XR Glasses Support Arm as Heatsink Without Projector Load
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Solution Overview
Problem
Optical see-through XR displays face challenges in presenting realistic virtual content while maintaining unobstructed physical environment view, due to heat management and mechanical robustness issues with projectors, particularly near the user's face, which affects comfort and safety.
Innovation Solution
A thermally conductive support arm serves as a heatsink for projector LEDs and LCOS panels, mechanically coupled to a rear structural element, minimizing mechanical loading and providing thermal management to dissipate heat, while maintaining structural support without adding mechanical stress to the projector.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a projector is used in optical see-through XR displays, then virtual content can be presented, but heat management becomes difficult and causes discomfort near the user's face
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful thermal function from the projector system by separating heat-generating components (LEDs, LCOS panels) from the optical path. The projector housing is designed to contain and isolate these components, directing only light toward the waveguide while channeling heat away through dedicated thermal management structures, thus presenting virtual content while eliminating heat exposure to the user's face
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces thermal interface materials and heatsink structures as intermediary elements between the heat-generating projector components and the surrounding environment. These intermediaries facilitate efficient heat transfer from LEDs and LCOS panels to heatsinks, which then dissipate heat away from the user's face, mediating between the need for bright virtual content and the need to prevent thermal discomfort
2Strength
If mechanical support structures are added to support the projector, then structural robustness improves, but mechanical loading and stress on the projector increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the support structure into distinct functional zones: a rigid support arm provides structural robustness and positions the projector, while a separate compliant mechanism (spring element) is introduced to isolate the projector from mechanical stresses. This segmentation allows the support structure to be strong without transmitting loads to the projector, as the spring element absorbs mechanical variations and stresses independently
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 effectively manages heat and enhances mechanical robustness, ensuring comfortable wear and preventing discomfort from heat, while maintaining image quality and field of view in augmented reality displays.
Implementation Method 1
A thermally conductive support arm serves as a heatsink for projector LEDs and LCOS panels
Implementation Method 2
thermally coupled to the projector to act as a heatsink
Data Source
AI summary
A support arm assembly for a head-worn device includes a metal support arm configured to form a rear face, a bottom face, and a top face of an enclosure for a projector, thermally coupled to the projector to act as a heatsink, configured to structurally attach to a rear structural element of the head-worn device, and configured to structurally attach to an optical element holder of the head-worn device, such that the metal support arm forms a structural support joining the optical element holder to the rear structural element without placing mechanical load on the projector.