Tunable Lens Glint Sensing for Real-Time Optical Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Head-mounted devices with fixed lenses often struggle to optimally present content to each user due to the difficulty in adjusting the lenses to accommodate individual user needs.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of a tunable lens system with adjustable curvature, position sensors, and control circuitry to determine optical power based on sensed positions, or a fluid-filled chamber with capacitive electrode layers for precise lens adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If fixed lenses are used in head-mounted devices, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to individual user needs deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a tunable lens with adjustable curvature that can dynamically change its optical properties in real-time. The lens curvature is adjusted based on feedback from image sensors that detect glint patterns from infrared light sources, allowing the system to adapt to individual user needs while maintaining manageable complexity through automated control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses image sensors to capture glint patterns reflected from the tunable lens surface, and control circuitry processes this feedback to determine the actual optical power of the lens. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enables precise adaptation to user needs by continuously monitoring and adjusting lens parameters.
2Measurement precision
If tunable lens with position sensors is implemented, then measurement precision of lens parameters is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces direct mechanical position sensors on the lens with an optical measurement system. Infrared light sources project patterns onto the tunable lens, and image sensors capture the reflected glint patterns. The control circuitry analyzes these optical patterns to precisely determine lens curvature and position without requiring direct mechanical sensing elements on the lens itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces infrared light sources and image sensors as intermediary components to indirectly measure lens parameters. Instead of placing sensors directly on the lens, the system uses light reflection patterns as intermediaries to convey information about lens curvature and position to the control circuitry.
3Ease of operation
If real-time optical power determination is implemented, then ease of operation is improved, but use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs optical power determination at discrete intervals rather than continuously. The control circuitry determines optical power based on captured glint patterns at specific moments, allowing the tunable lens to operate in real-time while reducing energy consumption by not requiring constant sensing and adjustment operations.
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 dynamic adjustment of lens curvature and position for improved optical power, enhancing the presentation of content to individual users by optimizing the lens's optical properties in real-time.
Implementation Method 1
a first capacitive electrode layer that is formed on the first side of the fluid-filled chamber, a second capacitive electrode layer that is formed on the second side of the fluid-filled chamber, and control circuitry configured to determine an optical power of the tunable lens based on a sensed capacitance between the first and second capacitive electrode layers
Implementation Method 2
at least one infrared light source configured to direct infrared light towards the tunable lens to generate a pattern of glints on an adjustable surface of the tunable lens, an image sensor configured to capture an image of the pattern of glints
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device may include a lens module with a tunable lens. To determine an optical power associated with the lens module, components within the electronic device may measure the real time position and/or curvature of an adjustable surface of the tunable lens. The head-mounted device may include a camera formed separately from a display that measures a pattern of glints, may include photodiodes integrated into a display that measures the pattern of glints, may include a camera formed separately from a display that measures stray light from the lens module, may include a plurality of peripheral position sensors distributed around a perimeter of the adjustable surface of the tunable lens, and/or may include capacitive electrode layers for capacitive sensing.