SBIR Phase I: Ultra High Definition Head Mounted Display

该小型企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目将用于制造，测量和测试新型微透镜阵列和光学设计，用于新型超高清（UHD）头戴式虚拟现实显示器（HMD）。拟议的研究建立在大屏幕（UHD）投影技术的基础上，该技术使用快速扫描的微显示器来产生比微显示器本身分辨率高得多的图像。它通过在每次扫描期间照亮每个像素的不同子区域来实现这一点，从而产生由子区域而不是像素组成的图像。目前，需要定制的微型显示器，其具有嵌入在前玻璃中的透镜阵列，非常接近像素，以将光聚焦到微小的像素子区域中。这项拟议的研究任务将包括制造，测量和测试的一种新型的透镜阵列，可以产生阵列的子像素大小的照明点在几十毫米的距离，从本身，通过使用光波干涉。预计这种类型的透镜阵列可以从现成的微型显示器远程安装，从而消除了对定制微型显示器的需要，并允许以较低的成本广泛实施UHD技术。显而易见的应用领域包括科学可视化，包括生物技术研究、遗传工程和流体流动动力学，以及模拟和培训。目前，大型、昂贵的圆顶和窗外模拟器满足了模拟市场的需求。小型HMD也应该对这一市场产生影响，包括军事和民用市场的驾驶，飞行和船舶驾驶培训应用

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will be used to fabricate, measure, and test a novel micro-lens array and optical design for use in a new type of ultra high-definition (UHD) head mounted virtual reality display (HMD). The proposed research builds on large screen (UHD) projection technology that uses a rapidly scanned micro-display to produce images possessing much more resolution than the micro-display itself. It accomplishes this by illuminating different sub regions of each pixel during each scan, producing an image made up of the sub regions instead of the pixels. At present, custom-made micro-displays with lens arrays embedded in the front glass, very close to the pixels, are needed to focus light into the tiny pixel sub regions. This proposed research tasks will include the fabrication, measurement, and testing of a novel type of lens array than can produce arrays of sub-pixel sized illumination spots at distances of several tens of mm from itself, through the use of light wave interference. It is anticipated that this type of lens array can be mounted remotely from off the shelf micro-displays, thus eliminating the need for custom micro-displays and allowing wide implementation UHD technique at lower cost.The outcome of the proposed research should lead to the development of HMDs aimed at high-end work station markets. Application areas which are obvious include scientific visualization, including biotechnology research, genetic engineering, and fluid flow dynamics, and simulation and training. Currently, the needs of the simulation market are met by large, expensive dome and out the window simulators. Small HMDs should also have an impact on this market which includes applications for driving, flying, and ship piloting training for military and civilian markets