Wavelength Selective Waveguide for VR Depth Perception
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current virtual and augmented reality technologies face challenges in providing a comfortable and natural-feeling presentation of virtual image elements amidst real-world imagery, often leading to unstable imaging and eye strain due to mismatched accommodative and vergence responses.
Innovation Solution
The use of waveguide assemblies with incoupling and outcoupling optical elements, along with wavelength selective regions and light distributing elements, to selectively attenuate and direct light across multiple depth planes, simulating three-dimensional imagery by matching accommodative responses with vergence cues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional VR/AR display technologies are used to present virtual image elements, then virtual reality or augmented reality experiences can be achieved, but unstable imaging and eye strain occur due to mismatched accommodative and vergence responses
Solution Approach 1:
The waveguide is divided into multiple depth planes, with each plane dedicated to displaying image elements at a specific depth. This segmentation allows independent control of accommodative focus for each depth plane while maintaining appropriate vergence cues, resolving the accommodation-vergence mismatch that causes eye strain and unstable imaging.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a depth dimension by creating multiple focal planes within the waveguide structure. By stacking waveguides at different depths and using wavelength multiplexing to assign different colors to different depths, the system provides accurate accommodative cues for virtual objects at various distances, eliminating the flat 2D display effect that causes visual discomfort.
2Reliability
If multiple depth planes are implemented to provide accurate depth cues, then realism and comfort of VR/AR experiences are enhanced, but device complexity increases due to stacked waveguide assemblies and wavelength multiplexing
Solution Approach 1:
The waveguide structure is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as both a light guide and a depth-encoded display medium. By integrating wavelength-selective filtering and light distribution within the same waveguide stack, the system achieves multi-depth plane display without requiring separate optical paths for each depth, reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes wavelength as a control parameter to encode depth information. Different wavelengths (colors) are assigned to different depth planes, allowing the system to multiplex multiple depth channels through a single waveguide stack. This parameter-based encoding simplifies the hardware architecture compared to using physically separate waveguides for each depth plane.
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 approach enhances the realism and comfort of VR and AR experiences by providing accurate depth cues, reducing eye strain and improving the perception of surface depth through precise light manipulation across multiple depth planes.
Implementation Method 1
The wavelength selective region can be configured to attenuate the incoupled light not at the first wavelength relative to incoupled light at the first wavelength
Implementation Method 2
an incoupling optical element, configured to incouple light at a first wavelength and to couple light out of the waveguide that is not at the first wavelength
Implementation Method 3
an outcoupling optical element configured to receive the incoupled light at the first wavelength from the light distributing element and to couple the incoupled light at the first wavelength out of the waveguide
Data Source
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AI summary
In a waveguide comprising, an incoupling optical element configured to couple light into the waveguide, the light comprising a first wavelength and a second wavelength not equal to the first wavelength; a light distributing element configured to receive light from the incoupling optical element and to propagate light via total internal reflection, the light distributing element comprising a wavelength selective region configured to attenuate incoupled light at the second wavelength relative to incoupled light at the first wavelength; and an outcoupling optical element configured to receive light from the light distributing element and to couple light at the first wavelength out of the waveguide.