Back to results
US 12,717,165 B2Granted
Diffractive-based optical system for head-mounted display device
AssigneeValve Corporation
InventorJoshua Mark Hudman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods for providing an optical system in a head-mounted display (HMD) that is operable to modify virtual image light to correct for one or more vision conditions of a user's eyes. The optical system includes a left optical subsystem for the left eye and a right optical system for the right eye. Each optical subsystem includes at least one correction portion having a diffractive optical element assembly. Selective electrical or mechanical control or adjustment of the diffractive optical element assembly provides for the correction of vision conditions in the user's eyes.
Claims27
A head-mounted display device, comprising:
- a frame;
- a virtual image display device coupled to the frame and configured to generate virtual image light for causing a user to perceive visual content;
- and
- an optical system coupled to the frame and located along an optical path of rays of the virtual image light, the optical system comprising a first correcting portion having a left optical subsystem and a right optical subsystem, each of the left and right optical subsystems of the first correcting portion including:
- a first set of diffractive optical elements positioned at a first location along the optical path and having first optical characteristics correcting for a first set of vision conditions, at least one of a first diffractive optical element and a second diffractive optical element of the first set of diffractive optical elements being selectively adjustable relative to the other of the first diffractive optical element and the second diffractive optical element of the first set of diffractive optical elements along a first axis transverse to the optical path to modify the first optical characteristics;
- wherein each of the left and right optical subsystems further include a second set of diffractive optical elements positioned at a second location along the optical path and having second optical characteristics correcting for a second set of vision conditions, at least one of a first diffractive optical element and a second diffractive optical element of the second set of diffractive optical elements being selectively rotatable relative to the other of the first diffractive optical element and the second diffractive optical element of the second set of diffractive optical elements about a second axis transverse to the first axis to modify the second optical characteristics.
3 more elements
A head-mounted display device, comprising:
- a frame;
- a virtual image display device coupled to the frame and configured to generate virtual image light for causing a user to perceive visual content;
- and
- an optical system coupled to the frame and located along an optical path of rays of the virtual image light, the optical system comprising a first correcting portion having a left optical subsystem and a right optical subsystem, each of the left and right optical subsystems of the first correcting portion including:
- a first set of diffractive optical elements positioned at a first location along the optical path and having first optical characteristics correcting for a first set of vision conditions, at least one of a first diffractive optical element and a second diffractive optical element of the first set of diffractive optical elements being selectively adjustable relative to the other of the first diffractive optical element and the second diffractive optical element of the first set of diffractive optical elements along a first axis transverse to the optical path to modify the first optical characteristics,
- wherein each of the left and right optical subsystems of the first correcting portion further include a second set of diffractive optical elements positioned at a second location along the optical path and having second optical characteristics correcting for a second set of vision conditions, at least one of a first diffractive optical element and a second diffractive optical element of the second set of diffractive optical elements being selectively rotatable relative to the other of the first diffractive optical element and the second diffractive optical element about a second axis transverse to the first axis to modify the second optical characteristics;
- a first actuator operatively coupled to at least one of the first and second diffractive optical elements of the first set of diffractive optical elements and configured to selectively adjust a relative position of the at least one of the first diffractive optical element and second diffractive optical element of the first set of diffractive optical elements relative to the other of the first diffractive optical element and the second diffractive optical element of the first set of diffractive optical elements along the first axis;
- and
- a second actuator coupled to and configured to selectively adjust an angular position of the at least one of the first diffractive optical element and the second diffractive optical element of the second set of diffractive optical elements relative to the other of the first diffractive optical element and the second diffractive optical element of the second set of diffractive optical elements about the second axis.
6 more elements
A head-mounted display device, comprising:
- a frame;
- a virtual image display device coupled to the frame and configured to generate virtual image light for causing a user to perceive visual content;
- and
- an optical system coupled to the frame and located along an optical path of rays of the virtual image light, the optical system comprising a first correcting portion having a left optical subsystem and a right optical subsystem, each of the left and right optical subsystems of the first correcting portion including:
- a first set of diffractive optical elements positioned at a first location along the optical path and having first optical characteristics correcting for a first set of vision conditions, at least one of a first diffractive optical element and a second diffractive optical element of the first set of diffractive optical elements being selectively adjustable relative to the other of the first diffractive optical element and the second diffractive optical element of the first set of diffractive optical elements along a first axis transverse to the optical path to modify the first optical characteristics,
- wherein the first diffractive optical element is physically identical to the second diffractive optical element.
3 more elements
A head-mounted display device, comprising:
- a frame;
- a virtual image display device coupled to the frame and configured to generate virtual image light for causing a user to perceive visual content;
- and
- an optical system coupled to the frame and located along an optical path of rays of the virtual image light, the optical system comprising a first correcting portion having a left optical subsystem and a right optical subsystem, each of the left and right optical subsystems of the first correcting portion including:
- a first set of diffractive optical elements positioned at a first location along the optical path and having first optical characteristics correcting for a first set of vision conditions, at least one of a first diffractive optical element and a second diffractive optical element of the first set of diffractive optical elements being selectively adjustable relative to the other of the first diffractive optical element and the second diffractive optical element of the first set of diffractive optical elements along a first axis transverse to the optical path to modify the first optical characteristics;
- wherein the first diffractive optical element and the second diffractive optical element each includes an integrally formed linear bearing and an integrally formed linear bearing surface, wherein the linear bearing of the first diffractive optical element slidably engages with the linear bearing surface of the second diffractive optical element, and the linear bearing of the second diffractive optical element slidably engages with the linear bearing surface of the first diffractive optical element to maintain precise vertical and rotational alignment between the first diffractive optical element and the second diffractive optical element.
3 more elements
An optical system, comprising:
- a frame sized and shaped for selectively removable installation in a corresponding head-mounted display device, the frame including an attachment portion that selectively engages with a corresponding portion of the head-mounted display to install the frame in the head-mounted display;
- and
- an optical subsystem having a receiving portion that receives virtual image light when installed in the head-mounted display, an emitting portion that emits modified virtual image light from the optical system, and a vision correction portion located in an optical path of the virtual image light between the receiving portion and the emitting portion, the vision correction portion configured to modify the virtual image light to correct for a vision condition of a user and having a first correcting portion comprising a left optical subsystem and a right optical subsystem, each of the left and right optical subsystems including:
- a first set of diffractive optical elements positioned at a first location along the optical path and having first optical characteristics correcting for a first set of vision conditions, at least one of a first diffractive optical element and a second diffractive optical element of the first set of diffractive optical elements being selectively adjustable relative to the other of the first diffractive optical element and the second diffractive optical element of the first set of diffractive optical elements along a first axis transverse to the optical path to modify the first optical characteristics,
- wherein the first diffractive optical element is physically identical to the second diffractive optical element.
2 more elements
An optical system, comprising:
- a frame sized and shaped for selectively removable installation in a corresponding head-mounted display device, the frame including an attachment portion that selectively engages with a corresponding portion of the head-mounted display to install the frame in the head-mounted display;
- and
- an optical subsystem having a receiving portion that receives virtual image light when installed in the head-mounted display, an emitting portion that emits modified virtual image light from the optical system, and a vision correction portion located in an optical path of the virtual image light between the receiving portion and the emitting portion, the vision correction portion configured to modify the virtual image light to correct for a vision condition of a user and having a first correcting portion comprising a left optical subsystem and a right optical subsystem, each of the left and right optical subsystems including:
- a first set of diffractive optical elements positioned at a first location along the optical path and having first optical characteristics correcting for a first set of vision conditions, at least one of a first diffractive optical element and a second diffractive optical element of the first set of diffractive optical elements being selectively adjustable relative to the other of the first diffractive optical element and the second diffractive optical element of the first set of diffractive optical elements along a first axis transverse to the optical path to modify the first optical characteristics,
- wherein the first diffractive optical element and the second diffractive optical element each includes an integrally formed linear bearing and an integrally formed linear bearing surface, wherein the linear bearing of the first diffractive optical element slidably engages with the linear bearing surface of the second diffractive optical element, and the linear bearing of the second diffractive optical element slidably engages with the linear bearing surface of the first diffractive optical element to maintain precise vertical and rotational alignment between the first diffractive optical element and the second diffractive optical element.
2 more elements
A head-mounted display device, comprising:
- a frame;
- a virtual image display device coupled to the frame and configured to generate virtual image light for causing a user to perceive visual content;
- an optical system coupled to the frame and located along an optical path of rays of the virtual image light, the optical system comprising a first correcting portion having a left optical subsystem and a right optical subsystem, each of the left and right optical subsystems of the first correcting portion including:
- a set of diffractive optical elements positioned at a first location along the optical path, at least one of a first diffractive optical element and a second diffractive optical element of the set of diffractive optical elements being selectively adjustable to modify its optical characteristics;
- and
- control circuitry operatively coupled to the set of diffractive elements, wherein the control circuitry is operative to selectively adjust the optical characteristics of at least one of the first diffractive optical element and the second diffractive optical element to correct at least one vision condition,
- wherein:
- the first diffractive optical element is physically identical to the second diffractive optical element;
- or
- the first diffractive optical element and the second diffractive optical element each includes an integrally formed linear bearing and an integrally formed linear bearing surface, wherein the linear bearing of the first diffractive optical element slidably engages with the linear bearing surface of the second diffractive optical element, and the linear bearing of the second diffractive optical element slidably engages with the linear bearing surface of the first diffractive optical element to maintain precise vertical and rotational alignment between the first diffractive optical element and the second diffractive optical element.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.