Virtual Image Display Reflector Layout for Accurate Eye Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current display apparatuses with virtual imaging functions lack effective means for accurately detecting the location of a user's eye when viewing virtual images, leading to distortion and limited effective viewing areas.
Innovation Solution
The display apparatus includes a picture generation unit, an imaging reflector, and a detection unit deployed on the rear side of the imaging reflector, with parallel propagation directions for image and signal light, allowing accurate eye location detection through visible or invisible light reflection and polarization techniques, and optionally using lenses or algorithms for light compensation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the detection unit is deployed on the front side of the imaging reflector, then the structure is simpler, but the propagation direction of image light and signal light is not parallel, causing inaccurate eye location detection
Solution Approach 1:
The detection unit is moved from the front side to the rear side of the imaging reflector, changing the spatial dimension of deployment. This dimensional change enables the optical paths of image light and signal light to be parallel, thereby improving eye location detection accuracy while maintaining reasonable device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The imaging reflector serves as an intermediary element between the picture generation unit and the detection unit. By positioning the detection unit on the rear side of this intermediary, the patent achieves parallel propagation directions for both light beams, resolving the contradiction between detection accuracy and structural simplicity
2Measurement precision
If the imaging reflector reflects all wavelengths of light, then the virtual image is visible, but the detection unit cannot collect signal light through the reflector
Solution Approach 1:
The spectrum of light is segmented into different wavelength ranges: visible light for virtual image formation and invisible light (infrared) for eye detection. The imaging reflector is designed to reflect visible light while being transparent to invisible light, allowing both functions to occur simultaneously without interference
Solution Approach 2:
The imaging reflector exhibits different optical properties for different wavelengths of light. It has high reflectivity for visible light wavelengths to ensure virtual image visibility, while maintaining high transmittance for invisible light wavelengths to enable signal light collection by the detection unit
3Ease of manufacture
If the curvature of the front surface and rear surface of the imaging reflector are inconsistent, then manufacturing is easier, but light transmission introduces aberration and distortion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adjusts the curvature parameters of the imaging reflector surfaces to achieve optimal balance. By carefully selecting and matching the curvature radii of the front and rear surfaces, the design minimizes light transmission aberrations while maintaining manufacturing feasibility, resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and optical precision
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
This configuration enables precise eye location detection, reducing distortion and expanding the effective viewing area, enhancing user immersion and experience by aligning the virtual image with the user's gaze direction.
Implementation Method 1
The imaging reflector is configured to reflect visible light and transmit invisible light
Implementation Method 2
The imaging reflector is configured to reflect visible light and transmit invisible light
Implementation Method 3
the imaging reflector is configured to reflect first polarized light and transmit second polarized light, where polarization directions of the first polarized light and the second polarized light are perpendicular to each other
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to apparatuses for display. An example display apparatus includes a picture generation unit, an imaging reflector, a detection unit, and at least one processor. The picture generation unit is configured to generate an image, and send image light of the image to the imaging reflector. The imaging reflector is configured to reflect the image light to generate a virtual image of the image. The detection unit is configured to collect first signal light transmitted through the imaging reflector, where the first signal light is light reflected by an eye of a user viewing the virtual image. The at least one processor is configured to determine a location of the eye of the user based on the first signal light collected by the detection unit, where a propagation direction of the image light reflected by the imaging reflector is parallel to a propagation direction of the first signal light.