Waveguide Display Regions for Wider AR Field of View
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wearable display devices have a limited field of view due to the orientation of image fields emitted in one direction, which can reduce the size of the viewable area and increase power consumption, making them less suitable for battery-powered devices.
Innovation Solution
The wearable display device is designed with multiple display regions that emit light in different directions, utilizing a waveguide system with input and exit pupil expanders to redirect light towards the user's eyes, allowing for a larger field of view and reducing power consumption by optimizing pixel service angles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If decoupling optics of diffractive waveguides are used to emit image field in one direction, then the design is simple, but the field of view is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The waveguide is divided into multiple discrete coupling regions (first coupling region, second coupling region, etc.), each responsible for directing light to specific portions of the user's field of view. This segmentation allows the system to achieve a wide composite field of view while maintaining relatively simple individual coupling structures in each region.
Solution Approach 2:
Different coupling regions are designed with different optical characteristics to direct light to different angular ranges. The first coupling region directs light to central field of view, while the second coupling region directs light to peripheral field of view, optimizing the local function of each region to contribute to the overall wide field of view.
2Area of moving object
If the service angle of pixels is increased to expand field of view, then the field of view is improved, but additional power is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional approach of increasing pixel service angles (which requires higher power) with an optical waveguide system that uses diffraction and total internal reflection to redirect light. This substitution of optical mechanisms for electrical/optical pixel adjustments significantly reduces power consumption while achieving a wide field of view.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of expanding the field of view by increasing the angular output of each pixel (one-dimensional approach), the patent introduces a spatial dimension by using multiple discrete coupling regions at different positions and orientations within the waveguide. This allows light to be directed to different field of view regions through spatial distribution rather than angular expansion, reducing power requirements.
3Area of moving object
If multiple display regions are used to increase effective field of view, then the field of view is expanded, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple coupling regions are merged into a single integrated waveguide structure, allowing them to function collectively as one unified optical system. This merging approach achieves a wide composite field of view through the collaboration of multiple regions while avoiding the complexity of separate display devices, as all regions are embedded within the single waveguide component.
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 design expands the effective field of view and reduces power requirements, enhancing user experience and battery life in wearable displays.
Implementation Method 1
a waveguide system, comprising optical elements that define: a first optical pathway having a first input region configured to redirect light received from the projector towards a user at a first angle, and a second optical pathway having a second input region adjacent to the first input region and configured to redirect light received from the projector towards the user at a second angle different from the first angle
Implementation Method 2
an input coupling grating having first and second input regions configured to receive light from the projector
Implementation Method 3
first and second exit pupil expanders configured to receive light from a corresponding one of the orthogonal pupil expanders and redirect the light towards a user. The second exit pupil expander is configured to decouple light from the waveguide system at a different angle than the first exit pupil expander
Data Source
AI summary
A wearable display device suitable for use in an augmented reality environment is disclosed. The wearable display device can include a projector configured to project light through diffractive optical elements that then distributed the light to multiple display regions. Each of the display regions can be arranged to project light out of the wearable display device towards an eye of a user. Since each of the display regions are positioned in different locations with respect to an eye of a user, the result is that each display region directs light in a different direction. In this way the apparent field of view for a user of the wearable display can be substantially increased.