COMPACT AUGMENTED REALITY (AR)-CAPABLE DISPLAY WITH INCREASED FIELD OF VIEW

Number: 20210239980
Published: 2021-08-05
Filed: 2020-02-04
Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
Inventors: HASELTINE; Eric C., SMITHWICK; Quinn Yorklun Jen
CPC: G02B27/0172; G02F1/133528; G06F3/011
Verdict: Medium Hardware
Source: Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline

The keeper's note

Compact wide-FOV AR headset display optics hardware.

Abstract

Aspects described herein include an optical arrangement that defines a field of view relative to an optical reference point. The optical arrangement comprises a reflective element arranged within the field of view, an off-axis, short-throw projector arranged outside the field of view, and a substantially transparent projection screen arranged within the field of view. The projection screen is configured to preferentially direct imagery projected by the off-axis, short-throw projector toward the reflective element, and to, after direction by the reflective element, transmit the imagery toward the optical reference point.

Background

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure generally relates to computer-based entertainment, and more specifically to implementations of augmented reality (AR)-capable devices providing increased fields of view.

Many AR-capable devices often have a narrow field of view due to the mechanism used for combining virtual imagery with physical imagery. For example, AR-capable devices using fold optics (e.g., a planar beamsplitter) may require relatively more space to position the fold optics, which tends to increase a distance that a viewer's eye can be to an imaging eyepiece. Generally, the further away that the viewer's eye is from the imaging eyepiece, the subtended angle of the eyepiece will be smaller, and the field of view created by the optics will be smaller. Other AR-capable devices may use waveguide image combiners, which tend to position the imaging eyepiece closer to the viewer's eye. However, because waveguide image combiners operate using the principle of total internal refraction (TIR), the acceptance angle, and thus the field of view, is limited.

As a result, AR-capable devices tend to have a field of view limited to about 50 degrees, which is significantly less than direct-view virtual reality (VR) displays having fields of view of 90 degrees or more. The limited field of view in AR-capable devices tends to create “artificial windowing” and “framing” effects, in which the viewer sees more of the physical world than the virtual world. These effects prec

Claims

1. An optical arrangement defining a field of view relative to an optical reference point, the optical arrangement comprising: a reflective element arranged within the field of view; an off-axis, short-throw projector arranged outside the field of view; and a substantially transparent projection screen arranged within the field of view and configured to: preferentially direct imagery projected by the off-axis, short-throw projector toward the reflective element; and after direction by the reflective element, transmit the imagery toward the optical reference point. || 10. An augmented reality (AR)-capable headset comprising: one or more visual sensors; one or more computer processors communicatively coupled with the one or more visual sensors; and an optical arrangement defining a field of view relative to an optical reference point, the optical arrangement comprising: a reflective element arranged within the field of view; an off-axis, short-throw projector arranged outside the field of view and communicatively coupled with the one or more computer processors; and a substantially transparent projection screen arranged within the field of view and configured to: preferentially direct imagery projected by the off-axis, short-throw projector toward the reflective element; and transmit, toward the optical reference point, the imagery after direction by the reflective element. || 16. A method for use with an augmented reality (AR)-capable headset defining a field of view relative to an optical reference point, the method comprising: projecting, from an off-axis, short-throw projector outside the field of view, imagery toward a substantially transparent projection screen arranged within the field of view; using the projection screen, preferentially directing the imagery toward a reflective element arranged within the field of view; and directing, using the reflective element, the imagery toward the optical reference point.