, face challenges in detecting misalignments and contaminations, which can lead to reduced image quality and potential interruptions in the optical path, requiring efficient monitoring and maintenance solutions.
Innovation Solution
A method that involves detecting and analyzing partial back-reflections of light signals, particularly using self-mixing interferometry signals and speckle properties, to autonomously and automatically identify misalignments and contaminations, enabling software-controlled adjustments and maintenance, with the aid of retroreflectors and evaluation units for precise component identification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If smart glasses use optical systems with laser projectors for image display, then image output quality is improved, but misalignment and contamination of optical components occurs leading to reduced reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing alignment verification and contamination detection during the manufacturing process and initial setup. Reference states of back-reflections are ascertained and recorded during start-up or manufacturing, enabling early detection of misalignment or contamination before they affect image display quality, thus preventing reliability issues while maintaining high image output quality.
2Reliability
If smart glasses continuously monitor optical system components for misalignment and contamination, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by using the optical system's own light signals to monitor its own components. The laser projector emits light that passes through optical components, and the resulting back-reflections are detected by the same or associated detectors. This self-monitoring approach eliminates the need for separate external reference systems, reducing device complexity while maintaining continuous reliability monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by continuously comparing current back-reflection signals with stored reference states and detecting deviations. The evaluation unit processes these signals and provides feedback about the alignment and contamination status of optical components, enabling automatic adjustment or alerting without requiring complex external monitoring systems.
3Illumination intensity
If smart glasses perform frequent software-controlled readjustments of optical systems, then image output quality is maintained, but service life is reduced due to increased wear and tear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by detecting misalignment and contamination early through continuous monitoring of back-reflections. By identifying issues before they cause significant degradation or require aggressive correction, the system can perform gentle, preventive adjustments rather than frequent corrective realignments, thereby maintaining image quality while extending the service life of optical components.
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 method ensures high image output quality, extends the service life of smart glasses by enabling timely detection and correction of misalignments and contaminations, allowing for autonomous maintenance and minimizing interference signals, thus preventing optical path interruptions.
Implementation Method 1
an at least partial back-reflection of the light signal, in particular, of the scanned laser signal generated by components of the optical system is detected and examined for deviations with a/from a reference state
Implementation Method 2
A method that involves detecting and analyzing partial back-reflections of light signals, particularly using self-mixing interferometry signals and speckle properties
Implementation Method 3
enabling software-controlled adjustments and maintenance, with the aid of retroreflectors and evaluation units for precise component identification
Data Source
AI summary
A method for recognizing misalignments and/or contaminations of optical systems in smart glasses, including at least one laser projector, which is provided for the purpose of outputting at least one light signal forming at least partially an image display of the smart glasses. It is provided that in at least one monitoring step, an at least partial back-reflection of the light signal generated by components of the optical system is detected and examined for deviations from a reference state.