AUGMENTED REALITY DISPLAY COMPRISING EYEPIECE HAVING A TRANSPARENT EMISSIVE DISPLAY

Smart overview of the Invention

The augmented reality head mounted display system features an eyepiece with a transparent emissive display. Positioned in the optical path of the user's eye, it transmits light to form images while allowing the user to see the outside environment through the display. This system leverages a plurality of emitters to project light into the user's eye, creating a seamless integration of virtual content with real-world views.

Background

Augmented reality (AR) technology enhances real-world experiences by overlaying digital content onto the user's view. Unlike virtual reality (VR), which immerses users in a completely virtual environment, AR combines digital information with the physical world. Mixed reality (MR), a subset of AR, involves virtual objects that interact with the real environment. The complexity of human visual perception presents challenges in developing AR systems that offer a natural and comfortable viewing experience.

System Components

The head mounted display system includes a frame and an eyepiece with a transparent emissive display. The eyepiece is designed to be positioned in front of the user's eye, allowing light from the environment to pass through while displaying augmented reality content. The display can be an organic light emitting diode (OLED) and may include lens arrays to manage light divergence and refraction, enhancing image quality and user experience.

Advanced Features

Additional components such as proximal and distal lens arrays or variable focus optical elements can be integrated into the system. These elements adjust focus and optical power to refine image clarity and depth perception. Occluders, which are spatial light modulators, can selectively block or transmit light to enhance or obscure parts of the view, providing greater control over how augmented content is perceived relative to real-world objects.

Customization and Flexibility

The system is highly customizable, offering various configurations for different applications. For instance, the transparent emissive area can cover at least 50% or even 75% of the eyepiece's surface, depending on user needs. This flexibility allows for tailored AR experiences, accommodating diverse scenarios from simple overlays to complex interactive environments.