Waveguide Display With Multiple Coupling Elements For Artificial Reality
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional near-eye displays face challenges in achieving a small form factor, large field-of-view, and wide eye box simultaneously, especially with classical optical architectures in virtual-reality and augmented-reality systems.
Innovation Solution
The use of multiple waveguide stacks and projectors in a near-eye display assembly, where each eye has multiple waveguide displays and projectors, allows for an immersive experience by increasing the field of view and reducing the overall size and weight of the virtual-reality system, with overlapping fields of view and variable resolution to maintain a seamless image presentation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If classical optical architectures are used in near-eye displays, then the display can be designed with simple optics, but the form factor becomes large and weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical optical systems (lenses, mirrors, prisms) with a waveguide-based optical system that uses total internal reflection and diffraction gratings. This substitution enables a more compact form factor while reducing weight, as waveguides can be integrated directly into the display housing without requiring bulky external optical components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a nested optical architecture where multiple waveguide stacks are integrated within a compact housing structure. The waveguides are positioned to utilize the available space efficiently, with overlapping fields of view from multiple stacks allowing a compact overall form factor while maintaining a large effective display area.
2Device complexity
If classical optical architectures are used in near-eye displays, then the optical design is simpler, but the field-of-view becomes limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the display into multiple waveguide stacks, each contributing a portion of the overall field of view. By segmenting the optical path into multiple parallel waveguide channels with different orientations, the system achieves a combined field of view exceeding 200 degrees while keeping each individual waveguide stack relatively simple in design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes multiple dimensions for light propagation by implementing waveguide stacks oriented at different angles. This multi-dimensional approach allows the light paths to overlap and combine, expanding the effective field of view without requiring a proportional increase in the physical display area or optical complexity.
3Area of stationary object
If multiple waveguide stacks are used to increase field-of-view, then the field-of-view expands to 240 degrees, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple waveguide stacks into a single integrated display assembly where the waveguides are positioned to create overlapping fields of view. By combining the output from multiple stacks through careful optical alignment and housing design, the system achieves a seamless 240-degree field of view while sharing common structural elements that reduce overall device complexity.
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 provides a larger field of view, up to 240 degrees, while maintaining a compact and lightweight design, enhancing user immersion and reducing power consumption and complexity in virtual-reality systems.
Implementation Method 1
a first waveguide stack (708-1) configured to guide light from the first projector (704-1)
Implementation Method 2
The coupling element (350) may be configured to couple the image light (355) from the source assembly (310) into the output waveguide (320).
Data Source
AI summary
By tiling multiple waveguide displays in an artificial-reality system, and/or using multiple projectors per waveguide display, a large field of view for the artificial-reality system can be achieved using waveguide displays. By using waveguide displays, a form factor for a virtual-reality system can be reduced compared to conventional virtual-reality systems.