Optical image generators using miniature display panels
Designs of optical image generators are described, where an optical image generator is to produce images of light intensities from image data. According to one aspect of the present invention, an exemplary optical image generator includes a microdisplay comprising one or more display panels. All of the panels are formed by dividing an array of such elements into corresponding groups, hence all are self aligned. Elements in each of the groups are covered with a layer of homogeneous colored pigments or color filter. Three groups of the elements produce three colored images that are then converted into optical images for being projected into a light waveguide.
The present invention generally relates to the area of display devices and more particularly relates to architecture and designs of display devices, where a display device is made in form of a pair of glasses, and may be used in various applications including virtual reality and augmented reality.
Description of the Related ArtVirtual Reality or VR is generally defined as a realistic and immersive simulation of a three-dimensional environment created using interactive software and hardware, and experienced or controlled by movement of the body. A person using virtual reality equipment is typically able to look around the artificially generated three-dimensional environment, moves around in it and interacts with features or items that are depicted on a screen or in goggles. Virtual realities artificially create sensory experiences, which can include sight, touch, hearing, and, less commonly, smell.
Augmented reality (AR) is a technology that layers computer-generated enhancements atop an existing reality in order to make it more meaningful through the ability to interact with it. AR is developed into apps and used on mobile devices to blend digital components into the real world in such a way that they enhance one another, but can also be told apart easily. AR technology is quickly coming into the mainstream. It is used to display score overlays on telecasted sports games and pop out 3D emails, photos or text messages on mobile devices. Leaders of the tech industry are also using AR to do amazing and revolutionary things with holograms and motion activated commands.
The delivery methods of Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality are different when viewed separately. Most 2016-era virtual realities are displayed either on a computer monitor, a projector screen, or with a virtual reality headset (also called head-mounted display or HMD). HMDs typically take the form of head-mounted goggles with a screen in front of the eyes. Virtual Reality actually brings the user into the digital world by cutting off outside stimuli. In this way user is solely focusing on the digital content being displayed in the HMDs. Augmented reality is being used more and more in mobile devices such as laptops, smart phones, and tablets to change how the real world and digital images, graphics intersect and interact.
In reality, it is not always VR vs. AR as they do not always operate independently of one another, and in fact are often blended together to generate an even more immersing experience. For example, haptic feedback, which is the vibration and sensation added to interaction with graphics, is considered an augmentation. However, it is commonly used within a virtual reality setting in order to make the experience more lifelike though touch.
Virtual reality and augmented reality are great examples of experiences and interactions fueled by the desire to become immersed in a simulated land for entertainment and play, or to add a new dimension of interaction between digital devices and the real world. Alone or blended together, they are undoubtedly opening up worlds, both real and virtual alike.
Various wearable devices for VR/AR and holographic applications are being developed.
This section is for the purpose of summarizing some aspects of the present invention and to briefly introduce some preferred embodiments. Simplifications or omissions in this section as well as in the abstract and the title may be made to avoid obscuring the purpose of this section, the abstract and the title. Such simplifications or omissions are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.
The present invention is generally related to architecture and designs of ultra light-weight wearable devices for displaying images or videos, e.g., virtual reality and augmented reality applications. According to one aspect of the present invention, a display device is made in form of a pair of glasses and includes a minimum number of parts to reduce the complexity and weight thereof. A separate case or enclosure is provided as portable to be affixed or attached to a user (e.g., a pocket or waist belt). The enclosure includes all necessary parts and circuits to generate content and is coupled to the wearable device via an active optical cable, resulting in a minimum number of parts needed on the glasses, hence smaller footprint, enhanced impact performance, lower cost packaging, and easier manufacturing process of the glasses. The content along with control signals (including instruction data) is optically transported by the active optical cable all the way through a temple to a microdisplay embedded and deposed near one end of the temple of the glasses. Optical images produced by the microdisplay are captured and projected into an integrated lens or an added light waveguide on a lens for displaying the optical images before the eyes of a wearer.
According to another aspect of the present invention, each of the lenses includes an optical waveguide that propagates an optical image being projected onto one end of the waveguide to another end with an optical path that a user can see the optical image. The waveguide may also be integrated with or stacked on an optical correcting lens to form an integrated lens for the glasses.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, the microdisplay includes one or more panels, each of the panels displays a designated colored image (e.g., a Red, Green or Blue image). Optical images of light intensities from the colored images of the one or more panels are deflected by a set of mirrors coated with optical materials to one side of the microdisplay.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, a focusing mechanism (controllable one or more lenses) is provided to capture the optical images and projects these images into the integrated lens or the added light waveguide for displaying the optical images before the eyes of a wearer.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, the display panels are amenable to smaller footprint, enhanced impact performance, lower cost packaging, and easier manufacturing process. Each of display panels does not need pixel-based masking, meaning neighboring pixels won't be for different colors. All pixels in one display panel or any array of pixels are all set for displaying a single colored image (e.g., Red, Green or Blue), making the manufacturing process simpler and less costly.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, an integrated lens may be further coated with one for more films with optical characteristics that amplify the optical image before the eyes of the user.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, the glasses include a few electronic devices (e.g., sensor or microphone) to enable various interactions between the wearer and the displayed content. Signals captured by a device (e.g., a depth sensor) are transmitted to the enclosure via wireless means (e.g., RF or Bluetooth) to eliminate the wired connections between the glasses and the enclosure.
The present invention may be implemented as an apparatus, a method and part of system. Different implementations may yield different benefits, objects and advantages. In one embodiment, the present invention is a display apparatus for displaying a color image or images, the display apparatus comprises: a lens; a temple with a first end and a second end; an optical image generator including a microdisplay and embedded and disposed near the first end of the temple; a light waveguide, integrated onto the lens; a focusing mechanism, disposed between the optical image generator and the light waveguide, capturing an optical image from the optical image generator and projecting the optical image into the light waveguide, wherein the optical image into the light waveguide, wherein the optical image is seen through the light waveguide by a user. The temple includes an active optical cable entering the temple from the second end and extending to the optical image generator.
In another embodiment, the present invention is a method for displaying a color image on a display apparatus, the method comprising: transporting image data and control signals from an enclosure via an active optical cable including at least two wires and one optical fiber; generating optical images from one or more display panels in a microdisplay deposed near a first end of a temple in the display apparatus, wherein the microdisplay is coupled to the active optical cable within the temple; capturing the optical images by a focusing mechanism disposed between the microdisplay and a light waveguide; and projecting the optical images into the light waveguide, wherein the optical image integrated with a lens and is seen through the light waveguide by a user.
In yet another embodiment, the present invention is an optical image generator generating optical images (light intensities) from image data. The optical image generator comprises: a substrate; and an array of elements deposed on the substrate, the array of elements being divided into a first group, a second group, and a third group, wherein the elements in the first group, the second group, and the third group are respectively deposed with a layer of first homogeneous color filters, second homogeneous color filters and third homogeneous color filters, and wherein the elements in the first group, the second group, and the third group are charged to display three individual colored images. The optical image generator further comprises a set of mirrors, each of the mirrors deposed for and facing, at an angle, one of the first group, the second group, and the third group of elements. As a result, each of the mirrors produces an optical colored image from a displayed image on each of the first group, the second group, and the third group of elements.
There are many other objects, together with the foregoing attained in the exercise of the invention in the following description and resulting in the embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:
The detailed description of the invention is presented largely in terms of procedures, steps, logic blocks, processing, and other symbolic representations that directly or indirectly resemble the operations of data processing devices coupled to networks. These process descriptions and representations are typically used by those skilled in the art to most effectively convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art.
Reference herein to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment can be included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, nor are separate or alternative embodiments mutually exclusive of other embodiments. Further, the order of blocks in process flowcharts or diagrams representing one or more embodiments of the invention do not inherently indicate any particular order nor imply any limitations in the invention.
Embodiments of the present invention are discussed herein with reference to
Referring now to the drawings, in which like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.
Both of the flexible cables 202 are coupled at another end of the temples 206 and 208 to a portable computing device 210, where the computing device 210 generates images based on one or more microdisplays (not shown). The image are displayed on the microdisplays, the resulting optical images of light intensities are captured by the cables 202 via an optical system (e.g., one or more lens). The optical images are transported through optical fiber(s) in the flexible cables 202 by the total internal reflections therein all the way to another end of the optical fiber, where the optical images are then projected onto the lenses in the glasses 200.
According to one embodiment, each of the two flexible cables 202 includes one or more optical fibers. Optical fibers are used to transmit light from one place to the other along a curved path in a more effective manner as shown in
Referring now to
Referring now to
On one edge of the lens 260 or the edge of the prism 262, there are at least three items utilizing the prism 262. Referenced by 267 is an imaging medium providing an image of light intensities. Depending on the implementation, the image transported by the optical fiber 242 of
A sensor 266 is provided to image the position or movement of the pupil in the eye 265. Again, based on the refractions provided by the prism 262, the location of the pupil can be seen by the sensor 266. In operation, an image of the eye 265 is captured. The image is analyzed to derive how the pupil is looking at the image being shown through or in the lens 260. In the application of AR, the location of the pupil may be used to activate an action. Optionally, a light source 268 is provided to illuminate the eye 265 to facilitate the image capture by the sensor 266. According to one embodiment, the light source 268 uses a near inferred source as such the user or his eye 265 would not be affected by the light source 268 when it is on.
As described above, there are different types of microdisplays, hence different imaging mediums. The table below summarizes some of the microdisplays that may be used to facilitate the generation of an optical image that can be transported by one or more optical fibers one end to another end thereof by total internal reflection within the optical fiber(s).
In the first case shown above in the table, a full color image is actually displayed on a silicon device (e.g., Liquid Crystal on Silicon or LCoS). As shown in
In the second case shown above in the table, an LCoS is used with different light sources. In particular, there are at least three colored light sources (e.g., red, green and blue) used sequentially. In other words, a single color image is generated per one light source. The image picked up by the fiber is only a single color image. A full color image can be reproduced when all three different single color images are combined. The imaging medium 244 of
Depending on how or how many signals need to go through the cable 324, the number of the fibers may vary or simply just one. The first interface 326 may be implemented as a pluggable (e.g., USB-C type) depending on an actual need while the second interface may also be implemented as a pluggable but in some cases, it is specifically designed to accommodate what is being coupled thereto. Each of the two ends 321 and 322 includes a converter (e.g., a photodiode) to convert an electronic signal to a light or convert a light to an electronic signal. Each of the two ends 321 and 322 further includes necessary integrated circuits to perform encoding or decoding functions if needed, namely a data set or electronic signal when received at the end 321 via the first interface 326 is encoded and presented in a colored light or a set of colored lights. The lights are then transported through the optical fiber in the cable 324 from the end 321 to the end 322 or vice versa. When received at the end 322, the lights are decoded to recover the electronic signals. The details of the end 321 or 322 are not to be further provided herein to avoid obscuring other aspects of the present invention.
It is assumed that the cable 320 is used to transport a set of signals from the end 321 to the end 322 or vice versa. One, two or three of the signals are related to the three components of a color image or video, for example, red (R), green (G) and blue (B), another one or more of the signals are related to an instruction how to interface with a displayed image, for example, activating an object in a left corner of the displayed image, navigating along a path in the image and starting to count the time an object is being stared at. Still there are various control signals, such as clock signals, controls to other components, such as the light source 268 and the sensor 266 of
According to one embodiment, the converter in the end 321 converts the signals to a light beam including a set of optical signals, where each of the optical signal is encoded (e.g., in different colors) per one of the signals. Alternatively, a set of beams is produced by the converter, each beam corresponds to one of the signals. A light beam is then transported within a fiber from the first end 321 to the second end 322 or vice verse. Once reaching the second end 322, a converter therein converts the light beam back into one or more electronic signals. It can be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the cable 320 is much lighter than a wire-based cable that would be otherwise used to carry these signals. It can also be readily understood that the active optical cable may include additional metal wires or more optical fibers to transmit data, control signals or various instructions needed to present appropriate images/videos to a viewer.
Referring now to
Depending on an implementation, the panels 342 may be implemented in μOLED or μLED or any self-illuminated devices. Given the proper data, control signals and power, the panels 340 can be lighted in accordance with the respective data sets. The details of the circuitry including the memory designs to drive these panels 342 are ignored to avoid obscuring other aspects of the present invention.
One of the advantages, benefits and objects in using three parallel self-illuminated panels is the significant reduction in costs of manufacturing these panels. Instead of arranging colored sources interlaced (e.g., RGBRGBRGB), the three parallel self-illuminated panels won't not require any interlacing structure. As shown in
As an example,
Structurally, the mirror 365 for blue is positioned at 45 degrees above the panel 362 for blue image. As a result, the mirror 365 turns the reflected light from the panel 362 towards the green and red panels. The mirror 366 for green is positioned at 45 degrees above the panel 363 for green image, but the mirror 366 is specially coated and reflects only the green light. In other words, the blue light from the mirror 365 can pass through the mirror 366, which allows the blue light to be mixed with the green light. Similarly, the mirror 367 for red is positioned at 45 degrees above the panel 364 for red image, but the mirror 367 is specially coated and reflects only the red light. In other words, the mixed blue and green lights can pass through the mirror 367, which allows the red light to be mixed further with the already mixed blue and green lights. Now with the mixed red, green and blue lights, an optical color image is formed. In one embodiment, the arrangement of farmost blue, then to green and thereafter nearest red with respect to a focusing lens is specially designed due to the consideration of the wavelength of B, G and R with different diffractive index travelling distance of the optical path incident to the waveguide 308. In the end, the microdisplay 304 or 334 including these panels 362-364 along with the external lights can eventually reproduce a full color image or video that is then focused onto the light guide 308 via the lens 306 of
It is known that packing three primary color pixels (typically R-G-B) within a regular matrix produces asymmetrical angular resolution for images of different colors. Insufficient pixel density and asymmetrical angular resolution manifest themselves as image coarseness and color fringing or aliasing. Coarseness and/or asymmetry of R and G primaries are particularly problematic, especially for the mixture colors yellow (R+G) and white (R+G+B). The problem arises due to the high degree of resolution acuity for R and G in human visual system. This makes the fusion of R and G primary elements difficult at practical levels of discrete element pixel density.
A common solution is to use four color repetitive sequence matrix array by establishing a repetitive sequence with pixels of four different colors arranged in the rows of the matrix. The sequence commences with a different color in each row, thereby establishing a second repetitive sequence in the matrix columns. These row and column sequences establish a pattern of 16 pixels with sets of four rows and four columns that is repetitive throughout the array.
In operation, the panel 382 is provided with image data for a first color (e.g., blue) and illuminated by a first colored light source (e.g., blue LED light). The first optical image from the display on the panel 382 is deflected by a deflector or mirror 386 to the right, passing through another mirror 388, where the mirror 388 is optically coated with a film that allows the passing of red or blue. In the meantime or soon after, the panel 384 is provided with image data for a green color and illuminated by a green light source. The green optical image from the display on the panel 384 is deflected by the mirror 388 to the right, going to the optical lens or merging with the first optical image before reaching the optical lens. The mirror 388 is optically coated with a type of material (e.g., films) that allows the passing of red or blue or all colors except for green. Next the panel 382 is provided with image data for a second color (e.g., red) and illuminated by a second colored light source (e.g., red LED light), the second optical image from the display on the panel 382 is deflected by the mirror 386 to the right, passing through the mirror 388. In the meantime or soon after, the panel 384 is caused to display the same image data again for a green color and illuminated by the green light source. The green optical image from the display on the panel 388 is deflected by the mirror 388 to the right. In other words, the panel 382 is used to provide two of the three sequential colors (i.e., red and blue) while the panel 384 provides the green color twice, each right after one of the sequential colors by the panel 382. The deflected lights (four colored optical images) may be merged optically or to be merged in human visions.
In a preferred embodiment, the panels in
According to one embodiment as shown in
Referring now to
The waveguide 500 is transparent and shaped appropriately at the end of 500 to allow the image 502 to be propagated along the waveguide 500 to the end 506, where a user 508 can see through the waveguide 500 so as to see the propagated image 510 therein. According to one embodiment, one or more films are disposed upon the waveguide 500 to amplify the propagated image 510 so that the eye 508 can see a significantly amplified image 512. One example of such films is what is called metalenses, essentially an array of thin titanium dioxide nanofins on a glass substrate.
Referring now to
Each of the microdisplays 522 and 524 includes one or more display panels that may correspond to the examples shown respectively in
The entire circuit 520 is controlled and driven by a controller 530 that is programmed to generate the content. According to one embodiment, the circuit 520 is designed to communicate with the Internet (not shown), receive the content from other devices. In particular, the circuit 520 includes an interface to receive a sensing signal from a remote sensor (e.g., the sensor 266 of
The present invention has been described in sufficient detail with a certain degree of particularity. It is understood to those skilled in the art that the present disclosure of embodiments has been made by way of examples only and that numerous changes in the arrangement and combination of parts may be resorted without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the forgoing description of embodiments.
Claims
1. An optical image generator comprising:
- a substrate;
- at most three two-dimensional panels including: a first array of self-illuminated elements; a second array of self-illuminated elements; and a third array of self-illuminated elements, wherein the first array, the second array and third array of self-illuminated elements are deposed on the substrate and next to each other in parallel, the self-illuminated elements in the first array, the second array, and the third array are respectively deposed with a layer of first homogeneous color filters, second homogeneous color filters and third homogeneous color filters, the first, second and third array of self-illuminated elements are driven by a circuit receiving image data, the first array, the second array, and the third array of self-illuminated elements each display a first monochromatic image, a second monochromatic image, and a third monochromatic image, all contents in the first monochromatic image, the second monochromatic image, and the third monochromatic image are identical but in different colors, the first monochromatic image, the second monochromatic image, and the third monochromatic image are next to each other in parallel; and
- a set of mirrors, each of the mirrors deposed above, facing at an angle, one of the first array, the second array, and the third array of self-illuminated elements, wherein the first, the second and the third monochromatic images from the first array, the second array, and the third array are registered optically via an arrangement of the mirrors and reproduce a full color optical image when combined via the mirrors.
2. The optical image generator as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the mirrors produces one of the first, the second and the third monochromatic images from a displayed image on the first array, the second array, and the third array of self-illuminated elements.
3. The optical image generator as recited in claim 2, wherein each of the mirrors reflects one monochromatic image at 90 degrees.
4. The optical image generator as recited in claim 2, further comprising:
- a focusing mechanism disposed to capture the three monochromatic images and project the combined full color optical image into a light bar.
5. The optical image generator as recited in claim 4, wherein the focusing mechanism includes a collimator provided to collimate the three monochromatic images.
6. The optical image generator as recited in claim 1, wherein the first array, the second array, and the third array of self-illuminated elements are self-aligned on the substrate but displaced with respect to each other.
7. The optical image generator as recited in claim 6, wherein the first, the second and the third monochromatic images are registered optically.
8. The optical image generator as recited in claim 1, wherein the angle is 45 degrees, at least one of the mirrors is a deflector, another one of the mirrors is coated with a type of material being reflective for one color and transmissive for another color.
9. The optical image generator as recited in claim 1, wherein the first homogeneous color filters, second homogeneous color filters and third homogeneous color filters are based on three primary colors.
10. The optical image generator as recited in claim 9, wherein the three primary colors are red, green and blue.
11. The optical image generator as recited in claim 10, wherein the first array, the second array, third array of self-illuminated elements and the first homogeneous color filters, second homogeneous color filters, third homogeneous color filters are integrated in form of cuboid.
12. The optical image generator as recited in claim 11, wherein the elements are either μOLED or μLED.
13. The optical image generator as recited in claim 1, coupled to an active optical cable and receiving the image data therefrom.
14. The optical image generator as recited in claim 13, wherein the active optical cable includes at least two wires to energize the optical image generator and at least one optical fiber transmitting image data and control signals.
15. The optical image generator as recited in claim 14, wherein the image data and control signals are provided from an enclosure wearable by a user, the active optical cable couples the optical image generator to the enclosure to receive the image data and control signals therefrom.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 31, 2021
Publication Date: Sep 23, 2021
Inventor: Darwin Hu (San Jose, CA)
Application Number: 17/218,183