Tunable Optical Lens Electrode Segmentation for AR Aperture
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing AR/VR systems face challenges in providing a large aperture lens with high diffraction efficiency, adjustable focal length, and realistic depth of field while being compact and cost-effective, and they often cause eye fatigue due to vergence accommodation conflict and the need for additional vision correction for users with refractive abnormalities.
Innovation Solution
A tunable optical lens with an electro-active material layer and a control electrode featuring multiple electrode patterns that generate different diffraction zones and phase profiles, allowing for adjustable focal length and high diffraction efficiency, and an electronic apparatus employing this lens to correct refractive abnormalities without the need for additional vision correction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a large aperture lens is used to provide realistic depth of field, then the aperture diameter increases, but the lens size and manufacturing complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The lens aperture is divided into multiple Fresnel zones, with each zone containing multiple electrode groups. This segmentation allows the large aperture to be controlled through multiple smaller, manageable electrode components rather than requiring a single large complex structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The lens incorporates multiple electrode patterns that can be dynamically activated or deactivated to adjust the effective aperture diameter. By selectively applying voltages to different electrode groups, the system can vary the aperture size without physically moving components.
2Area of stationary object
If multiple electrodes are used to increase aperture diameter, then the aperture increases, but manufacturing difficulty increases due to small electrode sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The control electrode is divided into multiple electrode groups arranged in concentric circles, where each group can be manufactured independently with standardized dimensions. This segmentation allows each electrode component to be manufactured within feasible size limits while collectively achieving a large aperture.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the lens aperture are assigned different electrode patterns with optimized local properties. The electrode groups are positioned and sized according to their specific functional requirements, allowing each local region to be manufactured with appropriate tolerances rather than requiring uniform precision across the entire aperture.
3Device complexity
If focal length is fixed in existing AR/VR devices, then device simplicity is maintained, but user comfort deteriorates due to vergence accommodation conflict
Solution Approach 1:
The lens incorporates multiple electrode patterns that can be dynamically activated or deactivated to adjust the effective aperture diameter. By selectively applying voltages to different electrode groups, the system can vary the aperture size without physically moving components.
Solution Approach 2:
The same control electrode structure serves multiple functions: it can adjust focal length, modify aperture diameter, and correct refractive errors. This multi-functionality is achieved through the multiple electrode patterns that can be selectively activated depending on the desired optical correction.
4Reliability
If additional vision correction means are used for refractive abnormalities, then vision correction is achieved, but device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The same control electrode structure serves multiple functions: it can adjust focal length, modify aperture diameter, and correct refractive errors. This multi-functionality is achieved through the multiple electrode patterns that can be selectively activated depending on the desired optical correction.
Solution Approach 2:
The vision correction functionality is merged into the existing lens structure by integrating multiple electrode patterns within the same optical element. This eliminates the need for separate correction lenses or glasses, as the same component that adjusts focus also provides refractive error correction.
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 solution provides a compact, high-efficiency tunable optical lens that enhances the realism of virtual object images, reduces eye fatigue, and corrects refractive abnormalities, enabling simultaneous focus on both virtual and real-world objects without additional vision aids.
Implementation Method 1
an electro-active material layer; and a control electrode including a plurality of electrode components
Implementation Method 2
the control electrode includes at least two electrode patterns, each of the at least two electrode patterns being configured to generate one or more different diffraction zones
Data Source
AI summary
A tunable optical lens having an adjustable focal length includes an electro-active material layer, and a control electrode having a plurality of electrode components, wherein the control electrode includes at least two electrode patterns each of which is configured to generate one or more different diffraction zones, and the at least two electrode patterns are configured to generate different phase profiles from each other with respect to light transmitted through the at least two electrode patterns, when a voltage is applied to the control electrode.