Waveguide Prescription Lens Integration for AR Vision Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current artificial reality devices, such as head-mounted displays, face challenges in integrating custom prescription lenses with waveguides in a scalable and robust manner, requiring improved manufacturing processes to achieve aesthetic appeal, light weight, and high power efficiency while supporting vision correction for ametropic users.
Innovation Solution
A waveguide integrated with a custom prescription lens, where the waveguide includes a substrate with out-coupling structures and a medium layer of lower refractive index, combined with an optical lens printed over the substrate, facilitating total internal reflection and reducing surface reflections for enhanced image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a traditional waveguide structure is used without integrated prescription lens, then the device structure is simpler to manufacture, but vision correction functionality is lost and additional separate lenses increase device thickness and weight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the waveguide substrate and prescription lens into a single integrated structure. The lens is formed directly on the waveguide substrate through a unified manufacturing process, eliminating the need for separate lens components and reducing overall device complexity while maintaining vision correction functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The waveguide substrate serves multiple functions: it guides light through total internal reflection and simultaneously provides vision correction through the integrated lens. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate components and simplifies the overall device structure.
2Weight of moving object
If multiple separate components (waveguide + separate lens) are used, then manufacturing processes are simpler, but the device becomes thicker and heavier
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the waveguide and prescription lens into a single integrated component manufactured through a unified process. This integration eliminates the weight of separate mounting structures, adhesives, and alignment mechanisms while the additive manufacturing process maintains ease of production.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated lens is formed as a thin layer on the waveguide substrate, minimizing additional thickness. The additive manufacturing process enables creation of complex lens geometries in a single thin layer that would require multiple thick components if manufactured separately.
3Use of energy by moving object
If conventional lens integration methods are used, then manufacturing is more straightforward, but light efficiency decreases due to additional surface reflections and interfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated structure eliminates intermediate interfaces between separate waveguide and lens components. By forming the lens directly on the waveguide substrate through additive manufacturing, the patent removes additional surface reflections and optical interfaces that would reduce light efficiency.
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 integration provides a lightweight, efficient, and aesthetically pleasing solution for artificial reality devices, offering improved image quality and vision correction through a simplified manufacturing process, reducing thickness and weight while maintaining high light efficiency and color uniformity.
Implementation Method 1
The image light may propagate within the waveguide via total internal reflection ('TIR')
Implementation Method 2
The medium layer has a refractive index that is lower than the substrate
Data Source
AI summary
A device is provided. The device includes a waveguide configured to guide an image light to propagate from a light inputting surface to a light outputting surface. The waveguide includes a substrate having a back surface facing an eye-box region of the device and a front surface opposite to the back surface, a plurality of out-coupling structures disposed at the back surface or at least partially inside the substrate, and a medium layer embedded inside the substrate between the out-coupling structures and the front surface. The medium layer has a refractive index that is lower than the substrate. The device also includes an optical lens printed over the back surface of the substrate.