VIRTUAL RETINAL DISPLAY

By

SUHAS.D.N

Outlines
Introduction How we perceive image VRD Technology Overview Safety Analysis Advantages Applications Comparison Disadvantages

Introduction
There are so many display technologies Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) Light Emitting Diode (LED) Display Virtual Retinal Display (VRD)

Virtual Retinal Display

PDD under development in HIT lab, University of Washington. Not a screen based technology. Scans light directly on to retina of eye. (Hence the name ) Full color, high resolution, high brightness, wide field of view virtual display without flickering.

How we perceive images

Lens Retina Photoreceptors Rods: 125 x 10^6 Cones: 6 x 10^6 Optic Nerve

Virtual Retinal Display: Technology Overview

System Description Video Source Control and Drive Electronics Light Source Scanner Assembly Pupil Expander Viewing Optics VRD with Eye Tracking

Virtual Retinal Display: Technology Overview

System Description
Control and Drive Electronics: Processing of input video signal. Generation of control Signals for the acoust optical modulators. Synchronization of the vertical and horizontal scanner. Overall system timing.

System Description (Light Source)

Type Red light source Green light Source Blue light source Diode laser HeliumNeon Argon laser Wavelength Optical [nm] Power [mW] 650 543.5 488 3.0 1.5 14.5

System Description: Scanner Assembly

Horizontal Scanner
Mechanical Resonant Scanner (MRS) :
Operating frequency = 15.75 KHz ~18.9 KHz Contain neither moving magnet nor moving coil. Torsional spring and mirror configuration with mirror (3mm X6mm).

MEMS (Micro Electromechanical System)

Vertical Scanner
Galvanometer with a second mirror (60 Hz).

Constraints: Resolution, field of view or image size

System Description: Scanner Assembly

System Description: Perception

CRT Methodology : Phosphorous persistence VRD Methodology: How ? Visual Cortex

System Description
Viewing Optics
Exit pupils Photo detector Contain special assembly for occluded or augmented vision

The VRD With Eye Tracking

Relative position of landmarks is used to track the viewing direction of eye. Relative position of generated map or pattern will vary according to the viewing direction. By identifying the pattern and correlating relative orientation of pattern to referenced pattern orientation, viewing direction is determined at the current instant.

Safety Analysis
Maximum Permissible Exposure (MPE)
The level of exposure or irradiance which can be thought of as the theoretical border between safe and potentially harmful. The output power of VRD is in the range of [100-300] nano watt. Worst case analysis is performed to check the safety bounds. ANSI Z136.1 (8 hour continuous exposure, sweep time for each pixel= 40 nano sec, frequency=60 Hz)

Safety Analysis
Source Used
MPE for Pulsed Laser MPE in watt

0.13 watt

MPE for Continuous Wave Sources MPE for extended Sources

0.16 watt

1.05x10^(-3) watt

Advantages
Color range: High saturated pure colors Luminance and Viewing Modes (60nW ~300nW) See through mode (Augmented mode) Occluded mode. Contrast Ratio: Power Consumption: Cost:

Applications: Head Mounted Displays

NOMAD Commercial purposes: Defense purposes
Resolution Field of View Display color Grey Level Refresh Rate User Controls SVGA 800x600 pixel 23 degrees x 17.25 degrees Monochrome red 32 shades of gray 60 Hz 4 button keypad

Applications: Head Mounted Displays

Applications: Head Mounted Displays

Applications : Low Vision Aid

Applications: Interactive VRD

VRD "Looks" at the Competition

Display Source CRT LCD Resolution (Pixel Size) 25 Microns 12 Microns Luminance Color Weight High (with cabling) Low Power Consumption Medium High with backlight

Good - 13,000ft Only with sequential Poor- backlit dependent With 1/2 monochrome resolution 2-color only with 1/2 resolution With 1/3 resolution No

Thin Film 12 Microns ElectroLuminescent LED Array Monolithic LED VRD 300 Microns 3 Microns 0.5 Micron

Poor- 400ft

Low

High

Poor - 100ft Poor - 5000ft Unlimited Brightness

Low Low

Low Low Low

Full color with Low no loss in resolution

"Vision" for Tomorrow

Communications Cellular communicator Communicator - handheld, head-worn Fax Pager Personal communications Smart mobile phones Televirtuality Video phone

"Vision" for Tomorrow

Computing Consumer portable computer display Information assistant Multimedia PDA's Wearable PDA Web Crawlers

"Vision" for Tomorrow

Education Training Simulation Virtual classrooms

"Vision" for Tomorrow

Entertainment Digital cameras Games Interactive computer / video games Location based entertainment Simulations Virtual reality

"Vision" for Tomorrow

Military & Space Exploration Portable command post Security Simulation

"Vision" for Tomorrow

Manufacturing Process control monitor Virtual prototyping

"Vision" for Tomorrow

Medical Fluoroscopy Medical imaging Projected medical imaging Prostheses for the handicapped Prosthetic interface Radiology Ultrasound

Disadvantages
There is no protection against radiation It can assist to the military industry, it will still be a technology used by humans against humanity and therefore may do more harm then good. The image sent into the eye will surely interfere with the reality objects and can be distract the user when his attention is most needed.

Questions