Waveguide Display Integrity Monitoring via Image Splitting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing waveguide display systems face challenges in detecting complex display faults due to the limitations of optical integrity monitoring systems, which add mass and volume, making them inadequate for smaller form factor applications like head-worn displays.
Innovation Solution
A lightweight, low-volume optical monitoring package that enables detailed pixel-level monitoring by splitting the collimated image into two portions, where one portion is directed to the user and the other to an integrity monitoring module for discrepancy analysis and correction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a separate display path is used for optical integrity monitoring, then monitoring capability is improved, but mass and volume increase
Solution Approach 1:
The collimated image is divided into two portions: a first portion directed to the user and a second portion directed to the integrity monitoring module. This segmentation allows monitoring functionality to be achieved without requiring a separate physical display path, thereby maintaining compact form factor while enabling detailed pixel-level monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The waveguide assembly serves multiple functions: it acts as both the display optic for delivering images to the user and as the optical path for integrity monitoring. By making the waveguide assembly multi-functional, the system eliminates the need for additional dedicated monitoring hardware, thus reducing overall mass and volume.
2Device complexity
If basic integrity monitoring is implemented, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision of display faults decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces complex mechanical or separate optical monitoring paths with a computational approach. Sensors capture the second portion of the collimated image, and processing circuitry analyzes this data to detect complex display faults. This substitution of mechanical/optical complexity with electronic/computational methods achieves high measurement precision while keeping the physical system simple.
Solution Approach 2:
Sensors and processing circuitry act as intermediaries between the optical system and the integrity analysis. These intermediaries capture and analyze the second portion of the collimated image, enabling detection of complex display faults without requiring direct access to underlying COTS component processes, thus maintaining both simplicity and precision.
3Ease of manufacture
If commercial off the shelf components are used, then ease of manufacture is improved, but access to underlying processes is limited reducing reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by capturing the second portion of the collimated image with sensors and using processing circuitry to analyze this information. This feedback mechanism allows the system to monitor its own output and detect faults without requiring access to internal processes of COTS components, thus maintaining reliability while using commercially available parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrity monitoring system is self-service in that it monitors its own output directly. By analyzing the collimated image that is actually produced and delivered to the user, the system can detect faults without needing to access or understand the internal workings of COTS components, enabling reliable monitoring with off-the-shelf parts.
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 solution provides a higher fidelity integrity monitoring system capable of detecting complex display faults, ensuring the integrity of the image displayed to the user, while being suitable for smaller form factor applications.
Implementation Method 1
a waveguide assembly including: an in coupling element configured to receive a collimated image from a imaging system and an out coupling element configured to direct the collimated image toward an eye of a user, wherein the waveguide is configured to direct at least a first portion of the collimated image from the in coupling element to the out coupling element
Implementation Method 2
wherein prior to the collimated image being directed towards the eye a second portion of the collimated image is configured to be directed towards an integrity monitoring module
Data Source
AI summary
A system for delivering an image to a user via a waveguide display system and for determining integrity of an image, the system comprising a waveguide assembly including: an in coupling element configured to receive a collimated image from a imaging system and an out coupling element configured to direct the collimated image toward an eye of a user, wherein the waveguide is configured to direct at least a first portion of the collimated image from the in coupling element to the out coupling element to be directed to the user; wherein prior to the collimated image being directed towards the eye a second portion of the collimated image is configured to be directed towards an integrity monitoring module which determines at least one discrepancy between the collimated image and the image to thereby correct the first portion of the collimated image.