Waveguide Deformation Mitigation Structures for Sharper Display Images
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic devices with displays, such as virtual and augmented reality headsets, face challenges in designing components that are both aesthetically pleasing and optically performant, as manufacturing deformations in waveguides can cause image distortion.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a waveguide deformation mitigation structure, such as an optical wedge or curved lens elements, to correct wavefront distortions caused by manufacturing deformations in waveguides, ensuring image light enters the eye box without distortion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If waveguide manufacturing is performed, then waveguide components can be produced, but manufacturing deformations cause image distortion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-compensating for waveguide deformation through the optical wedge and curved lens elements before the light reaches the deformed region. The mitigation structure introduces a deliberate wavefront distortion that counteracts the expected deformation, ensuring that when light passes through the deformed waveguide, the final wavefront remains planar and image distortion is minimized.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful effect of manufacturing deformation into a beneficial outcome by designing the mitigation structure to exploit the deformation's characteristics. The optical wedge and curved lens elements are specifically configured to compensate for the type of deformation that occurs during manufacturing, transforming the problematic deformation into a predictable and correctable parameter.
2Manufacturing precision
If optical components are added to correct distortion, then image sharpness improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple optical functions into integrated components. The optical wedge is combined with the curved lens elements to form a unified mitigation structure that simultaneously performs wavefront compensation and focal adjustment. This integration reduces the number of separate components needed compared to using independent correction elements for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The mitigation structure serves multiple functions: the optical wedge and curved lens elements work together to compensate for waveguide deformation, correct wavefront distortion, and maintain proper focal length. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate correction mechanisms, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving improved image sharpness.
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 mitigation structure optimizes image sharpness by reversing wavefront distortions, maintaining high optical performance despite manufacturing deformations in waveguides.
Implementation Method 1
The mitigation structure may distort the planar wavefronts to produce non-planar wavefronts. The shape of the non-planar wavefronts may be selected to reverse distortion to the wavefronts of the image light produced by the first reflection of the image light off the deformed region of the lateral surface.
Implementation Method 2
The input coupling prism may couple the image light into the waveguide at an angle whereby the image light first reflects off the deformed region of the lateral surface.
Data Source
AI summary
A display system may include a waveguide and an input coupling prism. The waveguide may have a lateral surface with a deformed region. The prism may couple the light into the waveguide at an angle whereby the light first reflects off the deformed region. The display module may include a display panel that provides the light with planar wavefronts. The display module may include a deformation mitigation structure that distorts the planar wavefronts to produce non-planar wavefronts. The shape of the non-planar wavefronts may be selected to reverse distortion to the wavefronts of the light produced by the first reflection of the light off the deformed region of the lateral surface. This may serve to mitigate distortion in the light produced by the deformed region of the lateral surface and may serve to maximize the sharpness images in the image light provided to an eye box.