Switchable Diffractive Light Guides for Stereoscopic Exit Pupils
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical apparatuses for stereoscopic displays, such as exit pupil expanders, are not always optimal in providing efficient and effective stereoscopic content display.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus comprises two light guiding means with switchable diffractive elements that independently control the out-coupling of light beams, allowing for the formation of non-overlapping exit pupils for each eye, enabling stereoscopic viewing by aligning and controlling the out-coupling states of overlapping diffractive sections based on the projected image sections and user's eye location.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional optical apparatuses are used for stereoscopic displays, then the system structure is simple, but the stereoscopic display capability is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The out-coupling diffractive means is divided into multiple independently controllable sections that can be selectively activated or deactivated. This segmentation allows the system to control which sections out-couple light beams, enabling separate exit pupils for left and right eyes while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The diffractive means sections are made dynamically controllable through independent switching mechanisms. This allows the system to adaptively configure which sections are active based on the required stereoscopic output, providing versatility in display modes while keeping the physical structure compact.
2Productivity
If overlapping diffractive means are used for light guiding, then the optical path efficiency is improved, but the control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The overlapping diffractive means are segmented into independently controllable sections. This allows selective activation of specific sections to optimize optical paths for different eyes while maintaining manageable control complexity through modular section-based control.
Solution Approach 2:
Different sections of the diffractive means can have different out-coupling states (active or inactive) based on local requirements. This local quality control allows optimization of optical efficiency in specific regions while keeping other regions in a default state, balancing efficiency and control complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If independent control of light beams for each eye is implemented, then the stereoscopic effect is enhanced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The diffractive means is segmented into sections that can be independently controlled to direct light beams to different eyes. This segmentation enables enhanced stereoscopic effects through independent eye-specific optical paths while avoiding the need for completely separate optical systems for each eye.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the light guiding functions for both eyes into a single integrated apparatus with shared diffractive means. By combining the optical paths and using selective section activation, the system achieves independent control for each eye while reducing overall device complexity compared to fully separate systems.
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
Enables the display of stereoscopic content by separately outputting images for each eye, enhancing the perception of 3D images through independent control of light beams, thus improving the stereoscopic display capability of head-up displays.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of diffractive means configured to: in-couple one or more input beams of light into the light guiding means
Implementation Method 2
expand the one or more input beams of light, and out-couple the one or more expanded beams of light from the light guiding means
Implementation Method 3
a section of the out-coupling diffractive means in the first out-coupling state permits the out-coupling of the one or more expanded beams of light therefrom
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus includes: first and second light guides, each light guide respectively including: a plurality of diffractive optical elements configured to: in-couple one or more input beams of light into the light guides, expand the input beams of light, and out-couple the expanded beams of light from the light guides to provide expanded output light beams; wherein the out-coupling diffractive optical elements include a plurality of sections thereof that are independently switchable between first and second out-coupling states. A section of the out-coupling diffractive guide in the first out-coupling state permits the out-coupling of the expanded beams of light therefrom. A section of the out-coupling diffractive guide in the second out-coupling state precludes the out-coupling of the expanded beams of light therefrom. The out-coupling diffractive guides at least partially overlap.