Switchable Deflecting Surfaces for AR Spectacle Lens Visual Disruption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Spectacle lenses for display devices on the head of a user often have deflecting surfaces that reflect light when no image is being displayed, causing visual disruption due to their reflectivity, which is not addressed effectively by existing technologies.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of switchable layers, such as liquid crystal or electrochromic layers, that can be switched between a reflective and a transmissive state, allowing the deflecting surfaces to only reflect light when necessary, thereby reducing visual disruption and enabling variable use such as a larger eyebox and different fields of view.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If deflecting surfaces are used in the spectacle lens to guide light bundles, then the image generation function is improved, but the visual disruption caused by reflectivity when no image is displayed worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the deflecting surfaces switchable between two states: a first state with high reflectivity for guiding light bundles during image display, and a second state with low reflectivity to minimize visual disruption when no image is displayed. This dynamic switching capability allows the optical surface to adapt its properties based on operational requirements, resolving the contradiction between maintaining image generation function and reducing harmful reflections.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by altering the optical properties (reflectivity and transmissivity) of the deflecting surfaces through switchable layers. The reflectivity parameter is changed from high in the first state to low in the second state, while transmissivity is inverted accordingly. This parameter modification enables the system to optimize performance for different operational modes, eliminating the visual disruption problem while preserving image generation capability when needed.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If switchable layers are introduced to reduce reflectivity, then visual disruption is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by incorporating switchable layers (such as liquid crystal layers or electrochromic layers) within the spectacle lens structure. These composite optical elements combine traditional optical materials with functional switchable materials that can change their optical properties. While this increases material complexity, it enables the resolution of the visual disruption problem through controlled optical property changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses switchable layers as intermediary elements between the light source and the user's eye. These intermediary layers mediate the optical interaction by dynamically adjusting reflectivity and transmissivity based on operational state. The switchable layers act as a controlling mechanism that balances the conflicting requirements of image guidance and visual comfort, accepting the necessary complexity to achieve this mediation function.
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 allows for reduced visual disruption by minimizing reflectivity when no image is displayed and optimizing image representation, providing a larger eyebox and adjustable fields of view through controlled switchable layers in the spectacle lens.
Implementation Method 1
The switchable layer can comprise a liquid crystal layer or an electrochromic layer
Implementation Method 2
The switchable layer can comprise a liquid crystal layer or an electrochromic layer
Implementation Method 3
the deflecting surfaces arranged next to each other which reflect the light bundles in the direction of the rear side for the coupling-out
Data Source
AI summary
A spectacle lens for a display device can be fitted on the head of a user and generate an image. The spectacle lens includes a curved front and/or side, wherein a light guiding channel which is suitable for guiding light bundles of pixels of the generated image, which are coupled into the spectacle lens via the coupling-in section of the spectacle lens, in the spectacle lens to the coupling-out section to couple them out of the spectacle lens via the coupling-out section. The coupling-out section includes at least two deflecting surfaces arranged next to each other which reflect the light bundles in the direction of the rear side for the coupling out. Deflecting surfaces can be formed as a switchable layer which can be switched into a first and a second state, wherein the reflectivity of the switchable layers in the first state is higher than in the second state.