In-Vehicle Multi-Depth Display Optics for Compact 3D Viewing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current lightfield displays face challenges such as large form factor, high cost, limited viewable zones, eye strain due to binocular gaps, and reliance on expensive components like tunable lenses, which restrict their adoption in commercial and enterprise settings.
Innovation Solution
The development of concentric lightfield displays using field evolving cavities (FECs) with tunable, compressed designs, multiple depth layers, and ID-ID bent optical surfaces, along with diffractive optical elements, to provide fractional lightfield signaling and reduce manufacturing complexity, enabling larger viewable zones and comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If VR headgear divides the image into two viewing zones with separate optics for each eye, then stereoscopic 3D effect is achieved, but binocular gaps appear in the projected image
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the separate optical paths for left and right eyes into a single integrated lightfield display system. Instead of using separate optics that create binocular gaps, the invention uses a unified lens array and lightfield generation approach where both eyes view the same continuous lightfield, eliminating gaps while maintaining stereoscopic depth perception through angular multiplexing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a lightfield display as an intermediary between the content source and the user's eyes. This lightfield intermediary generates angularly multiplexed light rays that naturally fill the binocular gaps by providing continuous angular information, allowing both eyes to receive complete image information without the discontinuities caused by separate optical paths.
2Adaptability or versatility
If concentric lightfield technology is used to create large field-of-view immersive 3D displays, then field-of-view and immersion are improved, but form factor and headbox size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from traditional planar display geometry to a volumetric lightfield approach by introducing angular and depth dimensions. The lightfield display creates a three-dimensional light distribution in space, allowing large field-of-view immersion without proportionally increasing the physical footprint, as the depth information is encoded in the angular distribution of light rays rather than requiring physical depth space.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental parameters of light propagation by controlling the angular distribution and spatial coherence of light rays. By modulating these optical parameters through the lightfield generation process, the system achieves expanded field-of-view and depth perception while maintaining a compact form factor, as the field-of-view is determined by angular light distribution rather than physical display dimensions.
3Reliability
If conventional lightfield displays are implemented, then 3D depth perception is achieved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase due to expensive components like tunable lenses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive, complex tunable lenses with simpler, static optical elements such as fixed lens arrays and diffractive optical elements. These cheaper optical components achieve the same lightfield generation function without requiring expensive active materials or complex actuation mechanisms, significantly reducing manufacturing cost and complexity while maintaining 3D depth perception capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes mechanical tunable lens systems with static optical structures that achieve dynamic lightfield effects through fixed geometric arrangements. By replacing mechanically adjustable components with carefully designed static optical elements, the system eliminates complex mechanical actuation, reduces manufacturing complexity, and lowers component costs while preserving the ability to generate multiple depth planes.
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
These solutions enable compact, cost-effective lightfield displays with increased viewable zones and reduced eye strain, providing comfortable and immersive 3D experiences without the need for specialized glasses or bulky hardware.
Implementation Method 1
along with diffractive optical elements, to provide fractional lightfield signaling
Implementation Method 2
concentric lightfield displays using field evolving cavities (FECs) with tunable, compressed designs, multiple depth layers, and ID-ID bent optical surfaces
Data Source
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Figure 2B
AI summary
A display system that is configured for integration into a vehicle comprises a light source and an optical subsystem optically coupled to the light source. The optical subsystem includes a reflector and at least one semi-reflective optic, wherein the optical subsystem is configured to direct light rays to provide a plurality of virtual images that appear to a viewer concurrently at a respective plurality of different optical depths, by causing light of each of the virtual images to travel a different distance within the optical subsystem before exiting the optical subsystem on a path toward eyes of the viewer.