MULTI-FOCAL DISPLAY SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20150222883A1
• Filed: 01/30/2015
• Published: 08/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magic Leap, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Magic Leap, Inc.
• Inventors: Welch, William Hudson
• Granted Patent: US 10,386,636 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 15/00 Optical objectives with means for varying the magnification anamorphotic objectives G02B13/08
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0127 comprising devices increasing the depth of field
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0185 Displaying image at variable distance
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0093 with means for monitoring data relating to the user, e.g. head-tracking, eye-tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/52 the 3D volume being constructed from a stack or sequence of 2D planes, e.g. depth sampling systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/383 for tracking with gaze detection, i.e. detecting the lines of sight of the viewer's eyes

Abstract

Configurations are disclosed for presenting virtual reality and augmented reality experiences to users. The system may comprise an accommodation tracking module to track an accommodation of a user'"'"'s eyes, a first variable focus element (VFE) to switch between at least two focal planes, wherein a distance between the two focal planes is relatively consistent, and a second VFE to shift the at least two focal planes based at least in part on the tracked accommodation of the user'"'"'s eyes.

Claims

2. The augmented reality display system of claim 1, further comprising:

an accommodation tracking module to track an accommodation of the user'"'"'s eyes, wherein the second VFE focuses the one or more frames of image data based at least in part on the tracked accommodation of the user'"'"'s eyes.

7-1. The augmented reality display system of claim 1, wherein the one or more frames of image data comprise slices of a three-dimensional scene.

8. The augmented reality display system of claim 1, wherein the light projection device has a high refresh rate, such that the user perceives the at least two depth planes simultaneously.

9. The augmented reality display system of claim 8, further comprising an image source to provide one or more frames of image data, wherein the first VFE focuses a first frame at a first focal plane of the at least two focal planes and a second frame at a second focal plane of the at least two focal planes.

10. The augmented reality display system of claim 9, further comprising a light projection display to transmit light associated with the one or more frames of image data, wherein the light projection display.

11. The augmented reality display system of claim 9, wherein the one or more frames of image data are provided in a time-sequential manner.

12. The augmented reality display system of claim 9, wherein the one or more frames of image data comprise slices of a three-dimensional scene.

13. The augmented reality display system of claim 8, wherein the first VFE switches focus on a frame-by-frame basis.

14. The augmented reality display system of claim 8, wherein the first VFE switches between two focal planes.

8-2. An augmented reality display system, comprising:

an accommodation tracking module to track an accommodation of a user'"'"'s eyes;

a first variable focus element (VFE) to switch between at least two focal planes; and

a second VFE to shift the at least two focal planes based at least in part on the tracked accommodation of the user'"'"'s eyes.

15. A method of displaying augmented reality, comprising:

providing one or more frames of image data to be presented to a user;

transmitting light associated with the one or more frames of image data;

focusing a first frame of image data at a first focal plane;

focusing a second frame of image data at a second focal plane; and

variably shifting the first focal plane and the second focal plane across a range of distances.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the one or more frames of image data are provided in a time-sequential manner.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the one or more frames of image data comprise slices of a three-dimensional scene.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising tracking an accommodation of the user'"'"'s eyes, wherein the first focal plane and the second focal plane are variably shifted based at least in part on the tracked accommodation of the user'"'"'s eyes.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein a first VFE switches focus between the first focal plane and the second focal plane.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the first VFE switches focus on a frame-by frame basis.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein a second VFE variably shifts the first and second focal planes.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the first VFE has a first speed, and wherein the second VFE has a second speed, the first speed greater than the second speed.

23. The method of claim 15, wherein the first frame of image data at the first focal plane and the second frame of image data at the second focal plane are presented in rapid succession such that the user views the two focal planes simultaneously.