Tunable Lens Optical System for Compact AR Headsets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current augmented, virtual, and mixed reality devices are hindered by large and bulky optical assemblies, limiting their portability and user comfort.
Innovation Solution
An optical system featuring a light source, a fixed portion, an optical assembly, and a driving assembly, where the optical assembly includes a first and second optical element with adjustable focal lengths, allowing the second optical element to move relative to the first, enabling miniaturization and improved user experience through focal length adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If traditional optical projection technology is used for AR, then virtual content can be delivered to users, but the optical assembly becomes large and bulky
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a tunable lens whose focal length can be dynamically adjusted between a first focal length and a second focal length. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the optical system to achieve different optical configurations without requiring multiple fixed lenses, thereby reducing the overall optical assembly size while maintaining virtual content delivery functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the optical parameter (focal length) of the lens to achieve different imaging conditions. By adjusting the focal length between two distinct values, the system can optimize performance for different viewing conditions or content types without increasing physical size, thus resolving the contradiction between functionality and compactness.
2Reliability
If larger optical assemblies are used to maintain image quality, then optical quality is improved, but portability and user comfort deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The tunable lens provides dynamic focal length adjustment, enabling the optical system to maintain high image quality across different operating conditions without requiring a large fixed optical assembly. This dynamic adaptability allows compact head-mounted devices to deliver consistent visual performance, improving both image quality and user comfort simultaneously.
3Measurement precision
If multiple optical elements with fixed focal lengths are used, then optical precision is maintained, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the variable parameter (focal length) from the optical element itself, creating a tunable lens that can change its focal length. This eliminates the need for multiple fixed-focal-length lenses, reducing device complexity while maintaining optical precision through controlled parameter adjustment rather than multiple physical components.
Solution Approach 2:
A single tunable lens performs the functions that would otherwise require multiple fixed lenses with different focal lengths. This multi-functional optical element can be adjusted to provide different focal lengths as needed, simplifying the overall optical system while maintaining the precision required for various imaging conditions.
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 optical system achieves miniaturization, reduces power consumption, and compensates for positional deviations caused by user movement, enhancing image stabilization and optical quality for augmented, virtual, and mixed reality applications.
Implementation Method 1
The optical assembly has an equivalent focal length to the light. The optical assembly includes a first optical element and a second optical element. When the second optical element is at a first position, the equivalent focal length is a first focal length. When the second optical element is at a second position, the equivalent focal length is a second focal length.
Data Source
AI summary
An optical system is provided, including a light source, a fixed portion, an optical assembly, and a driving assembly. The light source is used for generating light. The optical assembly has an equivalent focal length to the light. The optical assembly includes a first optical element and a second optical element. The driving assembly is used for driving the second optical element to move relative to the first optical element. When the second optical element is at a first position, the equivalent focal length is a first focal length. When the second optical element is at a second position, the equivalent focal length is a second focal length. The first focal length and the second focal length are different.