Patent Application
20230314809
The present disclosure generally relates to optical devices and, more specifically, to a foveated near-eye display with retinal resolution and large field of view.
Artificial reality is a form of reality that has been adjusted in some manner before presentation to a user, which may include, e.g., virtual reality (“VR”), augmented reality (“AR”), mixed reality (“MR”), hybrid reality, or some combination and/or derivatives thereof. Artificial reality content may include computer generated content or computer generated content combined with real world captured content (e.g., real-world photographs). The artificial reality content may include video, audio, haptic feedback, or some combination thereof, and any of which may be presented in a single channel or in multiple channels (such as stereo video that produces a three-dimensional effect to the viewer). Artificial reality may be associated with applications, products, accessories, services, or some combination thereof. The applications, products, accessories, or services may be used to create content in artificial reality and/or may be used in for performing activities in artificial reality. The artificial reality system that provides the artificial reality content may be implemented on various platforms, including a head-mounted display (“HMD”) connected to a host computer system, a standalone HMD, a mobile device or computing system, or any other hardware platform capable of providing artificial reality content to one or more viewers.
One aspect of the present disclosure provides a device that includes a display element and a lens assembly. The lens assembly includes a polarization non-selective partial reflector, a polarization selective reflector and a polarization switch disposed at opposite sides of the polarization non-selective partial reflector, and a polarization selective transmissive lens disposed between the polarization switch and the polarization non-selective partial reflector. The device also includes a controller configured to: during a first sub-frame of a display frame, control the display element to display a first virtual sub-image including content of a first portion of a virtual image, and control the polarization switch to operate in a switching state. The controller is also configured to: during a second sub-frame of the display frame, control the display element to display a second virtual sub-image including content of a second portion of the virtual image, and control the polarization switch to operate in a non-switching state.
Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a method including, during a first sub-frame of a display frame, controlling, by a controller, a display element to display a first virtual sub-image including content of a first portion of a virtual image. The method also includes, during the first sub-frame of the display frame, controlling, by the controller, a polarization switch included in a lens assembly to operate in a switching state, the lens assembly including a polarization non-selective partial reflector, a polarization selective reflector and the polarization switch disposed at opposites sides of the polarization non-selective partial reflector, and a polarization selective transmissive lens disposed between the polarization switch and the polarization non-selective partial reflector. The method also includes, during a second sub-frame of the display frame, controlling, by the controller, the display element to display a second virtual sub-image including content of a second portion of the virtual image. The method also includes, during the second sub-frame of the display frame, controlling, by the controller, the polarization switch to operate in a non-switching state.
Other aspects of the present disclosure can be understood by those skilled in the art in light of the description, the claims, and the drawings of the present disclosure.
The following drawings are provided for illustrative purposes according to various disclosed embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. In the drawings:
Embodiments consistent with the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are merely examples for illustrative purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or similar parts, and a detailed description thereof may be omitted.
Further, in the present disclosure, the disclosed embodiments and the features of the disclosed embodiments may be combined. The described embodiments are some but not all of the embodiments of the present disclosure. Based on the disclosed embodiments, persons of ordinary skill in the art may derive other embodiments consistent with the present disclosure. For example, modifications, adaptations, substitutions, additions, or other variations may be made based on the disclosed embodiments. Such variations of the disclosed embodiments are still within the scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the present disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Instead, the scope of the present disclosure is defined by the appended claims.
As used herein, the terms “couple,” “coupled,” “coupling,” or the like may encompass an optical coupling, a mechanical coupling, an electrical coupling, an electromagnetic coupling, or any combination thereof. An “optical coupling” between two optical elements refers to a configuration in which the two optical elements are arranged in an optical series, and a light output from one optical element may be directly or indirectly received by the other optical element. An optical series refers to optical positioning of a plurality of optical elements in a light path, such that a light output from one optical element may be transmitted, reflected, diffracted, converted, modified, or otherwise processed or manipulated by one or more of other optical elements. In some embodiments, the sequence in which the plurality of optical elements are arranged may or may not affect an overall output of the plurality of optical elements. A coupling may be a direct coupling or an indirect coupling (e.g., coupling through an intermediate element).
The phrase “at least one of A or B” may encompass all combinations of A and B, such as A only, B only, or A and B. Likewise, the phrase “at least one of A, B, or C” may encompass all combinations of A, B, and C, such as A only, B only, C only, A and B, A and C, B and C, or A and B and C. The phrase “A and/or B” may be interpreted in a manner similar to that of the phrase “at least one of A or B.” For example, the phrase “A and/or B” may encompass all combinations of A and B, such as A only, B only, or A and B. Likewise, the phrase “A, B, and/or C” has a meaning similar to that of the phrase “at least one of A, B, or C.” For example, the phrase “A, B, and/or C” may encompass all combinations of A, B, and C, such as A only, B only, C only, A and B, A and C, B and C, or A and B and C.
When a first element is described as “attached,” “provided,” “formed,” “affixed,” “mounted,” “secured,” “connected,” “bonded,” “recorded,” or “disposed,” to, on, at, or at least partially in a second element, the first element may be “attached,” “provided,” “formed,” “affixed,” “mounted,” “secured,” “connected,” “bonded,” “recorded,” or “disposed,” to, on, at, or at least partially in the second element using any suitable mechanical or non-mechanical manner, such as depositing, coating, etching, bonding, gluing, screwing, press-fitting, snap-fitting, clamping, etc. In addition, the first element may be in direct contact with the second element, or there may be an intermediate element between the first element and the second element. The first element may be disposed at any suitable side of the second element, such as left, right, front, back, top, or bottom.
When the first element is shown or described as being disposed or arranged “on” the second element, term “on” is merely used to indicate an example relative orientation between the first element and the second element. The description may be based on a reference coordinate system shown in a figure, or may be based on a current view or example configuration shown in a figure. For example, when a view shown in a figure is described, the first element may be described as being disposed “on” the second element. It is understood that the term “on” may not necessarily imply that the first element is over the second element in the vertical, gravitational direction. For example, when the assembly of the first element and the second element is turned 180 degrees, the first element may be “under” the second element (or the second element may be “on” the first element). Thus, it is understood that when a figure shows that the first element is “on” the second element, the configuration is merely an illustrative example. The first element may be disposed or arranged at any suitable orientation relative to the second element (e.g., over or above the second element, below or under the second element, left to the second element, right to the second element, behind the second element, in front of the second element, etc.).
When the first element is described as being disposed “on” the second element, the first element may be directly or indirectly disposed on the second element. The first element being directly disposed on the second element indicates that no additional element is disposed between the first element and the second element. The first element being indirectly disposed on the second element indicates that one or more additional elements are disposed between the first element and the second element.
The term “processor” used herein may encompass any suitable processor, such as a central processing unit (“CPU”), a graphics processing unit (“GPU”), an application-specific integrated circuit (“ASIC”), a programmable logic device (“PLD”), or any combination thereof. Other processors not listed above may also be used. A processor may be implemented as software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof.
The term “controller” may encompass any suitable electrical circuit, software, or processor configured to generate a control signal for controlling a device, a circuit, an optical element, etc. A “controller” may be implemented as software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. For example, a controller may include a processor, or may be included as a part of a processor.
The term “non-transitory computer-readable medium” may encompass any suitable medium for storing, transferring, communicating, broadcasting, or transmitting data, signal, or information. For example, the non-transitory computer-readable medium may include a memory, a hard disk, a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a tape, etc. The memory may include a read-only memory (“ROM”), a random-access memory (“RAM”), a flash memory, etc.
The term “film,” “layer,” “coating,” or “plate” may include rigid or flexible, self-supporting or free-standing film, layer, coating, or plate, which may be disposed on a supporting substrate or between substrates. The terms “film,” “layer,” “coating,” and “plate” may be interchangeable. The term “film plane” refers to a plane in the film, layer, coating, or plate that is perpendicular to the thickness direction or a normal of a surface of the film, layer, coating, or plate. The film plane may be a plane in the volume of the film, layer, coating, or plate, or may be a surface plane of the film, layer, coating, or plate. The term “in-plane” as in, e.g., “in-plane orientation,” “in-plane direction,” “in-plane pitch,” etc., means that the orientation, direction, or pitch is within the film plane. The term “out-of-plane” as in, e.g., “out-of-plane direction,” “out-of-plane orientation,” or “out-of-plane pitch” etc., means that the orientation, direction, or pitch is not within a film plane (i.e., non-parallel with a film plane). For example, the direction, orientation, or pitch may be along a line that is perpendicular to a film plane, or that forms an acute or obtuse angle with respect to the film plane. For example, an “in-plane” direction or orientation may refer to a direction or orientation within a surface plane, an “out-of-plane” direction or orientation may refer to a thickness direction or orientation non-parallel with (e.g., perpendicular to) the surface plane. In some embodiments, an “out-of-plane” direction or orientation may form an acute or right angle with respect to the film plane.
The term “orthogonal” as in “orthogonal polarizations” or the term “orthogonally” as in “orthogonally polarized” means that an inner product of two vectors representing the two polarizations is substantially zero. For example, two lights or beams with orthogonal polarizations (or two orthogonally polarized lights or beams) may be two linearly polarized lights (or beams) with two orthogonal polarization directions (e.g., an x-axis direction and a y-axis direction in a Cartesian coordinate system) or two circularly polarized lights with opposite handednesses (e.g., a left-handed circularly polarized light and a right-handed circularly polarized light).
The wavelength ranges, spectra, or bands mentioned in the present disclosure are for illustrative purposes. The disclosed optical device, system, element, assembly, and method may be applied to a visible wavelength band, as well as other wavelength bands, such as an ultraviolet (“UV”) wavelength band, an infrared (“IR”) wavelength band, or a combination thereof.
The term “optic axis” may refer to a direction in a crystal. A light propagating in the optic axis direction may not experience birefringence (or double refraction). An optic axis may be a direction rather than a single line: lights that are parallel to that direction may experience no birefringence.
The term “substantially” or “primarily” used to modify an optical response action, such as transmit, reflect, diffract, block or the like that describes processing of a light means that a major portion, including all, of a light is transmitted, reflected, diffracted, or blocked, etc. The major portion may be a predetermined percentage (greater than 50%) of the entire light, such as 100%, 95%, 90%, 85%, 80%, etc., which may be determined based on specific application needs.
Foveated near-eye displays (“NEDs”) can be used to deliver immersive experience of mixed reality. A foveated NED delivers high resolution images in the eye gaze direction of a user (or in the central portion of a field of view (“FOV”)), along with low resolution peripheral images at the peripheral portions of the FOV, which allows the display specification to be more flexible and practical. However, it is challenging to design a compact optical system that provides both of the retinal resolution and a large FOV. Current display technology does not support a high angular resolution within a large FOV, e.g., 5 k resolution for 1 arcminute within ±60° FOV. In view of the limitations in the conventional technologies, the present disclosure provides a foveated NED with a small form factor, a light weight, a high resolution (e.g., retinal resolution), and a large FOV. The disclosed foveated NED may be implemented into an artificial reality system in the form of eyeglasses, goggles, a helmet, a visor, or some other type of eyewear to reduce the form factor of the system and improve the user experience.
The display element 104 may be configured to output an image light 121 representing a virtual image (or a portion of the virtual image) propagating toward the lens assembly 102. The lens assembly 102 may focus the image light 121 to propagate though one or more exit pupils 157 in the eye-box region 159. In some embodiments, each light outputting unit of the display element 104 may output a bundle of diverge rays (that is a portion of the image light 121), and the lens assembly 102 may be configured to convert the bundle of diverge rays to a bundle of parallel rays propagating through one or more exit pupils 157 in the eye-box region 159. In some embodiments, the bundle of parallel rays may substantially cover the entire eye-box region 159. For illustrative purposes,
For illustrative purposes,
The lens assembly 102 may include a first optical component 117, a second optical component 127, and a third optical component 137 arranged in an optical series, with the third optical component 137 disposed between the first optical component 117 and the second optical component 127. The first optical component 117 may be spaced apart from the second optical component 127 by a predetermined gap. In some embodiments, the third optical component 137 may include a polarization non-selective reflector. A polarization non-selective reflector may reflect an input light independent of the polarization. An example of the polarization non-selective reflector is a polarization non-selective partial reflector configured to partially transmit a portion of an input light and partially reflect a portion of the input light, independent of the polarization of the input light. The polarization non-selective reflector may also be simply referred to as a “partial reflector” in the following descriptions. Examples of the polarization non-selective partial reflector may include a volume Bragg grating (“VBG”), a 50:50 mirror (transmitting 50% and reflecting 50%), etc. The polarization non-selective partial reflector may be configured with or without an optical power. For the polarization non-selective reflector, the percentages of the input light for the transmitted portion and the reflected portion may be any suitable percentages, such as 10%/90%, 10%/80%, 30%/70%, 40%/60%, 50%/50%, etc. In the embodiment shown in
In some embodiments, the first optical component 117 may be configured as a reflective and polarization selective optical component with a lens function (i.e., configured with an optical power). For example, the first optical component 117 may include a single reflective and polarization selective optical element with a lens function (e.g., a single reflective and polarization selective lens), or may include two optical elements respectively configured with a polarization selective lens function and a polarization selective reflection function. In some embodiments, the first optical component 117 may include a polarization selective reflector 115. A polarization selective reflector may be configured to reflect an input light having a first polarization (e.g., a circular polarization, or linear polarization), and transmit an input light having a second polarization (e.g., an orthogonal circular polarization, or an orthogonal linear polarization) different from (e.g., orthogonal to) the first polarization. Examples of the polarization selective reflector may include a linear reflective polarizer, a circular reflective polarizer, etc. The polarization selective reflector may or may not be configured with an optical power. When configured with an optical power, the polarization selective reflector may also function as a reflective lens to backwardly diverge or converge an input light having the first polarization, and transmit an input light having the second polarization while substantially maintaining the propagation direction of the input light. For discussion purposes, the polarization selective reflector configured with an optical power may also be referred to as a reflective polarization selective lens.
A reflective polarization volume hologram (“PVH”) element based on self-organized cholesteric liquid crystals (“CLCs”) is an example of polarization selective reflector. A reflective PVH element with an optical power (also referred to as PVH lens) is an example of reflective polarization selective lens. For discussion purposes, the reflective PVH lens may also be referred to as a slanted or patterned CLC lens. The reflective PVH lens may be narrowband (e.g., including a single CLC layer having a fixed helical pitch) or broadband (e.g., including a CLC layer having a gradient helical pitch, or a plurality of CLC layers having different helical pitches). The reflective PVH element described herein may be fabricated based on various methods, such as holographic interference, laser direct writing, ink-jet printing, and various other forms of lithography. Thus, a “hologram” described herein is not limited to creation by holographic interference, or “holography.”
In the embodiment shown in
In some embodiments, the first optical component 117 may also include a first polarizer 113 coupled with the polarization selective reflector 115. The first polarizer 113 may be disposed between the polarization selective reflector 115 and the display element 104 (i.e., disposed at a side of the polarization selective reflector 115 opposite to a side that faces the mirror 137). In some embodiments, the first polarizer 113 may be an absorptive polarizer configured to transmit an input light having the second polarization (e.g., LHCP light), and block, via absorption, an input light having the first polarization (e.g., RHCP light). In some embodiments, the display element 104 may be configured to output the image light 121 that is an unpolarized or linearly polarized image light. The first polarizer 113 may be configured to convert the image light 121 into a polarized image light having the second polarization, e.g., a circularly polarized image light having a second handedness (e.g., an LHCP light) propagating toward the polarization selective reflector 115. In some embodiments, the first polarizer 113 may be omitted.
The second optical component 127 may be configured to converge the image light received from the mirror 137. In some embodiments, the second optical component 127 may include a first transmissive lens 125, a polarization switch 129, and a second transmissive lens 135 arranged in a stack configuration. In some embodiments, as shown in
A transmissive lens may converge or diverge an input light while transmitting the input light. A transmissive lens may be polarization selective or polarization non-selective. In the disclosed embodiments, the first transmissive lens 125 may be a polarization selective transmissive lens. In some embodiments, the first transmissive lens 125 may include a Pancharatnam-Berry Phase (“PBP”) lens configured to focus or converge an input light having a predetermined polarization while transmitting the input light, and defocus or diverge an input light having a polarization that is orthogonal to the predetermined polarization while transmitting the input light. In other words, the first transmissive lens 125 may provide a positive optical power to an input light having the predetermined polarization, and a negative optical power to an input light having the polarization that is orthogonal to the predetermined polarization. In some embodiments, the first transmissive lens 125 may change the polarization of the input light to an orthogonal polarization while transmitting the input light. For example, the first transmissive lens 125 may be configured to converge an input light having the second polarization (e.g., an LHCP light) as an output light having the first polarization (e.g., an RHCP light), and diverge an input light having the first polarization (e.g., an RHCP light) as an output light having the second polarization (e.g., an LHCP light). In other words, the first transmissive lens 125 may provide a positive optical power to the LHCP light, and a negative optical power to the RHCP light. The provided positive optical power and negative optical power may have the same absolute value. For the input light having the first polarization or the input light having the second polarization, the first transmissive lens 125 may provide a fixed optical power or an adjustable optical power.
In some embodiments, the controller 116 may be communicatively coupled with the polarization switch 129 to control the operation states of the polarization switch 129. The polarization switch 129 may be switchable by the controller 116 between two operating states: a switching state and a non-switching state. The polarization switch 129 operating in the switching state may switch a polarization of a polarized light to an orthogonal polarization, e.g., converting an input light having the first polarization (e.g., an RHCP light) into an output light having the second polarization (e.g., an LHCP light) while transmitting the input light, or converting an input light having the second polarization (e.g., an LHCP light) into an output light having the first polarization (e.g., an RHCP light) while transmitting the input light. The polarization switch 129 operating in the non-switching state may maintain the polarization of the polarized light. The polarization switch 129 may be presumed to maintain the propagation direction of the polarized input light.
In some embodiments, the polarization switch 129 may include a switchable half-wave plate (“SHWP”). For example, the SHWP may include an LC layer and one or more electrodes. An external electric field (e.g., a voltage) may be applied to the LC layer through the electrodes to change the orientation of the LCs, thereby controlling the SHWP to operate in a switching state or in a non-switching state. For example, the SHWP may operate in the switching state when the applied voltage is lower than or equal to a predetermined voltage value, or operate in the non-switching state when the voltage is higher than the predetermined voltage value (and sufficiently high) to reorient the LC directors along the electric field direction. In some embodiments, the polarization switch 129 may include a waveplate (e.g., a quarter waveplate) and a twisted-nematic liquid crystal (“TNLC”) cell, with the waveplate disposed between the TNLC cell and the first transmissive lens 125.
The second transmissive lens 135 may be a suitable transmissive lens, e.g., configured to converge the image light output from the polarization switch 129. The second transmissive lens 135 may be polarization selective or polarization non-selective. Examples of the second transmissive lens 135 may include a conventional solid lens including at least one curved surface (e.g., a glass lens, a polymer lens, or a resin lens, etc.), a liquid lens, a liquid crystal lens, a Fresnel lens, a meta lens, a PBP lens, a diffractive lens, a transmissive PVH lens, etc. In some embodiments, the second transmissive lens 135 may be based on sub-wavelength structures, liquid crystals, a photo-refractive holographic material, or a combination thereof. The second transmissive lens 135 may be configured with a fixed optical power or a tunable optical power. For discussion purposes,
In some embodiments, the second optical component 127 may also include a second polarizer 123 disposed between the second transmissive lens 135 and the polarization switch 129. In some embodiments, the second polarizer 123 may be an absorptive polarizer configured to transmit an input light having the second polarization (e.g., LHCP light), and block, via absorption, an input light having the first polarization (e.g., RHCP light). The second polarizer 123 may block, via absorption, an image light having a predetermined undesirable polarization (e.g., an RHCP image light), thereby enhancing the image quality at the eye-box region 159. In other words, the second polarizer 123 may function as a “clean up” polarizer that removes, via absorption, an image light having the predetermined undesirable polarization. In some embodiments, the second polarizer 123 may be omitted.
Various elements included in the system 100 are shown in
In some embodiments, the reflective PVH or CLC element (e.g., the first polarization selective reflector 115) and the PBP lens (e.g., the first transmissive lens 125, and the second transmissive lens 135) included in the lens assembly 102 may also be referred to as liquid crystal polarization holograms (“LCPHs”) or LCPH elements. LCPH elements have features such as small thickness (˜1 um), light weight, compactness, large aperture, high efficiency, simple fabrication, etc. The LCPH elements may be fabricated based on a liquid crystal (“LC”) material or a birefringent photo-refractive holographic material other than LCs. The LCPH elements described herein may be fabricated based on various methods, such as holographic interference, laser direct writing, ink-jet printing, and various other forms of lithography. Thus, a “hologram” described herein is not limited to creation by holographic interference, or “holography.” Examples of LCPH elements that may be included in the lens assembly 102 will be explained in connection with
In the disclosed embodiments, the lens assembly 102 may be configured to provide two different optical paths to image lights output from the display element 104 toward the eye-box region 159. The two optical paths may include a first optical path for providing a periphery view with a relatively large FOV and a relatively low angular resolution, and a second optical path for providing a foveal view with a relatively small FOV and a relatively high angular resolution (e.g., retinal resolution). For discussion purposes, the first optical path and the second optical path may also be referred to as a periphery path and a foveal path, respectively. The lens assembly 102 may be switchable, via the controller 116, between providing the first optical path and providing the second optical path. For example, the controller 116 may be configured to control the lens assembly 102 to switch between providing the first optical path and providing the second optical path in a time-sequential manner, via controlling the polarization switch 129 to switch between operating in the switching state and the non-switching state in a time-sequential manner.
For discussion purposes, in
As shown in
In addition, the polarization selective reflector 115 may reflect and converge the image light 226R received from the mirror 137 as an image light 228R propagating toward the mirror 137. The mirror 137 may transmit a first portion of the image light 228R as an image light 230R propagating toward the first transmissive lens 125, and reflect a second portion of the image light 228R back to the polarization selective reflector 115 as an LHCP image light (not shown). The first transmissive lens 125 may diverge the image light 230R as an image light 232L propagating toward the polarization switch 129. The polarization switch 129 operating in the switching state may transmit the image light 232L as an image light 234R propagating toward the second polarizer 123. The second polarizer 123 may block the image light 234R via absorption. Thus, the eye 156 positioned at the exit pupil 157 within the eye-box region 159 may not perceive the image light 234R and, thus, may not perceive a ghost image formed by the image light 234R.
As shown in
The polarization selective reflector 115 may reflect and converge the image light 266R as an image light 268R propagating toward the mirror 137. The mirror 137 may transmit a first portion of the image light 268R as an image light 270R propagating toward the first transmissive lens 125, and reflect a second portion of the image light 268R back to the polarization selective reflector 115 as an LHCP image light (not shown). The first transmissive lens 125 may diverge the image light 270R as an image light 272L propagating toward the polarization switch 129. The polarization switch 129 operating in the non-switching state may transmit the image light 272L as an image light 274L propagating toward the second polarizer 123. The second polarizer 123 may transmit the image light 274L as an image light 276L propagating toward the second transmissive lens 135. The second transmissive lens 135 may converge the image light 276L as an image light 278R propagating toward the eye-box region 159. The light intensity of the image light 278R may be about 25% of the light intensity of the image light 262L output from the display element 104. Thus, the eye 156 positioned at the exit pupil 157 within the eye-box region 159 may perceive the image light 278R representing the second portion of the virtual image displayed by the display element 104.
In addition, the first transmissive lens 125 may converge the image light 267L received from the mirror 137 as an image light 269R propagating toward the polarization switch 129. The polarization switch 129 operating in the non-switching state may transmit the image light 269R as an image light 271R propagating toward the second polarizer 123. The second polarizer 123 may block the image light 271R via absorption. Thus, the eye 156 positioned at the exit pupil 157 within the eye-box region 159 may not perceive the image light 271R and, thus, may not perceive a ghost image formed by the image light 271R.
Referring to
In addition, the respective optical powers of the polarization selective reflector 115, the first transmissive lens 125, and the second transmissive lens 135 may be configured, such that the lens assembly 102 may be configured to provide a greater optical power to an image light output from the display element 104 when the polarization switch 129 operates in the switching state than an image light output from the display element 104 when the polarization switch 129 operates in the non-switching state. That is, the lens assembly 102 may be configured to provide a greater optical power to the image light 221L propagating along the first optical path (or the periphery path) than to the image light 262L propagating along the second optical path (or the foveal path). For example, the optical power of the polarization selective reflector 115 may be configured to be +D1 (unit: Diopter) for an RHCP light and 0 for an LHCP light, the optical power of the first transmissive lens 125 may be configured to be −D2 (unit: Diopter) for an RHCP light and +D2 (unit: Diopter) for an LHCP light, and the optical power of the second transmissive lens 135 may be configured to be +D3 (unit: Diopter) for an LHCP light, where D1 is a value greater than or equal to zero, and D2 and D3 are values greater than zero. Thus, the lens assembly 102 may provide a total optical power of (+D2+D3) to the image light 221L propagating along the periphery path, and a total optical power of (+D1−D2+D3) to the image light 262L propagating along the foveal path. The lens assembly 102 may form a magnified, upright, virtual image of the display element 104 at the predetermined image plane, and the total optical power of (+D2+D3) or (+D1−D2+D3) provided by the lens assembly 102 may be greater than zero.
When the optical power D1 of the polarization selective reflector 115 is equal to zero, the total optical power of (+D2+D3) provided by the lens assembly 102 to the image light 221L is greater than the total optical power of (— D2+D3) provided by the lens assembly 102 to the image light 262L. When optical power D1 of the polarization selective reflector 115 is greater than zero, the respective optical powers D1, D2, and D3 may be configured, such that the total optical power of (+D2+D3) provided by the lens assembly 102 to the image light 221L is greater than the total optical power of (+D1−D2+D3) provided by the lens assembly 102 to the image light 262L.
As the angular resolution (unit: pixel per degree (“PPD”)) depends on the pixel pitch and the effective focal length (or the optical power) of the lens assembly 102, a longer effective focal length (or a smaller optical power) may result in a higher resolution when the pixel pitch is fixed. Thus, the second optical path (or the foveal path) of the image light 262L shown in FIG. 2B may provide a higher resolution than the first optical path (or the periphery path) of the image light 221L shown in
In some embodiments, the display element 104 may be configured to output the image light 221L and the image light 262L during different time periods, e.g., a first sub-frame and a second sub-frame of a display frame, respectively. Accordingly, the polarization switch 129 may operate in the switching state during the first sub-frame, and operate in the non-switching state during the second sub-frame. In the disclosed embodiments, the distances between the various elements (e.g., the polarization selective reflector 115, the first transmissive lens 125, and the second transmissive lens 135) included in the lens assembly 102 may be configured, and the respective optical powers of the polarization selective reflector 115, the first transmissive lens 125, and the second transmissive lens 135 may be configured, such that the lens assembly 102 may image the display element 104 to a same predetermined image plane during the first sub-frame and the second sub-frame. In some embodiments, when the distances between the various elements included in the lens assembly 102 are fixed, the respective optical powers of the polarization selective reflector 115, the first transmissive lens 125, and the second transmissive lens 135 may be configured, such that the lens assembly 102 may be configured to image the display element 104 to a same predetermined image plane during the first sub-frame and the second sub-frame. In other words, no matter the polarization switch 129 operates in the switching state or in the non-switching state, the lens assembly 102 may image the display element 104 to a same predetermined image plane having a same predetermined axial distance to the eye-box region 159 along the optical axis 120.
For example, when the polarization switch 129 operates in the switching state during the first sub-frame, the lens assembly 102 may form a first magnified image (having a first magnification) of the display element 104 that outputs the image light 221L propagating along the periphery path at the same predetermined image plane. When the polarization switch 129 operates in the non-switching state during the second sub-frame, the lens assembly 102 may form a second magnified image (having a second magnification) of the display element 104 that outputs the image light 262L propagating along the foveal path at the same predetermined image plane. The magnification may be calculated as the size of the magnified image divided by the size (e.g., panel size) of the display element 104. The difference between the first magnification and the second magnification may be determined, in part, by the optical power distributions among the polarization selective reflector 115, the first transmissive lens 125, and the second transmissive lens 135. In some embodiments, the first magnification may be configured to be greater than the second magnification.
In some embodiments, although not shown, the polarization switch 129 may operate in the non-switching state when the display element 104 outputs the image light 221L propagating along the periphery path, and operate in the switching state when the display element 104 outputs the image light 262L propagating along the foveal path. The second polarizer 123 may be configured to transmit an input light having the first polarization (e.g., RHCP light), and block, via absorption, an input light having the second polarization (e.g., LHCP light).
The original virtual image 305 shown in
For example, in some embodiments, the display frame of the display element 104 may be divided into a first sub-frame and a consecutive second sub-frame. The controller 116 may control the display element 104 to display only the content of the periphery portion 305-1 in the first sub-frame and display only the content of the foveal portion 305-2 in the second sub-frame, or display only the content of the periphery portion 305-1 in the second sub-frame and display only the content of the foveal portion 305-2 in the first sub-frame. In some embodiments, the controller 116 may provide the first image data portion 302-1 to the display element 104 during the first sub-frame, and provide the second image data portion 302-2 to the display element 104 during the second sub-frame.
The sizes (or areas) of the first virtual sub-image 315, the periphery portion 315-1, and the foveal portion 315-2 may be designated as S1, S11, and S12, respectively, where S1=S11, +S12. In the embodiments shown in
The optical path of the image light 221L shown in
Thus, during the first sub-frame, the lens assembly 102 may form an image including the content of the periphery portion 305-1 of the original virtual image 305 shown in
Referring to
Referring to
Thus, during the second sub-frame, the lens assembly 102 may form an image displaying the content of the foveal portion 305-2 of the original virtual image 305 at the predetermined image plane 360. The lens assembly 102 may provide a relatively small FOV and a relatively high angular resolution during the second sub-frame. The second magnified image 380 may present the content of the foveal portion 305-2 of the original virtual image 305 shown in
Specifically, the superimposed magnified image 390 may include a periphery portion 390-1, and a foveal portion 390-2 surrounded by the periphery portion 390-1. The periphery portion 390-1 may correspond to (or may be formed by) the first magnified image 370, which presents the same content as the periphery portion 305-1 of the original virtual image 305 (also the same content as the periphery portion 315-1 of the first virtual sub-image 315). The foveal portion 390-2 may correspond to (or may be formed by) the second magnified image 380, which presents the same content as the foveal portion 305-2 of the original virtual image 305 (also the same content as the second virtual sub-image 325). The foveal portion 390-2 may correspond to the second magnified image 380 formed at the same position of the foveal portion 370-2 of the first magnified image 370. As the display element 104 and the lens assembly 102 are synchronized to provide a relatively large FOV and a relatively low angular resolution during the first sub-frame, and to provide a relatively small FOV and a relatively high angular resolution during the second sub-frame, the system 100 may present the periphery portion 390-1 of the superimposed magnified image 390 with a relatively large FOV and a relatively low angular resolution, and present the foveal portion 390-2 of the superimposed magnified image 390 with a relatively small FOV and a relatively high angular resolution. Accordingly, during the entire display frame, the eye 156 positioned at the exit pupil 157 within the eye-box region 159 may perceive the content of the periphery portion 305-1 of the original virtual image 305 with a relatively large FOV and a relatively low angular resolution, and the content of the foveal portion 305-2 of the original virtual image 305 with a relatively small FOV and a relatively high angular resolution.
For example, referring to
During the operation of the system 100, the controller 116 may control the display element 104 to switch between displaying the first virtual sub-image 315 shown in
For discussion purposes,
Referring to
The method 400 may also include during a second sub-frame of the display frame, controlling, by the controller, the display element to display a second virtual sub-image, and the polarization switch included in the lens assembly to operate in a non-switching state (step 430). The second virtual sub-image may include content of a second portion of the virtual image stored in the storage device 118. The method 400 may include during the second sub-frame of the display frame, forming, by the lens assembly, at the predetermined image plane, a second magnified image of the display element displaying the second virtual sub-image (step 440). The first magnified image and the second magnified image of the display element may have a first magnification and a second magnification, respectively. The first magnification may be different from the second magnification.
In some embodiments, the method 400 may include retrieving image date of the virtual image from the storage device 118, and partitioning the image date into a first image data portion and a second image data portion. The first image data portion may correspond to (or represent the content of) the first portion of the virtual image. The second image data portion may correspond to (or represent the content of) the second portion of the virtual image that is surrounded by the first portion.
In some embodiments, one of the first portion and the second portion of the virtual image may be a periphery portion of the virtual image, and the other one of the first portion and the second portion of the virtual image may be a foveal portion surrounded by the periphery portion. In some embodiments, step 410 may include, during the first sub-frame of the display frame, controlling, by the controller, the display element to output a first image light forming the first virtual sub-image that includes the content of the periphery portion of the virtual image. In some embodiments, step 420 may include providing, by the lens assembly, a first optical power and a first optical path to the first image light propagating from the display element to an eye-box region. In some embodiments, step 430 may include, during the second sub-frame of the display frame, controlling, by the controller, the display element to output a second image light forming the second virtual sub-image that includes the content of the foveal portion of the virtual image. In some embodiments, step 440 may include providing, by the lens assembly, a second optical power and a second optical path to the second image light propagating from the display element to the eye-box region. In some embodiments, the first optical power may be greater than the second optical power, and the first optical path may be shorter than the second optical path.
In some embodiments, the method 400 may include controlling, by the controller, the display element to switch between displaying the first virtual sub-image and the second virtual sub-image at a predetermined frequency. In some embodiments, the method 400 may include controlling, by the controller, the polarization switch to switch between operating in the switching state and operating in the non-switching state at the predetermined frequency. In some embodiments, the predetermined frequency is at least 60 Hz. In some embodiments, the polarization selective transmissive lens is a first transmissive lens, and the lens assembly may also include a second transmissive lens, and a polarizer disposed between the first transmissive lens and the second transmissive lens. The first transmissive lens and the second transmissive lens may be disposed at opposite sides of the polarization switch. In some embodiments, step 410 may include, during the first sub-frame, controlling, by the controller, the display element to output a first image light forming the first virtual sub-image that includes content of the first portion of the virtual image toward the polarization selective reflector. In some embodiments, step 430 may include, during the first sub-frame, transmitting, by the polarization selective reflector, the first image light having a first polarization toward the partial reflector. In some embodiments, step 430 may include, during the first sub-frame, transmitting, by the partial reflector, a first portion of the first image light toward the first transmissive lens. In some embodiments, step 430 may include, during the first sub-frame, converging, by the first transmissive lens, the first portion of the first image light toward the polarization switch as a second image light having a second polarization that is orthogonal to the first polarization. In some embodiments, step 430 may include, during the first sub-frame, controlling, by the controller, the polarization switch to operate in the switching state to convert the second image light into a third image light having the first polarization toward the polarizer. In some embodiments, step 430 may include, during the first sub-frame, transmitting, by the polarizer, the third image light toward the second transmissive lens, and converging, by the second transmissive lens, the third image light.
In some embodiments, step 420 may include, during the second sub-frame, controlling, by the controller, the display element to output a fourth image light forming the second virtual sub-image that includes content of the second portion of the virtual image toward the polarization selective reflector. In some embodiments, step 440 may include, during the second sub-frame, transmitting, by the polarization selective reflector, the fourth image light having the first polarization toward the partial reflector. In some embodiments, step 440 may include, during the second sub-frame, reflecting, by the partial reflector, a portion of the fourth image light back to the polarization selective reflector as a fifth image light having the second polarization. In some embodiments, step 440 may include, during the second sub-frame, reflecting, by the polarization selective reflector, the fifth image back to the partial reflector as a sixth image light having the second polarization. In some embodiments, the 440 may include, during the second sub-frame, transmitting, by the partial reflector, a portion of the sixth image light toward the first transmissive lens. In some embodiments, step 440 may include, during the second sub-frame, diverging, by the first transmissive lens, the portion of the sixth image light toward the polarization switch as a seventh image light having the first polarization. In some embodiments, step 440 may include, during the second sub-frame, controlling, by the controller, the polarization switch to operate in the non-switching state to transmit the seventh image light toward the polarizer. In some embodiments, step 440 may include, during the second sub-frame, transmitting, by the polarizer, the seventh image light toward the second transmissive lens; and converging, by the second transmissive lens, the seventh image light. Detailed descriptions and examples of the polarization selective reflector, the partial reflector, the first transmissive lens, the second transmissive lens, the polarization switch, and the polarizer can refer to the above descriptions rendered in connection with
The object tracking system 530 may be an eye tracking system and/or face tracking system. The object tracking system 530 may include an infrared (“IR”) light source 531 configured to emit an IR light to illuminate the eyes 156 and/or the face. The object tracking system 530 may also include an optical sensor 533, such as a camera, configured to receive the IR light reflected by each eye 156 and generate a tracking signal relating to the eye 156, such as an image of the eye 156. In some embodiments, the object tracking system 530 may also include an IR deflecting element (not shown) configured to deflect the IR light reflected by the eye 156 toward the optical sensor 533.
The display device 510 may display virtual (i.e., computer-generated) images to a user. In some embodiments, the display device 510 may include a single or multiple display elements 104. In some embodiments, the display element 104 may be an electronic display. For discussion purposes,
In some embodiments, the LCPH element 600 may include a birefringent medium (e.g., an LC material) in a form of a layer, which may be referred to as a birefringent medium layer 615. The birefringent medium layer 615 may have a first surface 615-1 and an opposing second surface 615-2. The first surface 615-1 and the second surface 615-2 may be surfaces along the light propagating path of the incident beam 602. The birefringent medium layer 615 may include optically anisotropic molecules (e.g., LC molecules) configured with a 3D orientational pattern to provide a predetermined phase profile associated with a predetermined optical response.
For discussion purposes, rod-like LC molecules 612 are used as examples of the optically anisotropic molecules 612. The rod-like LC molecule 612 may have a longitudinal axis (or an axis in the length direction) and a lateral axis (or an axis in the width direction). The longitudinal axis of the LC molecule 612 may be referred to as a director of the LC molecule 612 or an LC director. An orientation of the LC director may determine a local optic axis orientation or an orientation of the optic axis at a local point of the birefringent medium layer 615. The term “optic axis” may refer to a direction in a crystal. A light propagating in the optic axis direction may not experience birefringence (or double refraction). An optic axis may be a direction rather than a single line: lights that are parallel with that direction may experience no birefringence. The local optic axis may refer to an optic axis within a predetermined region of a crystal.
As shown in the enlarged view in
As shown in
As shown in
In addition, the orientations of the directors of the LC molecules 612 located in close proximity to the surface of the birefringent medium layer 615 may exhibit a rotation in a predetermined rotation direction, e.g., a clockwise direction or a counter-clockwise direction. Accordingly, the rotation of the orientations of the directors of the LC molecules 612 located in close proximity to the surface of the birefringent medium layer 615 may exhibit a handedness, e.g., right handedness or left handedness. In the embodiment shown in
Although not shown, in some embodiments, the orientations of the directors of the LC molecules 612 located in close proximity to the surface of the birefringent medium layer 615 may exhibit a rotation in a counter-clockwise direction. Accordingly, the rotation of the orientations of the directors of the LC molecules 612 located in close proximity to the surface of the birefringent medium layer 615 may exhibit a right handedness. Although not shown, in some embodiments, within the surface of the birefringent medium layer 615, domains in which the orientations of the directors of the LC molecules 612 exhibit a rotation in a clockwise direction (referred to as domains DL) and domains in which the orientations of the directors of the LC molecules 612 exhibit a rotation in a counter-clockwise direction (referred to as domains DR) may be alternatingly arranged in at least one in-plane direction, e.g., in x-axis and y-axis directions.
As shown in
The birefringent medium layer 615 may also have a vertical periodicity (or pitch) Pv which may be defined as a distance along the thickness direction of the birefringent medium layer 615 over which the orientations of the LC directors of the LC molecules 612 exhibit a rotation around the helical axis 618 by 180° (or the azimuthal angles of the LC directors vary by) 180°.
The LC molecules 612 from the plurality of helical structures 617 having a first same orientation (e.g., same tilt angle and azimuthal angle) may form a first series of parallel refractive index planes 614 periodically distributed within the volume of the birefringent medium layer 615. Although not labeled, the LC molecules 612 with a second same orientation (e.g., same tilt angle and azimuthal angle) different from the first same orientation may form a second series of parallel refractive index planes periodically distributed within the volume of the birefringent medium layer 615. Different series of parallel refractive index planes may be formed by the LC molecules 612 having different orientations. In the same series of parallel and periodically distributed refractive index planes 614, the LC molecules 612 may have the same orientation and the refractive index may be the same. Different series of refractive index planes 614 may correspond to different refractive indices. When the number of the refractive index planes 614 (or the thickness of the birefringent medium layer) increases to a sufficient value, Bragg diffraction may be established according to the principles of volume gratings. Thus, the periodically distributed refractive index planes 614 may also be referred to as Bragg planes 614. The refractive index planes 614 may be slanted with respect to the first surface 615-1 or the second surface 615-2. Within the birefringent medium layer 615, there may exist different series of Bragg planes. A distance (or a period) between adjacent Bragg planes 614 of the same series may be referred to as a Bragg period PB. The different series of Bragg planes formed within the volume of the birefringent medium layer 615 may produce a varying refractive index profile that is periodically distributed in the volume of the birefringent medium layer 615. The birefringent medium layer 615 may diffract an input light satisfying a Bragg condition through Bragg diffraction.
The birefringent medium layer 615 may also include a plurality of LC molecule director planes (or molecule director planes) 616 arranged in parallel with one another within the volume of the birefringent medium layer 615. An LC molecule director plane (or an LC director plane) 616 may be a plane formed by or including the LC directors of the LC molecules 612. In the example shown in
In the embodiment shown in
In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides a device. The device includes a display element and a lens assembly. The lens assembly includes a polarization non-selective partial reflector, a polarization selective reflector and a polarization switch disposed at opposite sides of the polarization non-selective partial reflector, and a polarization selective transmissive lens disposed between the polarization switch and the polarization non-selective partial reflector. The device also includes a controller configured to: during a first sub-frame of a display frame, control the display element to display a first virtual sub-image including content of a first portion of a virtual image, and control the polarization switch to operate in a switching state. The controller is also configured to: during a second sub-frame of the display frame, control the display element to display a second virtual sub-image including content of a second portion of the virtual image, and control the polarization switch to operate in a non-switching state.
In some embodiments, the controller is further configured to retrieve image data of the virtual image, and partition the image data into a first image data portion representing the content of the first portion of the virtual image and a second image data portion representing the content of the second portion of the virtual image.
In some embodiments, the polarization selective reflector includes a reflective polarization hologram volume element or a cholesteric liquid crystal element. In some embodiments, the polarization selective transmissive lens includes a Pancharatnam-Berry Phase lens. In some embodiments, the polarization switch includes a switchable half-wave plate.
In some embodiments, the controller is configured to control the lens assembly to form, at a predetermined image plane, a first magnified image of the display element that displays the first virtual sub-image during the first sub-frame, and form, at the predetermined image plane, a second magnified image of the display element that displays the second virtual sub-image during the second sub-frame. The first magnified image has a first magnification and the second magnified image has a second magnification that is different from the first magnification. A superimposed magnified image formed at the predetermined image plane during the display frame is a combination of the first magnified image formed during the first sub-frame and the second magnified image formed during the second sub-frame.
In some embodiments, the first portion of the virtual image is a periphery portion of the virtual image, and the second portion of the virtual image is a foveal portion of the virtual image surrounded by the periphery portion.
In some embodiments, the first magnification of the first magnified image is greater than the second magnification of the second magnified image.
In some embodiments, the controller is configured to control the display element to output a first image light representing content of the periphery portion of the virtual image and a second image light representing content of the foveal portion of the virtual image. The controller is configured to control the lens assembly to provide a first optical power to the first image light propagating from the display element to the eye-box region, and a second optical power to the second image light propagating from the display element to the eye-box region, the first optical power being greater than the second optical power.
In some embodiments, the controller is configured to control the polarization switch of the lens assembly during the first sub-frame and the second sub-frame to provide a first optical path to the first image light propagating from the display element to the eye-box region during the first sub-frame, and a second optical path to the second image light propagating from the display element to the eye-box region during the second sub-frame, the first optical path being shorter than the second optical path.
In some embodiments, the controller is configured to: control the display element to switch between displaying the first virtual sub-image and displaying the second virtual sub-image at a predetermined frequency, and control the polarization switch to switch between operating in the switching state and operating in the non-switching state at the predetermined frequency. In some embodiments, the predetermined frequency is at least 60 Hz.
In some embodiments, the polarization selective reflector is configured to transmit a light having a first polarization, and reflect a light having a second polarization that is orthogonal to the first polarization. The first polarization and the second polarization are circular polarizations having opposite handednesses.
In some embodiments, the polarization selective transmissive lens is configured to converge a light having the first polarization and diverge a light having the second polarization. In some embodiments, the polarization selective transmissive lens is a first transmissive lens, the lens assembly further includes: a second transmissive lens, the first transmissive lens and the second transmissive lens being disposed at opposite sides of the polarization switch, and a polarizer disposed between the first transmissive lens and the second transmissive lens.
In some embodiments, the polarizer is configured to transmit a light having one of the second polarization and the first polarization, and block a light having the other one of the second polarization and the first polarization.
In some embodiments, during the first sub-frame: the controller is configured to control the display element to output a first image light forming the first virtual sub-image toward the polarization selective reflector; the polarization selective reflector is configured to transmit the first image light having the first polarization toward the polarization non-selective partial reflector; the polarization non-selective partial reflector is configured to transmit a first portion of the first image light toward the first transmissive lens; the first transmissive lens is configured to converge the first portion of the first image light toward the polarization switch as a second image light having the second polarization; the controller is configured to control the polarization switch to operate in the switching state to convert the second image light into a third image light having the first polarization toward the polarizer; the polarizer is configured to transmit the third image light toward the second transmissive lens; and the second transmissive lens is configured to converge the third image light.
In some embodiments, during the second sub-frame: the controller is configured to control the display element to output a fourth image light forming the second virtual sub-image toward the polarization selective reflector; the polarization selective reflector is configured to transmit the fourth image light having the first polarization toward the polarization non-selective partial reflector; the polarization non-selective partial reflector is configured to reflect a portion of the fourth image light back to the polarization selective reflector as a fifth image light having the second polarization; the polarization selective reflector is configured to reflect the fifth image back to the polarization non-selective partial reflector as a sixth image light having the second polarization; the polarization non-selective partial reflector is configured to transmit a portion of the sixth image light toward the first transmissive lens; the first transmissive lens is configured to diverge the portion of the sixth image light toward the polarization switch as a seventh image light having the first polarization; the controller is configured to control the polarization switch to operate in the non-switching state to transmit the seventh image light toward the polarizer; the polarizer is configured to transmit the seventh image light toward the second transmissive lens; and the second transmissive lens is configured to converge the seventh image light.
In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides a method. The method include during a first sub-frame of a display frame, controlling, by a controller, a display element to display a first virtual sub-image including content of a first portion of a virtual image; and controlling, by the controller, a polarization switch included in a lens assembly to operate in a switching state, the lens assembly including a polarization non-selective partial reflector, a polarization selective reflector and the polarization switch disposed at opposites sides of the polarization non-selective partial reflector, and a polarization selective transmissive lens disposed between the polarization switch and the polarization non-selective partial reflector. The method also includes, during a second sub-frame of the display frame, controlling, by the controller, the display element to display a second virtual sub-image including content of a second portion of the virtual image; and controlling, by the controller, the polarization switch to operate in a non-switching state.
In some embodiments, the method also includes retrieving, by the controller, image data of the virtual image; and partitioning, by the controller, the image data into a first image data portion representing the content of the first portion of the virtual image and a second image data portion representing the content of the second portion of the virtual image.
In some embodiments, the method also includes during the first sub-frame, forming, by the lens assembly, at a predetermined image plane, a first magnified image of the display element displaying the first virtual sub-image; and during the second sub-frame, forming, by the lens assembly, at the predetermined image plane, a second magnified image of the display element displaying the second virtual sub-image. A superimposed magnified image formed at the predetermined image plane during the display frame is a combination of the first magnified image formed during the first sub-frame and the second magnified image formed during the second sub-frame. The first magnified image has a first magnification and the second magnified image has a second magnification that is different from the first magnification.
In some embodiments, the first portion of the virtual image is a periphery portion of the virtual image, and the second portion of the virtual image is a foveal portion of the virtual image surrounded by the periphery portion. In some embodiments, the first magnification of the first magnified image is smaller than the second magnification of the second magnified image.
In some embodiments, the method also includes: controlling, by the controller, the display element to switch between displaying the first virtual sub-image and displaying the second virtual sub-image at a predetermined frequency; and controlling, by the controller, the polarization switch to switch between operating in the switching state and operating in the non-switching state at the predetermined frequency. The predetermined frequency is at least 60 Hz.
The foregoing description of the embodiments of the present disclosure have been presented for the purpose of illustration. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise forms disclosed. Persons skilled in the relevant art can appreciate that modifications and variations are possible in light of the above disclosure.
Some portions of this description may describe the embodiments of the present disclosure in terms of algorithms and symbolic representations of operations on information. These operations, while described functionally, computationally, or logically, may be implemented by computer programs or equivalent electrical circuits, microcode, or the like. Furthermore, it has also proven convenient at times, to refer to these arrangements of operations as modules, without loss of generality. The described operations and their associated modules may be embodied in software, firmware, hardware, or any combinations thereof.
Any of the steps, operations, or processes described herein may be performed or implemented with one or more hardware and/or software modules, alone or in combination with other devices. In one embodiment, a software module is implemented with a computer program product including a computer-readable medium containing computer program code, which can be executed by a computer processor for performing any or all of the steps, operations, or processes described. In some embodiments, a hardware module may include hardware components such as a device, a system, an optical element, a controller, an electrical circuit, a logic gate, etc.
Embodiments of the present disclosure may also relate to an apparatus for performing the operations herein. This apparatus may be specially constructed for the specific purposes, and/or it may include a general-purpose computing device selectively activated or reconfigured by a computer program stored in the computer. Such a computer program may be stored in a non-transitory, tangible computer readable storage medium, or any type of media suitable for storing electronic instructions, which may be coupled to a computer system bus. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium can be a suitable medium that can store program codes, for example, a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a read-only memory (“ROM”), or a random access memory (“RAM”), an Electrically Programmable read only memory (“EPROM”), an Electrically Erasable Programmable read only memory (“EEPROM”), a register, a hard disk, a solid-state disk drive, a smart media card (“SMC”), a secure digital card (“SD”), a flash card, etc. Furthermore, computing systems described in the specification may include a single processor or may be architectures employing multiple processors for increased computing capability. The processor may be a central processing unit (“CPU”), a graphics processing unit (“GPU”), or another suitable processing device configured to process data and/or performing computation based on data. The processor may include both software and hardware components. For example, the processor may include a hardware component, such as an application-specific integrated circuit (“ASIC”), a programmable logic device (“PLD”), or a combination thereof. The PLD may be a complex programmable logic device (“CPLD”), a field-programmable gate array (“FPGA”), etc.
Embodiments of the present disclosure may also relate to a product that is produced by a computing process described herein. Such a product may include information resulting from a computing process, where the information is stored on a non-transitory, tangible computer readable storage medium and may include any embodiment of a computer program product or other data combination described herein.
Further, when an embodiment illustrated in a drawing shows a single element, it is understood that the embodiment or an embodiment not shown in the figures but within the scope of the present disclosure may include a plurality of such elements. Likewise, when an embodiment illustrated in a drawing shows a plurality of such elements, it is understood that the embodiment or an embodiment not shown in the figures but within the scope of the present disclosure may include only one such element. The number of elements illustrated in the drawing is for illustration purposes only, and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiment. Moreover, unless otherwise noted, the embodiments shown in the drawings are not mutually exclusive, and they may be combined in a suitable manner. For example, elements shown in one figure/embodiment but not shown in another figure/embodiment may nevertheless be included in the other figure/embodiment. In an optical device disclosed herein including one or more optical layers, films, plates, or elements, the numbers of the layers, films, plates, or elements shown in the figures are for illustrative purposes only. In other embodiments not shown in the figures, which are still within the scope of the present disclosure, the same or different layers, films, plates, or elements shown in the same or different figures/embodiments may be combined or repeated in various manners to form a stack.
Various embodiments have been described to illustrate the exemplary implementations. Based on the disclosed embodiments, a person having ordinary skills in the art may make various other changes, modifications, rearrangements, and substitutions without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Thus, while the present disclosure has been described in detail with reference to the above embodiments, the present disclosure is not limited to the above described embodiments. The present disclosure may be embodied in other equivalent forms without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The scope of the present disclosure is defined in the appended claims.
This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/327,781, filed on Apr. 5, 2022. The content of the above-mentioned application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63327781 | Apr 2022 | US |
