Virtual Retinal Display

By
Harish.S
1DS07CS403
 Introduction
In a Traditional computer monitor, as you stare at it, light is focused into a dime- sized image
on the retina at the back of your eyeball. The retina converts the light into signals that
percolate into your brain via the optic nerve.

Virtual Retina Display use tiny semiconductor lasers or special light-emitting diodes, one
each for the three primary colors—red, green, and blue—and scan their light onto the retina,
mixing the colors to produce the entire palette of human vision.

The Virtual Retinal Display presents video information by scanning modulated light in a
raster pattern directly onto the viewer's retina. As the light scans the eye, it is intensity
modulated. the VRD consists of a light source, a modulator, vertical and horizontal scanners,
and imaging optics (to focus the light beam and optically condition the scan).
 Virtual Retinal Display
• A virtual retinal display (VRD), also known as a retinal scan
display (RSD) or retinal projector, is a display technology that
draws a raster display (like a television) directly onto
the retina of the eye. The user sees what appears to be a
conventional display floating in space in front of them
 Virtual Retinal Display History
• In the past similar systems have been made by projecting a defocused
image directly in front of the user's eye on a small "screen", normally in
the form of large glasses.
• The user focused their eyes on the background, where the screen
appeared to be floating.
•  The disadvantage of these systems was the limited area covered by the
"screen", the high weight of the small televisions used to project the
display, and the fact that the image would appear focused only if the user
was focusing at a particular "depth". Limited brightness made them useful
only in indoor settings as well.
 Virtual Retinal Display History

• The VRD was invented at the University of Washington in the Human Interface

Technology Lab in 1991. Most of this research into VRDs to date has been in
combination with various virtual reality systems. The development began in
November 1993.

• The aim was to produce a full color,wide field-of-view, high resolution, high
brightness, low cost virtual display.

• Microvision Inc. has the exclusive license to commercialize the VRD technology.

• This technology has many potential applications, from head-mounted displays

(HMDs) for military/aerospace applications to medical society.
The Functional block diagram of a VRD system
Viewing Optics System of VRD
 How it works?

• The Virtual Retinal Display presents video information by scanning modulated

light in a raster pattern directly onto the viewer's retina.
• As the light scans the eye, its intensity is modulated. On a basic level, as
shown in the above figure, the VRD consists of a light source, a modulator,
vertical and horizontal scanners, and imaging optics (to focus the light beam
and optically condition the scan).
• The resultant imaged formed on the retina is perceived as a
wide field of view image originating from some viewing
distance in space.

• The following figure illustrates the light raster on the retina

and the resultant image perceived in space.
 Why Do we need it

• Our window into the digital universe has long been a glowing screen
perched on a desk.It's called a computer monitor
• Advantages like full color,wide field-of-view, high resolution, high
brightness, low cost virtual display.
• The VRD system scanning light into only one of our eyes allows images
to be laid over our view of real objects.
• VRD system can also show an image in each eye with a very little angle
difference for simulating three-dimensional scenes with high fidelity
spectral colours..
• This system only generates essentially needed photons, and as such it
is more efficient for mobile devices that are only designed to serve a
single user. A VRD could potentially use tens or hundreds of times less
power for Mobile Telephone and Netbook based applications.
 VRD Features

•Size and Weight: Small size as no intermediate screen is present. All components are
small and light making it highly portable. Appropriate for Hand held and Head mount
displays.

•Power consumption: Light sources consume very less power in order of milli watts.
Scanning is done with a resonant device (MRS) with high figure of merit. Exit pupil of VRD
has very small aperture allowing generated light to enter eyes almost completely. Hence high
power efficiency.

• Resolution: Limited only by diffraction and optical aberration in the optical components,
limits in scanning frequency and modulation b/w of photon source. SLD is a coherent source
and offer high modulation b/w to give resolutions well over a million pixels. State of the art
scanners can scan over a1000 lines per frame which is comparable to HDTV
 VRD Features

•Brightness: Perceived brightness is only limited by power of the light source. SLD
sources can provide very good brightness levels even for see through mode in day light.

•Field of view: Inclusive systems provide horizontal field of view b/w 60-100 degrees.
See through mode systems have it slightly over 40 degrees. These figures are far better
than existing HMD systems.

•Stereoscopic display: Supports stereoscopic display as both eyes can be separately

addressed. Thus provides a good approximation to natural vision.

•Inclusive & See through: See through works very well even at very high illumination
conditions of about 10000 candella per meter squared.
 Components of the Virtual Retinal Display
•Video Electronics -The video electronics of the VRD controls the light intensity
modulation, scanner deflection, and the synchronization between modulation and scanning.
The horizontal and vertical synchronization signals in the video signal are used to determine
the scanner synchronization

•Light Sources and Modulators- The light sources for the VRD generate the
photons which eventually enter the eye and stimulate the photo receptors in the retina. The
modulation of the light source determines the intensity of each picture element .
•Scanners - The scanners of the VRD scan the raster pattern on the retina. The
angular deviation of the horizontal scanner combined with the angular magnification of
the imaging optics determines the horizontal field of view

•Pupil expander-Nominally the entire image would be contained in an area of 2 mm2. The
exit- pupil expander is an optical device that increases the natural output angle of the image
and enlarges it up to 18 mm on a side for ease of viewing.
 Components of the Virtual Retinal Display
Viewer optics - Nominally the entire image would be contained in an area of 2 mm2. The
exit- pupil expander is an optical device that increases the natural output angle of the image and
enlarges it up to 18 mm on a side for ease of viewing

Holographic Optical Element – HOE is actually a diffraction grating made by recording a

hologram inside a thin layer of polymer.It works by converting a single beam of laser into a
circular array of 15 bright spots. Place the HOE between the scanning mirrors and the eye, and
the array of beams that forms will illuminate the region round your pupil

–
Estimated Retinal Illuminance The relationship between estimated retinal illuminance and
scene luminance is important in understanding the display operating on this principle. As the
display in this thesis contains no screen or real object, it is impossible to discuss the brightness
of the display in terms of luminance
 Safety first

• It is believed that VRD based Laser or LED displays are not harmful to the
human eye, as they are of a far lower intensity than those that are
deemed hazardous to vision, the beam is spread over a greater surface
area, and does not rest on a single point for an extended period of time
Applications
 Military Applications

• VRDs were initially developed for

military use. Such devices are
currently in use with several military
units, such as the U.S. Army's Stryker
Brigade.
• The commander of a Stryker armored
vehicle can view its onboard
battlefield computer with a helmet-
mounted daylight-readable display.
This allows the commander to
observe the surroundings, drive the
Stryker, choose the best path and
share tactical information at the
same time.
• A similar device is used by fighter
and helicopters pilots.
 Medical Applications

• A similar system can be used by

doctors for complex operations.
While a surgeon is operating, he
can keep track of vital patient
data, such as blood pressure or
heart rate, on a VRD. For
procedures such as the
placement of a catheter stent,
overlaid images prepared from
previously obtained magnetic
resonance imaging or scans
assist in surgical navigation.
 Gaming industry

• Applied to video games, for instance, gamers could have an enhanced

sense of reality that liquid-crystal-display glasses could never provide,
because the VRD can refocus dynamically to simulate near and distant
objects with a far superior level of realism.
 Radiology Application

One examination performed by radiologists is the fluoroscopic

examination.

During a fluoroscopic examination, the radiologist observes the patient

with real-time video x-rays.

The radiologist must continually adjust the patient and the examination
table until the patient is in a desired position.
 VirtualReality Application

The traditional helmet display is an integral part of virtual reality today. The VRD
will be adapted for this application.

VRD can be used for educational and architectural applications in virtual reality as
well as long distance virtual conference communications.

Indeed it can be utilized in all applications of virtual reality.

The theoretical limits of the display, which are essentially the limits of the eye,
make it a promising technology for the future in virtual reality HMD's.
 Communication Application

•The compact and light weight nature of the mechanical resonant scanner
(MRS) make an MRS based VRD an excellent display for personal
communication.

• A hand held monochrome VRD could serve as a personal video pager or

as a video FAX device,The display could potentially couple to a telephone.

•The combination of telephone services and video capability would constitute

a full service personal communication device.
 ADVANTAGES

•Resolution

• luminance

• modes of viewing

• contrast ratio

• depth of focus

• power consumption

• Cost

• range of applications.
 DISADVANTAGES

•The disadvantage of these systems was the limited area covered by the screen.

•The high weight of the small televisions used to project the display.

•The fact that the image would appear focused only if the user was focusing at a
particular depth.

•Limited brightness made them useful only in indoor settings as well.

 Moving forward

• The fact that LEDs are able to provide needed light for VRD, makes
cheaper and easier VRD manufacturing. The total amount of light that
enters the eye from a desktop display is actually less than a microwatt,
which is small compared with what an LED can contribute.

• On the other hand, although the power required is low, light must be
collected and focused down in a point. This is easy to do with a laser,
but not so easy with an LED. Even so, advances in LED technology have
been needed to further concentrate the light coming from these
devices.