See-through computer display systems with stray light management
Aspects of the present invention relate to methods and systems for the see-through computer display systems. In embodiments, the systems and methods use curved display panels to generate image light.
1. A method for manufacturing an optical system, the method comprising:
positioning a display panel on an optical axis, wherein:
the display panel comprises a curved emission surface,
the display panel is configured to produce image light for projecting from the curved emission surface,
the curved emission surface comprises a first emission surface point on the optical axis, and
the curved emission surface has a first radius of curvature at the first emission surface point;
positioning a lens on the optical axis, wherein:
the lens comprises a curved lens surface,
the curved lens surface comprises a first lens surface point on the optical axis, and
the curved lens surface has a second radius of curvature at the first lens surface point, the second radius of curvature substantially equal to the first radius of curvature at the emission surface point; and
optically coupling the display panel, the lens, and a see-through display, wherein the curved emission surface is configured to project the image light from the display panel through the curved lens surface towards the see-through display to present the image light overlaid on a see-through view of the surrounding environment.
2. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
positioning an optical element on the optical axis between the display panel and the lens,
wherein the display panel is a flat display panel or a curved display panel, and
wherein the optical element comprises the curved emission surface.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the display panel is a curved display panel comprising the curved emission surface.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the curved emission surface comprises a second emission surface point where a first line parallel to the optical axis intersects the curved emission surface,
the curved lens surface of the lens comprises a second lens surface point on the first line parallel to the optical axis,
the first emission surface point and the first lens surface point are separated by a first distance, and
the second emission surface point and the second lens surface point are separated by a second distance that equals the first distance between the first emission surface point and the first lens surface point.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the curved emission surface comprises an emission surface area circumscribed by a plurality of lines parallel to the optical axis that intersect the curved emission surface,
the curved lens surface of the lens comprises a lens surface area circumscribed by the plurality of lines parallel to the optical axis, and
the emission surface area and the lens surface area of the lens are separated by a constant distance over the respectively circumscribed areas.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the curved emission surface and the curved lens surface of the lens are the same in shape.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the curved emission surface and the curved lens surface of the lens are different in shape.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the optical system is configured to present augmented reality content associated with the see-through view of the surrounding environment.
9. A method for operating an optical system, the method comprising:
producing, using a display panel, image light;
projecting the image light from a curved emission surface of the display panel, wherein:
the display panel is positioned on an optical axis,
the curved emission surface comprises a first emission surface point on the optical axis, and
the curved emission surface has a first radius of curvature at the first emission surface point;
projecting the image light from the display panel through a curved lens surface of a lens toward a see-through display, wherein:
the lens is positioned on the optical axis,
the curved lens surface comprises a first lens surface point on the optical axis, and
the curved lens surface has a second radius of curvature at the first lens surface point, the second radius of curvature substantially equal to the first radius of curvature at the emission surface point; and
presenting the image light overlaid on a see-through view of a surrounding environment.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the optical system further comprises an optical element positioned on the optical axis between the display panel and the lens,
wherein the display panel is a flat display panel or a curved display panel, and
wherein the optical element has the curved emission surface.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the display panel is a curved display panel comprising the curved emission surface.
12. The method of claim 9 , wherein:
the curved emission surface comprises a second emission surface point where a first line parallel to the optical axis intersects the curved emission surface,
the curved lens surface of the lens comprises a second lens surface point on the first line parallel to the optical axis,
the first emission surface point and the first lens surface point are separated by a first distance, and
the second emission surface point and the second lens surface point are separated by a second distance that equals the first distance between the first emission surface point and the first lens surface point.
13. The method of claim 9 , wherein:
the curved emission surface comprises an emission surface area circumscribed by a plurality of lines parallel to the optical axis that intersect the curved emission surface,
the curved lens surface of the lens comprises a lens surface area circumscribed by the plurality of lines parallel to the optical axis, and
the emission surface area and the lens surface area of the lens are separated by a constant distance over the respectively circumscribed areas.
14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the curved emission surface and the curved lens surface of the lens are the same in shape.
15. The method of claim 9 , wherein the curved emission surface and the curved lens surface of the lens are different in shape.
16. The method of claim 9 , further comprising presenting, on the display panel, augmented reality content associated with the see-through view of the surrounding environment.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the image light corresponds to the augmented reality content.
18. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing one or more instructions, which, when executed by one or more processors of one or more electronic devices, cause the electronic devices to perform a method comprising:
producing, using a display panel, image light;
projecting the image light from a curved emission surface of the display panel, wherein:
the display panel is positioned on an optical axis,
the curved emission surface comprises a first emission surface point on the optical axis, and
the curved emission surface has a first radius of curvature at the first emission surface point;
projecting the image light from the display panel through a curved lens surface of a lens toward a see-through display, wherein:
the lens is positioned on the optical axis,
the curved lens surface comprises a first lens surface point on the optical axis, and
the curved lens surface has a second radius of curvature at the first lens surface point, the second radius of curvature substantially equal to the first radius of curvature at the emission surface point; and
presenting the image light overlaid on a see-through view of a surrounding environment.
19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the method further comprises presenting, on the display panel, augmented reality content associated with the see-through view of the surrounding environment.
20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19 , wherein the image light corresponds to the augmented reality content.