SBIR Phase I: A Stereo Eyeglasses-type Display Device for Augmented Reality

本次小型企业创新研究第一阶段研究项目关注的是增强现实(AR)中的一个基本问题：如何将虚拟和真实图像结合起来，并将集成的三维(3D)图像显示给用户。传统上，有两种方法可以将真实图像和虚拟图像结合起来--使用视频和光学技术。虽然每一种AR系统都有各自的优缺点，但AR系统的设计者必须在这两者之间做出选择。该项目在单个系统中提供了光学和视频技术的优势，并且可以无缝过渡。此外，大多数AR应用需要户外可用性，其中照明条件的级别可以从完全黑暗到明亮的阳光。总的来说，太阳光的可读性是所有显示器面临的主要挑战。本研究项目将提供一种具有自动适应环境亮度的真正的透视屏/视屏。该显示器将具有与普通眼镜相同的外形尺寸和重量，其双目屏幕结构将支持全3D立体功能，使其成为虚拟现实(VR)应用的理想选择。该研究项目的成果可应用于AR和VR领域以外的广阔商业市场。例如，能够播放电视和VCD/DVD视频的个人设备可能是最直接、最明显的，也可能是这项技术的最大市场。有了这个设备，人们可以像今天听广播一样看电视，同时进行其他活动。用于医疗显微手术和工程检查的内窥镜设备是其他应用市场。这种眼镜式、透明、全功能的显示技术将有助于随时随地在任何环境光线条件下进行远程互联网接入、免提移动视频会议系统、移动视频电话和娱乐系统。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I research project focuses on one of the fundamental problems in augmented reality (AR): how to combine virtual and real images and display the integrated three-dimensional (3D) images to users. Traditionally, there have been two ways to combine real and virtual images - using video and optical technologies. While each has particular advantages and disadvantages, AR systems' designers have to make a choice between these two. This project provides the advantages of both optical and video technologies in a single system, and can be seamlessly transited. Additionally, most AR applications require outdoors usability, where the level of illumination conditions can vary from complete darkness to bright sunlight. Sunlight readability is a major challenge for all displays in general. This research project will provide a real see-through/look-at screen which has the capability of automatically adapting to environmental brightness. The display will have the same form factor and weigh the same as a pair of regular eye glasses, and its binocular screen structure will enable full 3D stereo capabilities, making it ideal for virtual reality (VR) applications.The outcomes of this research project can be applied to broad commercial markets outside of the AR and VR areas. For example, a personal appliance capable of playing television, and VCD/DVD video can be the most direct, obvious and may be the largest market for this technology. With this device, people can watch TV just as they listen to radio today, while conducting other activities. Endoscopy devices for medical microsurgery and engineering inspection are other application markets. This eye glasses-type, see-through, full-function display technology will facilitate remote Internet access, hands-free mobile video conferencing system, mobile video telephony, and entertainment systems, anywhere, anytime, and under any ambient light conditions.