μ-LED, μ-LED device, display and method for the same
11480723 · 2022-10-25
Assignee
Inventors
- Peter BRICK (Regensburg, DE)
- Jean-Jacques Drolet (Obertraubling, DE)
- Hubert Halbritter (Dietfurt Toeging, DE)
- Laura Kreiner (Regensburg, DE)
- Thomas Schwarz (Regensburg, DE)
- Tilman Ruegheimer (Regensburg, DE)
- Frank Singer (Regenstauf, DE)
Cpc classification
G02B6/0076
PHYSICS
G02B2027/0147
PHYSICS
G02B26/101
PHYSICS
International classification
Abstract
The invention relates to various aspects of a μ-LED or a μ-LED array for augmented reality or lighting applications, in particular in the automotive field. The μ-LED is characterized by particularly small dimensions in the range of a few μm.
Claims
1. A light guide arrangement, comprising: a μ-display; and a projection optics; wherein the μ-display comprises a matrix with pixels for emission of visible light and wherein each pixel comprises several μ-LEDs with spectrally different light emission; wherein each pixel is assigned a separate collimation optics preceding the projection optics; and wherein the collimation optics are configured in such a way that enlarged and overlapping intermediate images of the μ-LEDs of the respective pixel are generated in the beam path in front of the projection optics.
2. The light guide arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate images of the μ-LEDs of the respective pixel generated by the collimation optics overlap each other over at least 70%, 80% or 90% of their intermediate image area.
3. The light guide arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate images of the μ-LEDs are virtual intermediate images.
4. The light guide arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the collimation optics is arranged between the μ-LEDs of each pixel and the projection optics.
5. The light guide arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the μ-LEDs of each pixel occupy not more than 30%, or not more than 15% or not more than 10% of a pixel area.
6. The light guide arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the μ-LEDs are configured as color converted μ-LEDs or as VCSELs or as edge-emitting laser diodes and optionally have illuminated optical waveguide end pieces.
7. The light guide arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the collimation optics are designed such that a total area of the overlapping intermediate images of the μ-LEDs of a respective pixel corresponds to at least 70%, 80%, or 90% of a pixel area.
8. The light guide arrangement according to claim, 1 wherein the collimation optics comprise a holographic optical element (HOE) and/or a refractive optical element (ROE) and/or a diffractive optical element (DOE).
9. The light guide arrangement according to claim, 1 wherein radiation emitted by the projection optics is directed directly or indirectly onto a display.
10. The light guide arrangement according to claim 1, in which the μ-LEDs of at least one pixel are each formed by horizontally arranged microrods having an active zone.
11. The light guide arrangement according to claim 1, in which the μ-LEDs of at least one pixel are each formed by at least one antenna slit structure having an active area arranged in a rectangular opening with dimension in the range of half a wavelength.
12. The light guide arrangement according to claim 1, in which the μ-LEDs of at least one pixel are each formed by a pair of emitting elements with a converter material arranged therebetween.
13. The light guide arrangement according to claim 1, in which the μ-LEDs of at least one pixel each comprise quantum well intermixing in an edge region of an active layer of the μ-LED.
14. The light guide arrangement according to claim 1, in which the matrix comprises a light-shaping structure arranged at least partially in a semiconductor material of the μ-LEDs of the pixels.
15. The light guide arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising a drive unit arranged in a substrate, including current drivers or current sources, wherein the μ-display is arranged on the substrate and the pixels are electrically connected to the current drivers or the current sources.
16. The light guide arrangement according to claim 1, in which a plurality of pixels of the matrix each have a microlens arranged above the μ-LEDs.
17. The light guide arrangement according to claim 1, in which a plurality of pixels of the matrix comprises a reflecting structure surrounding one or more pixels of the plurality of pixels, which surrounds the μ-LEDs of the pixel.
18. The light guide arrangement according to claim 1, in which at least some of the pixels of the matrix comprise a redundant μ-LED.
19. The light guide arrangement according to claim 1, in which the matrix comprises a plurality of μ-LED base modules or a μ-display.
20. The light guide arrangement according to claim 1, in which the pixels of the array comprise an optoelectronic device or a μ-LED array.
21. A projection unit including a light guide arrangement according to claim 1 configured to produce an image in an augmented reality display unit, a virtual reality display unit and/or on a head-up display.
22. A light guide arrangement comprising: a pixel array, in particular for a display in polar coordinates, which: has a plurality of light emitting devices, μ-LEDs, μ-LED arrays or μ-LED modules which are arranged in at least one line starting from a starting point on an axis through the starting point, wherein the plurality of pixel elements have a height and a variable width such that the width of the pixel elements substantially increases from the starting point; or comprising a μ-display and a projection optics, wherein the μ-display comprises a matrix with pixels for emission of visible light and wherein each pixel comprises several μ-LEDs with spectrally different light emission; and wherein each pixel is assigned a separate collimation optics preceding the projection optics, wherein the collimation optics are configured in such a way that enlarged and overlapping intermediate images of the μ-LEDs of the respective pixel are generated in the beam path in front of the projection optics; or comprising: a light-emitting device comprising at least two light-emitting elements, including μ-LEDs, which emit light of two different colors; an elongated first light guide to guide light of a first color and having an output part; an elongated second light guide to guide light of a second color and having an output portion; a first coupling element disposed adjacent to the first light guide and configured to reflect the light of the first color into the elongated first light guide; and a second coupling element disposed adjacent to the second light guide and configured to reflect the light of the second color into the elongated second light guide.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) In the following section, some of the above-mentioned and summarized aspects are explained in more detail using various explanations and examples.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
(65) Augmented reality is usually generated by a dedicated display whose image is superimposed on reality. Such device can be positioned directly in the user's line of sight, i.e. directly in front of it. Alternatively, optical beam guidance elements can be used to guide the light from a display to the user's eye. In both cases, the display may be implemented and be part of the glasses or other visually enhancing devices worn by the user. Google's™ Glasses is an example of such a visually augmenting device that allows the user to overlay certain information about real world objects. For the Google™ glasses, the information was displayed on a small screen placed in front of one of the lenses. In this respect, the appearance of such an additional device is a key characteristic of eyeglasses, combining technical functionality with a design aspect when wearing glasses. In the meantime, users require glasses without such bulky or easily damaged devices to provide advanced reality functionality. One idea, therefore, is that the glasses themselves become a display or at least a screen on or into which the information is projected.
(66) In such cases, the field of vision for the user is limited to the dimension of the glasses. Accordingly, the area onto which extended reality functionality can be projected is approximately the size of a pair of spectacles. Here, the same, but also different information can be projected on, into or onto the two lenses of a pair of spectacles.
(67) In addition, the image that the user experiences when wearing glasses with augmented reality functionality should have a resolution that creates a seamless impression to the user, so that the user does not perceive the augmented reality as a pixelated object or as a low-resolution element. Straight bevelled edges, arrows or similar elements show a staircase shape that is disturbing for the user at low resolutions.
(68) In order to achieve the desired impression, two display parameters are considered important, which have an influence on the visual impression for a given or known human sight. One is the pixel size itself, i.e. the geometric shape and dimension of a single pixel or the area of 3 subpixels representing the pixel. The second parameter is the pixel pitch, i.e. the distance between two adjacent pixels or, if necessary, subpixels. Sometimes the pixel pitch is also called pixel gap. A larger pixel pitch can be detected by a user and is perceived as a gap between the pixels and in some cases causes the so-called fly screen effect. The gap should therefore not exceed a certain limit.
(69) The maximum angular resolution of the human eye is typically between 0.02 and 0.03 angular degrees, which roughly corresponds to 1.2 to 1.8 arc minutes per line pair. This results in a pixel gap of 0.6-0.9 arc minutes. Some current mobile phone displays have about 400 pixels/inch, resulting in a viewing angle of approximately 2.9° at a distance of 25 cm from a user's eye or approximately 70 pixels/° viewing angle and cm. The distance between two pixels in such displays is therefore in the range of the maximum angular resolution. Furthermore, the pixel size itself is about 56 μm.
(70)
(71) In particular, humans have a forward horizontal arc of their field of vision for both eyes of slightly more than 210°, while the vertical arc of their field of vision for humans is around 135°. However, the range of visual abilities is not uniform across the field of vision and can vary from person to person.
(72) The binocular vision of humans covers approximately 114° horizontally (peripheral vision), and about 90° vertically. The remaining degrees on both sides have no binocular area but can be considered part of the field of vision.
(73) Furthermore, color vision and the ability to perceive shapes and movement can further limit the horizontal and vertical field of vision. The rods and cones responsible for color vision are not evenly distributed.
(74) This point of view is shown in more detail in
(75)
(76) Towards the edge, the sensitivity of color vision decreases, but at the same time contrast vision by means of the rods remains over a larger angular range. Overall, the eye develops a radially symmetrical visual pattern rather than a Cartesian visual pattern. A high resolution for all primary colors is therefore required, especially in the center. At the edge it may be sufficient to work with an emitter adapted to the spectral sensitivity of the rods (max. sensitivity at 498 nm, see
(77)
(78) The eye compensates this non-constant density and also the so-called blind spot by small movements of the eye. Such changes in the direction of vision or focus can be counteracted by suitable optics and tracking of the eye.
(79) Furthermore, even with glasses, the field of vision is further restricted and, for example, can be approximately in the range of 80° for each lens.
(80) The pixel pitch in
(81) a side length of approximately 2.25 mm. For a field of view of approximately 80°, the pixel pitch of a display with a diagonal size of 5 mm is in the range of 1 μm. For larger displays like curve C7 and 35 mm diagonal size, the same field of view can be implemented with a pixel pitch of approximately 5 μm.
(82) Nevertheless, the curves in
(83) One can now calculate the size of the pixel for a given number of pixels, a given field of view and a given diagonal size of a μ-display.
(84) Equation 1 shows the relationship between dimension D of a pixel, pixel pitch pp, number N of pixels and the edge length d of the display. The distance r between two adjacent pixels calculated from their respective centers is given by
r=d/2+pp+d/2.
D=d/N−pp
N=d/(D+pp) (1)
(85) Assuming that the display (e.g. glasses) is at a distance of 2.54 cm (1 inch) from the eye, the distance r between two adjacent pixels for an angular resolution of 1 arcminute as roughly estimated above is given by
r=tan( 1/60°)*30 mm
r=8.7 μm
(86) The size of a pixel is therefore smaller than 10 μm, especially if some space is required between two different pixels. With a distance, r between two pixels and a display with the size of 15 mm×10 mm, 1720×1150 pixels can be arranged on the surface.
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(88) The angle between the perpendicular axes to the emission surface of the LED and the beam vector is defined as the collimation angle. In the example of emission vector 22, the collimation angle of LEDs 20 is approximately zero. LED 20 emits light that is collinear and does not widen significantly.
(89) In contrast, the collimation angle of the emission vector 23 of the LED pixels 20a to 20c is quite large and in the range of approximately 45°. As a result, part of the light emitted by LED 20a overlaps with the emission of an adjacent LED 20b.
(90) The emission of the LEDs 20a to 20c is partially overlapping, so that its superposition of the corresponding light emission occurs. In case the LEDs emit light of different colors, the result will be a color mixture or a combined color. A similar effect occurs between areas of high contrast, i.e. when LED 20a is dark while LED 20b emits a certain light. Because of the overlap, the contrast is reduced and information about each individual position corresponding to a pixel position is reduced.
(91) In displays where the distance to the user's eye is only small, as in the applications mentioned above, a larger collimation angle is rather annoying due to the effects mentioned above and other disadvantages. A user is able to see a wide collimation angle and may perceive displayed objects in slightly different colors blurred or with reduced contrast.
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(93) As the size of the display increases, the collimation angle requirements change drastically, so that even for large display geometries such as those illustrated in curve C7, the collimation angle reaches about 10° for a field of view of 100°. In other words, the collimation angle requirements for larger displays and larger fields of view are increasing. In such displays, light emitted by a pixel must be highly collimated to avoid or reduce the effects mentioned above. Consequently, strong collimation is required when displays with a large field of view are to be made available to a user, even if the display geometry is relatively large.
(94) As a result of the above diagrams and equations, one can deduce that the requirements regarding pixel pitch and collimation angle become increasingly challenging as the display geometry and field of view grow. As already indicated by equation 1, the dimension of the display increases strongly with a larger number of pixels. Conversely, a large number of pixels is required for large fields of view if sufficient resolution is to be achieved and fly screens or other disturbing effects are to be avoided.
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(96) In contrast, the table in
(97) TABLE-US-00001 very low res pixel pitch approx. 0.8-3 mm low res Pixel pitch approx. 0.5-0.8 mm mid res Pixel pitch approx. 0.1-0.5 mm high res Pixel pitch less than 0.1 mm
(98) The upper part of the table, entitled “Direct Emitter Displays”, shows inventive applications of μ-LED arrays in displays and lighting devices in vehicles and for the multimedia sector. The lower part of the table, titled “Transparent Direct Emitter Displays”, names various applications of μ-LED arrays in transparent displays and transparent lighting devices. Some of the applications of μ-displays listed in the table are explained in more detail below in the form of embodiments.
(99) The above considerations make it clear that challenges are considerable in terms of resolution, collimation and field of view suitable for extended reality applications. Accordingly, very high demands are placed on the technical implementation of such displays.
(100) Conventional techniques are configured for the production of displays that have LEDs with edge lengths in the range of 100 μm or even more. However, they cannot be automatically scaled to the sizes of 70 μm and below required here. Pixel sizes of a few μm as well as distances of a few μm or even less come closer to the order of magnitude of the wavelength of the generated light and make novel technologies in processing necessary.
(101) In addition, new challenges in light collimation and light direction are emerging. Optical lenses, for example, which can be easily structured for larger LEDs and can also be calculated using classical optics, cannot be reduced to such a small size without the Maxwell equations. Apart from this, the production of such small lenses is hardly possible without large errors or deviations. In some variants, quantum effects can influence the behaviour of pixels of the above-mentioned size and have to be considered. Tolerances in manufacturing or transfer techniques from pixels to sub mounts or matrix structures are becoming increasingly demanding. Likewise, the pixels must be contacted and individually controllable. Conventional circuits have a space requirement, which in some cases exceeds the pixel area, resulting in an arrangement and space problem.
(102) Accordingly, new concepts for the control and accessibility of pixels of this size can be quite different from conventional technologies. Finally, a focus is on the power consumption of such displays and controllers. Especially for mobile applications, a low power consumption is desirable.
(103) In summary, for many concepts that work for larger pixel sizes, extensive changes must be made before a reduction can be successful. While concepts that can be easily up scaled to LEDs at 2000 μm for the production of LEDs in the 200 μm range, downscaling to 20 μm is much more difficult. Many documents and literature that disclose such concepts have not taken into account the various effects and increased demands on the very small dimensions and are therefore not directly suitable or limited to pixel sizes well above 70 μm.
(104) In the following, various aspects of the structure and design of μ-LED semiconductors, aspects of processing, light extraction and light guidance, display and control are presented. These are suitable and designed to realize displays with pixel sizes in the range of 70 μm and below. Some concepts are specifically designed for the production, light extraction and control of μ-LEDs with an edge length of less than 20 μm and especially less than 10 μm. It goes without saying, and is even desired, that the concepts presented here can and should be combined with each other for the different aspects. This concerns for example a concept for the production of a μ-LED with a concept for light extraction. In concrete terms, a μ-LED implemented by means of methods to avoid defects at edges or methods for current conduction or current constriction can be provided with light extraction structures based on photonic crystal structures. Likewise, a special drive can also be realized for displays whose pixel size is variable. Light guidance with piezoelectric mirrors can be realized for μ-LEDs displays based on the slot antenna aspect or on conventional monolithic pixel matrices.
(105) In some of the following embodiments and described aspects, additional examples of a combination of the different embodiments or individual aspects thereof are suggested. These are intended to illustrate that the various aspects, embodiments or parts thereof can be combined with each other by the skilled person. Some applications require specially adapted concepts; in other applications, the requirements for the technology are somewhat lower. Automotive applications and displays, for example, may have a longer pixel edge length due to the generally somewhat greater distance to a user. Especially there, besides applications of extended reality, classical pixel applications or virtual reality applications exist. This is in the context of this disclosure for the realization of μ-LED displays, whose pixel edge length is in the range of 70 μm and below, also explicitly desired.
(106) A general illustration of the main components of a pixel in a μ-display is shown schematically in
(107) Light collimation and optics suitable for implementing pixels for microdisplays are described in the section on light extraction and light guidance.
(108) The pixel device of
(109) For light extraction and light guiding there are basically two possibilities. In the first case, the eye of a user is directly in line with the direction of radiation of a display. In such a case, the light generated by the display can be radiated directly, collimated, enlarged or reduced. However, no more complex light guidance is necessary. This type of generation and guidance is often found in display applications, including the automotive sector. Also in applications to augmented reality, using glasses can make use of this principle. The display is implemented directly into the glasses and thus the glasses themselves are used as a semi-transparent screen. Of course, this also requires the implementation of control circuits and connection possibilities with transparent material.
(110) However, in some applications a light guide arrangement necessary for light guidance, since the light-generating display is located outside a user's field of vision or at least not directly in front of it. Google's Glass™ is an example of such an application.
(111)
(112) In the case of spectacles, the μ-display is located on the temples close to the hinge. The μ-display in this example emits light of the primary colors red, blue and green parallel to a feed element, which is built as a sandwich structure using elements 41, 43g, 43b, 42, 43r and 43b. The feed element has a first light guide 41 made of a transparent material. A reflective input element 43g is mounted on the sidewall of the light guide and opposite incident light to reflect the green portion of the light of the μ-display and guide it through the light guide 42. In some variants, the incident light has an angle of 0° to 45° with respect to the surface of the corresponding light guide. In the illustrated example, the angle of light incidence is approximately 70° in relation to the surface of the light guide.
(113) Another reflective coupler 43b is either on or on element 43g to couple the blue component into the second light guide 42. Finally, the last reflective element 43r is positioned on the second light guide 42 to reflect the red portion of the μ-display into the second light guide. To this extent, the reflective elements 43 are adapted to couple the corresponding light portion into the light guides 41 and 42. Reflective coupling elements allow light to be coupled into light guides even if incident light hits the light guide at a large angle, e.g. approximately 70° to 90° as in
(114) The light guides 41 and 42 are both elongated and arranged parallel to each other. They can be part of the glasses, for example. Total reflection in both light guides prevents the light (the green part and the red or blue part) from being coupled out of the light guide. The light is guided to an area in the light guide that is covered by the reflective out-coupling elements 46r, 46b and 46g. All these areas are arranged on the same side as the areas of the corresponding reflective elements 43g, 43b and 43r. Coupling element 46r is arranged on the second light guide 42 and is configured to couple out the red portion of the light from the second light guide and direct the portion to the eye. Elements 46b and 46g comprise the same functionality for the blue and green portions so that all three light portions are substantially parallel and directed to the eye.
(115) The couplers 43 are implemented using, for example, mirrors and the like, which are reflective for a certain portion of the light but otherwise transparent. For the purpose of reflection, the couplers can change the refractive index so that light is reflected. In a similar way, the change of refractive index between air and the light guide leads for example to the light inside the guide. The light is coupled out in a similar way. If the light of different colors is essentially parallel and overlapping, the corresponding coupling element(s) should be stacked on top of each other. However, the stacking should occur in such a way that the coupling element absorbs or reflects undesired portions of the light. In some variants, MEMS mirrors can be used to direct the light coming from the display to the user's eye. In this example, the output coupler 46 is mounted directly on the light guide.
(116)
(117) The optical device 6 represents a system optic 19 in the form of an imaging projection optic 20 and comprises in the beam path successively a plane-parallel lens 21 and a first aspherical lens 22 and a second aspherical lens 23, which realize an image of the light-emitting optoelectronic element 1.
(118) Furthermore,
(119) For a possible dimensioning, a radius R of 10 mm is selected for a light-emitting optoelectronic element 1 with a diameter D of 3.7 mm for the curved surface 5 for the arrangement of the emission zones 3.1, 3.2 and a material with a refractive index of at least 1.6 and a thickness in the direction of the optical axis 10 of at least twice the diameter D is required for the plane-parallel lens 21 of the optical device 1 following in the beam path.
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(126) The embodiment of
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(128) In addition to photonic structures, other light shaping measures can also be provided directly on the substrate 29.
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(130) A plurality of different projection units are known in the art, with which images can be displayed in specifically defined image planes according to requirements.
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(136) In the illustration shown in
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(138) As already explained, the different widths of the μ-rods cause a color emission during operation. Accordingly, the μ-rod 3.3 has the largest width for the blue color, the μ-rod 3.1 the smallest width. It is planned to design the contact areas on the surface of the backplane substrate for individual control of the μ-rods with the same size in each case. This provides additional flexibility in the assembly of the individual pixels.
(139) In the top row shown here, two rods are provided for the green color. Alternatively, however, the existing color space can be expanded, for example by configuring the μ-rods differently for the green color. Such an example is realized in the lower row in the left pixel with the two Rods 3.2a and 3.2b. Here the prod 3.2b shows a slightly different green color emission compared to the two Rods 3.2a. Thus, the color space in the green area is extended. Another aspect is shown in the lower row, and concerns the different sensitivity of the human eye to different colors. In order to achieve an increased number of color gradations or to prevent failure or defects, for example, an embodiment may provide several μ-rods of one color in or for the pixel. In the right pixel of the lower line, this is represented by an additional green μ-rod and an additional red μ-rod. These redundant μ-rods can be placed on the pixel if necessary, i.e. if a defect is present. For this purpose the contact areas, 3.11 and 3.22 are configured accordingly.
(140) Another version shows the middle pixel of
(141) In addition to the rods shown here, other embodiments of such a pixel with different fill factors are also conceivable.
(142)
(143) Depending on the application, the matrix of pixels with μ-LEDs of a small form factor presented here can be supplemented by a light-shaping or even light-converting structure.
(144) Furthermore,
(145) Furthermore,
(146) The collimation optics 6.1, 6.2 assigned to each individual pixel 2.1, 2.2 can be achieved by means of a holographic optical element (HOE), a refractive optical element (ROE) or a diffractive optical element (DOE).
(147)
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(149) On the surface of the optochip, there are pixels 2, in which subpixels 50 are arranged, each emitting red, green and blue light. The individual subpixels 50 each form a pixel 2 with a low fill factor, so that the individual light-emitting areas within a pixel 2 only occupy a part of the area of pixel 2 in comparison to the areas that do not emit any light, and are sufficiently spaced from one another in such a way that optical and electrical crosstalk between the individual subpixels 50 and between adjacent pixels 50 is reliably prevented or at least considerably minimized.
(150) The pixels 2, each formed by three subpixels 50, are each assigned a collimation optic, not shown in detail in
(151) In addition to the above version, the different resolution capabilities of the eye can also be taken into account by producing images of different resolution and directing them to the retina of a user.
(152) As already mentioned, the central part of the fovea is dominated by the cones, whereas the rods are present over a larger angular range. Likewise, the increased cone density (L, S and M cones) means that better color vision predominates, as the three different types of cones (L or also red, S or also green and M or also blue cones) register different color valences. Towards the edge, the sensitivity of color vision is reduced in accordance with the lower cone density, but at the same time contrast vision is maintained over a larger angular range by means of the rods, which are still active at low light intensity and are therefore responsible for night vision.
(153) Small movements of the eye and a change in the direction of vision or focus can be counteracted by suitable optics and tracking of the eye.
(154) The optoelectronic device 1 of
(155) For this purpose, imaging optics 3 comprises a beam steering device 7, which comprises a movable mirror 7a. The mirror 7a, when appropriately positioned, directs light rays L4a of the first image, for example to the first region 4a of the retina 6, to produce the first image and, after adjustment of its position, directs the light rays L5a of the second image, for example to the second region 5a of the retina, to produce the second image. In the present case, the movable mirror 7a is tiltable about two axes, whereby the area illuminated on the retina can be adjusted in both vertical and horizontal directions.
(156) Furthermore, the imaging optics 3 comprises a beam-shaping device 8, which focuses the light rays of the first and second image on the respective area of the retina. The light rays L4a of the first image are focused more strongly than the light rays L5a of the second image.
(157) Since both the first and the second image are produced by only one imaging device 2, and since this imaging device 2 has a certain total number of pixels, the first and the different second resolution of the first and second image on the retina 6 is only produced by the different focusing of the light beams of the first image L4a and the light beams of the second image L5a by the beam-shaping device 8. The resolution of the first and the second image results from the ratio of the pixel number of the imaging device 2 and the area of the respective image on the first and second regions 4a, 5a of the retina 6, respectively.
(158) Since a high resolution of a projected image on the retina is only necessary in the area of center 4, the first region 4a with the first and higher resolution is closer to the center of retina 6 than the second region 5b with the second, lower resolution.
(159) In the case of a retina 6 of an eye of a user of the optoelectronic device 1, which is to be assumed to be as round as possible, closer to the center essentially means that the center of the first region 4a, viewed in the radial direction, is closer to the center of the retina 6 than the center of the second region 5a. This means in particular that the resolution of the first and second images on the retina 6 is adapted to the higher receptor density at the center of the retina 6.
(160) Since the optoelectronic device 1 comprises only one image generator 2 according to the embodiment of
(161) A marginal area 5 of the retina can be composed of several areas (e.g. area 5a), which are illuminated with images of the same resolution. Similarly, a central area 4 can be composed of several areas (e.g. area 4a) that are illuminated by images with the same higher resolution. Between the edge region 5 and the central region 4 it is also possible that at least one intermediate region 10 is formed, which is composed of several regions (e.g. 10a) and is illuminated with images with the same resolution. The edge region 5 and the at least one intermediate region 10 each largely form a ring which is illuminated by several images. The central area 4, on the other hand, largely forms a circle, which is also illuminated by several images. Illuminated areas of the retina may overlap. Preferably, however, the overlapping of areas is kept to a minimum. For example, less than 50% of the areas of the regions overlap, or less than 25% of the area of the regions, or less than 10% of the area of the regions.
(162) Since the individual images are projected onto the retina so quickly one after the other, the result is, as mentioned above, a “total image” composed of the individual images within a scene on the retina, which is perceived by the eye as one image. Typical image repetition frequencies are 60 or 120 Hz and the display duration per frame is a fraction of a frame, whereby 2 to 100 partial images, preferably 5 to 50 partial images, are displayed per frame.
(163) Optionally, an additional lens 9 can be placed between the imager 2 and the movable mirror 7a in order to focus the light beams L emitted by the imager and direct them to the movable mirror 7a.
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(165) The segmented lens, on the other hand, consists of several smaller lenses (mini-lens array) that focus to different degrees. Lenses 8a are installed close to the optical axis of the system, which reduce the image considerably, whereas lenses 8b, 8c project the image onto a larger area of the retina 6. As an alternative to a classical lens, the beam-shaping device 8 can also be designed as a flat optical element, for example as a meta-lens. Especially in case of segmentation, this offers the advantage that individual areas can be structured directly adjacent or smooth transitions between areas of different lens properties are possible. For the overall system, the use of a flat optical element for beam-shaping can enable a compact design.
(166) The optoelectronic device 1 of
(167) Each point on retina 6 is illuminated by only one projected image. In other words, for N images, the imager produces N−1 times a ring-shaped image with a dark central area, which is projected onto the retina 6.
(168) Alternatively, at least one image generated by the imaging device can also be projected onto the entire retina, whereby, viewed in the radial direction, at least one second image in the center of the retina is projected onto the central region of the retina 6 with a higher focus and thus higher resolution than the first image, and thus the cumulative stimulation of the at least two images corresponds to a desired target value. In practice, this means that the basic stimulation that applies to a larger area of the retina is produced at low magnification and details are produced at higher magnification settings by additional stimulation. For this purpose, the image content is analysed by the electronics of a system with regard to the spatial variation and broken down into partial images corresponding to the different magnification scales.
(169) The optoelectronic device 1 of
(170) The areas on the retina 6 result, as already for the design of the optoelectronic device 1 of
(171) Each point on retina 6 is illuminated by only one projected image. With N imaging devices and correspondingly with N simultaneously generated images, N−1 imaging devices generate a ring-shaped image with a dark central area, which is projected onto the retina 6.
(172) Alternatively, the image generated by at least one imaging device illuminates the entire retina, whereby, viewed in the radial direction, at least one second image generated by a second imaging device is projected in the center of the retina onto the central region of the retina 6 with a higher focus and thus higher resolution than the first image. The cumulative stimulation of the at least two images may correspond to a desired target value. In practice, this means that the basic stimulation that applies to a larger area of the retina is produced at low magnification and details are produced at higher magnification settings by additional stimulation. For this purpose, the image content is analysed by the electronics of a system with regard to spatial variation and is broken down into partial images that correspond to the different magnification scales.
(173) The at least two beam steering elements 7a/b may, for example, be formed by fixed mirrors or have glass fibres.
(174) With this embodiment, the imaging optics 3 can be made much simpler in comparison to the embodiments of
(175) The various configurations of a beamline as shown in
(176) Such collimation has the advantage that a more precise positioning on the retina of an observer is achieved by the mirror 7a and the lens system 8.
(177)
(178) The individual μ-displays P1, P2 and P3 are realized in this embodiment by 3 different designs. It goes without saying, however, that only one embodiment can be used for each individual μ-display. For example, the μ-display P1 for the red light comprises a plurality of horizontal μ-rods, which are contacted on the surface and can be individually controlled. In this design, the μ-rods are each monochrome, i.e. designed to emit red light. Accordingly, the other μ-displays P2 and P3 could also be equipped with such μ-rods to emit green and blue light respectively. Such a μ-display with horizontally aligned μ-rods of different colors is already shown in various other embodiments and can also be realized here with the shown light guide arrangement.
(179) Furthermore, in the representation of
(180) A third version of a possible μ-display is realized by the μ-display P3. This comprises a plurality of monolithically integrated pixels of one color each, arranged in rows and columns. All μ-displays shown here can be equipped with further measures for light coordination and light shaping. For example, photonic structures of the surface or other light forms of the elements such as microlenses are conceivable.
(181) A further concept based on the embodiment of
(182) Finally,
(183)
(184) The beam system 11 of
(185) The beam system 11 of
(186) In a variant not shown, the respective beam system 11 could also be arranged between the imaging device 2, 2a, 2b and the imaging optics 3.
(187) It may be intended that the imaging optics 3 are integrated in the beam system 11. With reference to
(188) Also in the variant according to
(189) An alternative design to transfer images to or into the eye of a user is achieved by a Light field display which creates an image within the eye by direct retinal projection.
(190) Shown in
(191) For the embodiment shown, optics module 4 has a collimation optics 14 and a projection optics 17 with a free-form lens 18, which produce a first raster sub-image 8 of the first imaging unit 10 on the retina 19 of the user's eye 6. The first raster sub-image 8 is created over a large area.
(192) For the imaging of the second imaging unit 11, an adjustment optic 15 is available in optics module 4, which is arranged within the collimation optic 14 for the present embodiment. For other embodiments not shown in detail, the adjusting optics 15 can be located between the collimation optics 14 and the projection optics 17 or at least partly in a waveguide 16 of the projection optics 17.
(193) The second raster sub-image 9 of the second imaging unit 11 is projected onto a local area of the retina 19 with the fovea centralis 7, in which the most precise optical perception can be achieved due to the high surface density of the visual cells, which are exclusively designed as cones for photo-optical vision. A higher resolution is selected for the second raster subimage 9 than for the first raster sub-image 8.
(194)
(195)
(196)
(197)
(198) An alternative embodiment of the adjustable optics 15.2 with an adjustable Alvarez lens assembly 31 is shown in
(199)
(200) In addition to the concepts presented here for the production and structuring of μ-LEDs and μ-Displays or modules, a special concept of such a module is introduced in the form of a imaging element with a variable pixel density.
(201) The inventors take advantage of the fact that the human eye does not see equally well everywhere in its full range of vision, both in terms of color perception and spatial resolution. Thus, an imaging element only needs to have as good a resolution as is required for the respective areas in the eye.
(202)
(203) In the second example, the pixels increase both in width 1 and height h with increasing distance from the starting point. The change is chosen in such a way that a suitable rotation through an optical system results in a visual impression in which the pixels are each located on points of circles without any gaps between them. The number of pixels in the row can be in the range of several hundred pixels, but it can be less than an HD resolution of 1980 pixel points per row.
(204) In an example, about 150 pixels with the smallest width are arranged in one row from the starting point. The width can be 5 μm, for example. Then follows another group of 150 pixels with a pixel size of 10 μm. Two further groups with pixel sizes of 20 μm and 30 μm and a number of 100 pixels or 50 pixels follow. This results in a total length of the row of about 5750 μm. However, with approximately the same effective visual resolution for the eye, the number of pixels is significantly reduced to 500, which leads to a simpler and more cost-effective production.
(205) In this context, it should be emphasized that the width between adjacent pixels is not always different, but can also be the same. In some cases, a pixel can also have a smaller dimension than an adjacent pixel closer to the starting point. However, the expression “width substantially increasing from the starting point” means that the width of the pixels increases with distance over a larger number of pixels. The width, and possibly also the height, therefore generally increases for pixels with a greater distance from the starting point, even though isolated pixels with neighboring pixels may comprise the same dimension. Thus, the above-mentioned execution of a segmental widening also falls under the above-mentioned expression.
(206) Using imaging optics, an image can now be generated by rotating the pixel array around the starting point. For this purpose, the pixel array itself is not rotated, but the light stripes generated by the pixel array are shifted in fixed periods with an imaging optics, so that the impression of a rotation around the starting point is created. If this offset occurs, fast enough, the inertia of the visual processing results in the impression of an image. The number of individual steps may or may not depend on the height of the individual pixels. Depending on the image, the period can also be selected in such a way that a certain overlapping area results, especially in the high resolution area of the eye.
(207)
(208)
(209)
(210)
(211)
(212)
(213) As shown, the pixels P and the corresponding subpixels R, G and B and the μ-LEDs show an increasing size with increasing distance from the rotation axis A. For example, the μ-LEDs of the subpixels B, G2 and R of the outer pixels P are significantly larger than the μ-LEDs of the pixels adjacent around the central axis A. In addition, the μ-LEDs of the green subpixels G1 and G2 have larger dimensions compared to the other μ-LEDs of the same pixel as the distance from the rotation axis A increases. This is useful because the eye reacts more sensitively to the green color and thus the green color also dominates in peripheral vision.
(214) The shown μ-LEDs are configured as vertical μ-LEDs. For this purpose, they have a common connection contact on the side facing away from the substrate 20, which is electrically connected to the contacts K on the outside. A light-shaping structure in the form of a photonic crystal with the areas 33 and 34 is applied to the upper side of this transparent cover electrode. The areas 33 and 34 produce a variation of the refractive index and thus cause a collimation of the light emitted by the μ-LEDs.
(215) The pixel row proposed according to this concept can be realized with μ-LEDs of different shapes and designs.
(216)
(217) The structure shown in
(218) Finally, the two embodiments in
(219) In
(220) In the alternative embodiment of
(221) It should be explicitly mentioned at this point that the different aspects and examples can also be combined with each other to create a desired arrangement that makes sense for the respective application. This also, but not only, concerns the combination of rows and pixels in the respective rows, i.e. combinations that relate to spatial resolution and color sensitivity.
(222)
(223)
(224) The light deflected by the first mirror is directed via another lens L2 to a second mirror S2. This second mirror can also be tilted around two axes arranged perpendicular to each other. This functionality is exemplified in the figure by the two arrows. A third lens L3 focuses the generated light strip onto the user's eye. The light strip is now rotated by a slight periodic tilting of the mirrors S1 and S2. The tilting can be realized with MEMS or piezoelectric elements. With each rotation, the image and color information desired at the new position is also radiated from the PA pixel array. Due to the inertia of the eye, a sufficiently fast rotation creates the impression of a circular image. The point of rotation in image Bi, for example, is placed in the focal point or direction of vision of the eye. A change in the direction of view can be detected by eye-tracking measures. The mirrors S1 and S2 can then follow the rotation point and deflect the image so that the rotation point is again in the focus of the eye.
(225) Each of the three lenses can be optional. Likewise, measures other than lenses or mirrors, or other combinations of such optics, may be provided to produce the desired effect.
(226) In the following, various devices and arrangements as well as methods for manufacturing, processing and operating as items are again listed as an example. The following items present different aspects and implementations of the proposed principles and concepts, which can be combined in various ways. Such combinations are not limited to those listed below:
(227) 684. Optical fibre device, comprising:
(228) a light-emitting device comprising at least two light-emitting elements, in particular μ-LEDs, which emit light of two different colors;
(229) an elongated first light guide to guide light of a first color and having an output part;
(230) an elongated second light guide to guide light of a second color and having an output portion;
(231) a first coupling element disposed adjacent to the first light guide and configured to reflect the light of the first color into the elongated first light guide;
(232) a second coupling element disposed adjacent to the second light guide and configured to reflect the light of the second color into the elongated second light guide.
(233) 685. Light guide device according to item 684, further comprising:
(234) a third launching member mounted opposite the second launching member and adjacent the elongated second light guide, the third launching member being configured to reflect light of a third color into the elongated second light guide.
(235) 686. Light guide device according to any of items 684 to 685, wherein the first coupling element is transparent to light of a color different from the first color.
(236) 687. Light guide device according to object 685, the second coupling element being transparent to light of the third color.
(237) 688. Light guide device according to any of the preceding items, wherein the light of different colors has an angle of incidence between 45° and 90° with respect to the surface of the respective light guide
(238) 689. Light guide device according to any of the preceding items, where light of the third color has a wavelength greater than the light of the second color
(239) 690. Light guide device according to any of the preceding items, wherein at least one of the first and second coupling elements is arranged on a sidewall of the respective elongated light guide.
(240) 691. Light guide device according to any of the preceding items, wherein the first and second elongated light guides are substantially parallel to each other.
(241) 692. Light guide device according to any of the preceding items, further comprising spacer elements for spacing the first and second elongated light guides apart.
(242) 693. Light guide device according to any of the preceding items, further comprising
(243) a first decoupling element arranged on the output part of the elongated first light guide for decoupling light of the first color;
(244) a second out-coupling element arranged on the output part of the elongated second light guide to couple out light of the second color.
(245) 694. Light guide device according to item 693, further comprising:
(246) a third out-coupling element arranged on the elongated second light guide opposite the second out-coupling element to couple out light of the third color.
(247) 695. Light guide device according to one of the objects 693 to 694, wherein the first decoupling element is transparent to light of the second and/or the third color.
(248) 696. Light guide device according to any of items 693 to 695, wherein the second output coupler is transparent to light of the third color or the third output coupler is transparent to light of the second color.
(249) 697. Lighting device comprising a light-emitting optoelectronic element and an optical device for beam conversion of the electromagnetic radiation generated by the light-emitting optoelectronic element
(250) wherein said light-emitting optoelectronic element comprises a plurality of emission regions arranged in a matrix form; and wherein each emission region is assigned a main beam direction; and
(251) at least part of the emission zones are arranged in such a way that the centers of the emission regions lie on a curved surface.
(252) 698. Lighting arrangement according to item 697, characterized in that the curved surface has a concave curvature.
(253) 699. Lighting arrangement according to any of the preceding items, characterized in that the main directions of radiation of the emission regions are at an angle to each other.
(254) 700. lighting arrangement according to any of the preceding items, characterized in that there are emission regions with a coinciding main beam direction, which are arranged on different planes at a different distance in the main beam direction from the optical device.
(255) 701. lighting arrangement according to any of the preceding items, characterized in that the curved surface forms a spherical segment, the associated spherical center lying on the optical axis of the optical device,
(256) or in that the curved surface has the shape of at least a portion of a rotated conical section, in particular an ellipsoid, paraboloid or hyperboloid.
(257) 702. Lighting arrangement according to any of the preceding items, characterized in that the emission regions whose centers are located on the curved surface, each form Lambert radiators.
(258) 703. Lighting arrangement according to any of the preceding items, characterized in that at least one of the emission regions is the aperture of a primary optical element associated with a μ-LED or of a converter element associated with a μ-LED.
(259) 704. Lighting arrangement according to any of the preceding items, characterized in that the emission regions whose centers lie on a curved surface are part of a monolithic pixelated optochip.
(260) 705. Lighting arrangement according to item 704, in which the monolithic pixelated optochip has a plurality of μ-LEDs arranged in rows and columns.
(261) 706. Lighting arrangement according to any of the preceding items, in which the emission regions constitute the surface of a coupling-out structure, and which comprises a photonic crystal or photonic structure for beam-shaping.
(262) 707. Lighting arrangement according to any of the preceding items characterized in that the emission regions, whose centers lie on a curved surface, are assigned to separate μ-LEDs arranged on a non-planar IC substrate.
(263) 708. Lighting arrangement according to any of the preceding items, characterized in that the optical device comprises a system optic and between the system optic and the emission areas there is a curved collimating optical element or several nonplanarly arranged collimating optical elements.
(264) 709. Lighting arrangement according to any of the preceding items, characterized in that the optical device comprises a system optic, which forms an imaging projection optic.
(265) 710. Lighting arrangement according to any of the preceding items, in which the light-emitting optoelectronic element has a layer comprising a plurality of drive elements, in particular current sources for individual drive of each of the emission areas.
(266) 711. Method of producing an illumination assembly comprising a light-emitting optoelectronic element and an optical device for beam conversion of the electromagnetic radiation generated by the light-emitting optoelectronic element; wherein
(267) the optoelectronic element comprises a plurality of emission regions arranged in matrix form;
(268) characterised in that
(269) at least part of the emission regions are arranged in such a way that the centers of the emission regions lie on a curved surface.
(270) 712. Method according to item 711, characterized in that separate μ-LEDs are arranged on a non-planar IC substrate to create the emission regions.
(271) 713. Method according to any of the preceding items, characterized in that at least one of the emission regions is formed by the aperture of a primary optic associated with a μ-LED or a converter element associated with a μ-LED.
(272) 714. Light guide arrangement comprising a μ-display and a projection optics, wherein the μ-display comprises a matrix with pixels for emission of visible light and wherein each pixel comprises several μ-LEDs with spectrally different light emission; and wherein each pixel is assigned a separate collimation optics preceding the projection optics,
(273) characterised in that
(274) the collimation optics are configured in such a way that enlarged and overlapping intermediate images of the μ-LEDs of the respective pixel are generated in the beam path in front of the projection optics.
(275) 715. Light guide arrangement according to item 714, characterized in that the intermediate images of the μ-LEDs of the respective pixel generated by the collimation optics overlap each other over at least 70%, 80% or 90% of their intermediate image area.
(276) 716. Light guide arrangement according to item 714 or 715, characterized in that the intermediate images μ-LEDs are virtual intermediate images.
(277) 717. Light guide arrangement according to any of the preceding items, characterized in that the collimation optics is arranged between the μ-LEDs of a pixel and the projection optics.
(278) 718. Light guide arrangement according to any of the preceding items, characterized in that the μ-LEDs of a pixel occupy not more than 30%, particularly preferably not more than 15% and most particularly preferably not more than 10% of the pixel area.
(279) 719. Light guide arrangement according to any of the preceding items, characterized in that the μ-LEDs are configured as color converted μ-LEDs or as VCSELs or as edge-emitting laser diodes and optionally have illuminated optical waveguide end pieces.
(280) 720. Light guide arrangement according to any of the preceding items, characterized in that the collimation optics are designed such that the total area of the overlapping intermediate images of the μ-LEDs of the respective pixel corresponds to at least 70%, 80% or 90% of the pixel area.
(281) 721. Light guide arrangement according to any of the preceding items,
(282) characterized in that the collimation optics comprise a holographic optical element (HOE) and/or refractive optical element (ROE) and/or a diffractive optical element (DOE).
(283) 722. Light guide arrangement according to any of the preceding items,
(284) characterised in that the radiation emitted by the projection optics is directed directly or indirectly onto a display.
(285) 723. Light guide array according to any of the preceding items, in which each pixel comprises a μ-LED array according to any of the preceding items.
(286) 724. Light guide arrangement according to any of the preceding items, in which each pixel comprises a μ-LED following one of the preceding objects.
(287) 725. Light guide arrangement according to any of the preceding items, in which the μ-LEDs of a pixel are each formed by a horizontally arranged microrod according to any of the preceding items.
(288) 726. Light guide arrangement according to any of the preceding items, in which the μ-LEDs of a pixel are each formed by at least one antenna slit structure according to any of the preceding items.
(289) 727. Light guide arrangement according to any of the preceding items, in which the μ-LEDs of a pixel are each formed by a pair of emitting elements with a converter material arranged therebetween according to any of the preceding items.
(290) 728. Light guide arrangement according to any of the preceding items, in which the μ-LEDs of a pixel each comprise quantum well intermixing in an edge region of an active layer of the μ-LED.
(291) 729. Light guide arrangement according to any of the preceding items, in which the matrix comprises a light-shaping structure, in particular a photonic crystal, which is in particular arranged at least partially in a semiconductor material of the μ-LEDs of the pixels.
(292) 730. Light guide arrangement according to any of the preceding items, further comprising a drive unit arranged in a substrate, in particular with current drivers or current sources according to any of the following items, wherein the μ-display is arranged on the substrate and the pixels are electrically connected to the current drivers or current sources.
(293) 731. Light guide arrangement according to any of the preceding items, in which a plurality of pixels of the matrix each have a microlens arranged above the μ-LEDs.
(294) 732. Light guide arrangement according to any of the preceding items, in which a plurality of pixels of the matrix has a reflection structure limiting the pixels, in particular with features according to any of the preceding items, which surrounds the μ-LED of the pixel.
(295) 733. Light guide arrangement according to any of the preceding items, in which at least some of the pixels of the matrix have a redundant μ-LED.
(296) 734. Light guide arrangement according to any of the preceding items, in which the matrix comprises a plurality of μ-LED base modules or a μ-display.
(297) 735. Light guide array according to any of the preceding items according to any of the preceding items, in which the pixels of the array comprise an optoelectronic device or a μ-LED array.
(298) 736. Use of a projection unit according to any of the preceding items to produce an image in an augmented reality display unit, a virtual reality display unit and/or on a head-up display.
(299) 737. Light guide arrangement comprising:
(300) at least one optoelectronic imaging device, in particular a μ-display for generating at least a first image and a second image, and
(301) at least one imaging optic adapted to project a first image of the first image at a first resolution onto a first region of a retina of a user and to project a second image of the second image at a second resolution onto another, second region of the retina, the first resolution being different from the second resolution.
(302) 738. Light guide arrangement according to item 737, characterized in that
(303) the first region is closer to the center of the retina than the second region and that
(304) the first resolution is higher than the second resolution
(305) 739. Light guide arrangement according to any of the preceding items, characterized in that
(306) the imaging optics comprises beam steering means which directs light rays of the first image onto the first region and light rays of the second image onto the second region.
(307) 740. Light guide arrangement according to any of the preceding items, characterized in that
(308) the imaging optics comprise at least one beam-shaping device which focuses the light beams of the first image more strongly than the light beams of the second image.
(309) 741. Light guide arrangement according to item 740,
(310) characterised in that
(311) the beam-shaping device comprises at least a first beam-shaping element and a second beam-shaping element, the first beam-shaping element focusing the light beams of the first image and the second beam-shaping element focusing the light beams of the second image.
(312) 742. Light guide arrangement according to any of the preceding items, characterized in that
(313) the beam steering device for steering the beam has at least one movable and/or fixed mirror.
(314) 743. Light guide arrangement according to any of the preceding items, characterized in that
(315) the beam steering device for steering the beam comprises at least one and preferably at least two glass fibres.
(316) 744. Light guide arrangement according to any of the preceding items, characterized in that
(317) the first and the second image are temporarily displayed one after the other, especially on the same imager.
(318) 745. Light guide arrangement according to any of the preceding items, characterized in that
(319) the first and second images are displayed at least substantially simultaneously, in particular on at least two different display devices.
(320) 746. Light guide arrangement according to any of the preceding items, characterized in that
(321) said at least one optoelectronic imager is formed by a μ-display with a plurality of μ-LED arrays, in particular according to any of the preceding items or a monolithic pixelated array.
(322) 747. Light guide arrangement according to any of the preceding items, characterized in that the second region concentrically encloses the first region.
(323) 748. Light guide arrangement according to any of the preceding items, in which the at least one optoelectronic imager comprises at least one matrix of pixels formed by a μ-LED arrangement according to any of the preceding items.
(324) 749. Light guide device according to any of the preceding items, in which the at least one optoelectronic imager comprises a matrix of pixels formed by one or more μ-LED according to any of the preceding items.
(325) 750. Light guide arrangement according to any of the preceding items, wherein the μ-LEDs of a pixel are each formed by a horizontally arranged microrod according to any of the preceding items, or wherein the μ-LEDs of a pixel are each formed by at least one antenna slot structure according to any of the preceding items.
(326) 751. Light guide arrangement according to any of the preceding items, in which the μ-LEDs of a pixel are each formed by a pair of emitting elements with a converter material arranged therebetween according to any of the preceding items.
(327) 752. Light guide arrangement according to any of the preceding items, in which the μ-LEDs of a pixel each have a quantum well intermixing in an edge region of an active layer of the μ-LED, in particular quantum well intermixing.
(328) 753. Light guide arrangement according to any of the preceding items, further comprising a drive circuit according to any of the subsequent items, which is implemented in a substrate from which the μ-display is arranged.
(329) 754. Light guide arrangement according to any of the preceding items, in which the μ-display of the at least one optical imager comprises a matrix with a light-shaping structure, in particular a photonic crystal.
(330) 755. Light guide arrangement according to item 754, in which the light-shaping structure is at least partially arranged in a semiconductor material of the μ-LEDs of the pixels of the at least one optical imager.
(331) 756. Light guide arrangement according to any of the preceding items, in which the plurality of pixels of the at least one optical imager each have a microlens arranged above the μ-LEDs of each pixel.
(332) 757. Light guide arrangement according to any of the preceding items, in which the plurality of pixels of the at least one optical imager has a reflection structure delimiting the pixels, in particular with features according to any of the preceding items, which surrounds the μ-LED of each pixel.
(333) 758. Light guide arrangement according to any of the preceding items, in which a first and a second optical imaging device, each comprising a μ-display, formed with μ-LED arrays, optoelectronic devices or μ-LEDs according to any of the preceding items.
(334) 759. Light guide arrangement according to any of the preceding items, in which at least some pixels of the matrix have a redundant μ-LED.
(335) 760. Light guide arrangement according to any of the preceding items, wherein the matrix comprises a plurality of μ-LED base modules or a μ-display.
(336) 761. Light guide arrangement according to any of the preceding items, in which the pixels of the array comprise an optoelectronic device or a μ-LED array.
(337) 762. Use of a light guide arrangement according to any of the preceding items to produce an image in an augmented reality display unit, a virtual reality display unit and/or on a head-up display.
(338) 763. Light guide arrangement comprising:
(339) at least three μ-displays, each comprising a matrix of pixels arranged in rows and columns, each with at least one μ-LED, configured to emit a light of a main wavelength
(340) a projection unit, which is arranged in a beam path of each μ-display and is designed to project images generated by the μ-displays in overlapping manner onto an image plane, the image plane being in particular a retina of an observer.
(341) 764. Light guide arrangement according to item 763, characterized in that the projection unit comprises a lens or a mirror mounted in at least one axis for each μ-display.
(342) 765. Light guide arrangement according to any of the preceding items, in which at least one glass fibre are used to direct the light of the displays onto the projection unit.
(343) 766. Light guide arrangement according to any of the preceding items, further comprising a collimation optics, which is configured to generate enlarged and overlapping intermediate images of the μ-LEDs of the respective pixel in the beam path in front of the projection optics.
(344) 767. Light guide arrangement according to any of the preceding items, wherein the matrix comprises a plurality of μ-LED base modules or a μ-display.
(345) 768. Light guide array according to any of the preceding items, in which the pixels of the array comprise an optoelectronic device or a μ-LED array.
(346) 769. Light guide arrangement according to any of the preceding items, in which the μ-LEDs of a pixel are each formed by a horizontally arranged microrod or by at least one antenna slot structure or by a pair of emitting elements with a converter material arranged therebetween according to any of the preceding items.
(347) 770. Light guide arrangement according to any of the preceding items, further comprising a light-shaping structure on the pixels of each μ-display, wherein the light-shaping structure is a microlens or a photonic structure.
(348) 771. Light guide arrangement according to any of the preceding items, in which the μ-LEDs of a pixel comprise a reflective lateral surface.
(349) 772. Light guide arrangement according to any of the preceding items, in which a drive circuit is provided in a substrate, which comprises at least one current driver circuit or a supply circuit, in particular according to any of the subsequent items for supplying at least one pixel, the μ-display being arranged on the substrate.
(350) 773. Light guide arrangement with
(351) a dichroic cube;
(352) three μ-displays with a matrix of pixels arranged in rows and columns, one μ-display of which is arranged substantially parallel to one side of the dichroic cube;
(353) a light-emitting surface on the dichroic cube.
(354) 774. Light guide arrangement according to item 773, in which the μ-displays with the matrix of pixels arranged in rows and columns comprise an optoelectronic device or a μ-LED arrangement.
(355) 775. Light guiding arrangement according to any of the preceding items, in which the pixels each comprise μ-LEDs formed by horizontally arranged microrods or by at least one antenna slot structure or by a pair of emitting elements with a converter material arranged therebetween according to any of the preceding items.
(356) 776. Light guide arrangement according to any of the preceding items objects, further comprising a light-shaping structure on the pixels of each μ-display, wherein the light-shaping structure is a microlens or a photonic structure.
(357) 777. Light guide arrangement according to any of the preceding items, in which the μ-LEDs of a pixel comprise a reflective side surface.
(358) 778. Light guide arrangement according to any of the preceding items, further comprising collimation optics, which are designed to produce enlarged and superimposed intermediate images of the respective μ-display in the beam path according to the dichroic cube.
(359) 779. Light guide arrangement according to any of the preceding items, in which the light-shaping structure is at least partially arranged in a semiconductor material of the μ-LEDs of the pixels of the at least one optical imager.
(360) 780. Light guide arrangement according to any of the preceding items, further comprising a drive unit arranged in a substrate, in particular with current drivers or current sources according to any of the subsequent items, wherein the μ-display is arranged on the substrate and the pixels are electrically connected to the current drivers or current sources.
(361) 781. System, comprising:
(362) a light guide arrangement according to any of the preceding items, and
(363) a control unit for controlling the image generator or the imaging optics of the optoelectronic device, in particular in such a way that projected images of a frame of images, in particular comprising the first and second image, on the retina produce a coherent overall image.
(364) 782. System according to item 781, in which fuse elements are electrically coupled to at least some of the μ-LEDs or pixels of the μ-displays, the at least some of the μ-LEDs or pixels forming redundant elements and the fuse elements activating the redundant elements or deactivating them when not required.
(365) 783. System according to any of the preceding items, comprising supply drivers, or control units having characteristics based on any of the subsequent items.
(366) 784. System according to any of the preceding items, in which the control unit is implemented in a substrate on which the μ-display is arranged and electrically connected to the control unit
(367) 785. Light field display comprising:
(368) an optoelectronic device, in particular a μ-display for generating a raster image;
(369) an optics module, for direct retinal projection of the raster image into a user's eye;
(370) characterised in that
(371) said optoelectronic device comprises a first imaging unit generating a first raster sub-image and a second imaging unit generating a second raster sub-image;
(372) wherein the raster image (or halftone image) comprises the first raster sub-image and the second raster sub-image; and the optics module comprises an adjustment optic for the retinal projection of the second raster sub-image onto the fovea centralis in the viewer's eye; and
(373) wherein the retinal projection of the second raster sub-image has a higher resolution than that of the first raster sub-image.
(374) 786. Light field display according to item 785, characterized in that the adjusting optics is configured in such a way that the relative position of the retinal projection of the second raster sub-image can be adjusted with respect to the retinal projection of the first raster sub-image.
(375) 787. Light field display according to any of the preceding items, characterized in that the retinal projection of the second raster sub-image in the user eye has a smaller spatial extension than the retinal projection of the first raster subimage.
(376) 788. Light field display according to any of the preceding items, characterized in that the adjusting optics comprises a switchable Bragg grating.
(377) 789. Light field display according to any of the preceding items, characterized in that the adjusting optics comprises an adjustable Alvarez lens arrangement.
(378) 790. Light field display according to item 789, characterized in that the adjusting optics comprises a Moire lens arrangement.
(379) 791. Light field display according to any of the preceding items, characterized in that a collimation optic is arranged in the beam path of the first imaging unit and/or the second imaging unit.
(380) 792. Light field display according to item 791, characterised in that the adjusting optics is at least partially arranged in the collimating optics.
(381) 793. Light field display according to any of the preceding items, characterized in that the adjusting optics is arranged at least partially between the collimating optics and a waveguide.
(382) 794. Light field display according to any of the preceding items, characterized in that the adjusting optics are arranged at least partially in a waveguide.
(383) 795. Light field display according to any of the preceding items, characterized in that the first imaging unit and/or the second imaging unit comprises a μ-LED array having a plurality of μ-LEDs.
(384) 796. Light field display according to any of the preceding items, characterized in that the first imaging unit and/or the second imaging unit comprises a matrix of a plurality of μ-LED base modules or a μ-display.
(385) 797. Light field display according to any of the preceding items, characterized in that the first imaging unit and/or the second imaging unit comprise a matrix of optoelectronic device arranged in rows and columns or μ-LED arrangements.
(386) 798. Light field display according to any of the preceding items, characterized in that the first imaging unit and/or the second imaging unit comprises a matrix with a light-forming structure, wherein the light-forming structure is a microlens or a photonic structure.
(387) 799. Light field display according to item 798, in which the light-shaping structure is at least partially arranged in a semiconductor material of the μ-LEDs of the pixels of the at least one optical imager.
(388) 800. Light field display according to any of the preceding items, further comprising a drive circuit according to any of the following items, which is implemented in a substrate on which the μ-display is arranged.
(389) 801. Light field display according to any of the items 795 to 800, characterized in that the μ-LEDs comprise arrangements in which the μ-LEDs of a pixel comprise a reflective side surface.
(390) 802. Light field display according to any of the items 795 to 801, characterized in that at least some of the μ-LEDs form arrays or μ-LEDs form redundant elements which are separated from adjacent μ-LED arrays or μ-LEDs by electrically insulating but optically crosstalking elements.
(391) 803. Light field display according to any of the items 795 to 802, characterized in that the μ-LED arrangements are configured to be of different sizes depending on the color, or that a total area of the μ-LED arrangements or μ-LEDs of a pixel is smaller than the area of the pixel, in particular only 50% to 70% of the area of the pixel.
(392) 804. Light field display according to any of the preceding items, characterized in that the light field display comprises a measuring device for determining the position of the fovea centralis.
(393) 805. Light field display according to any of the preceding items, characterized in that the light field display comprises an eye movement detection device and a control device for dynamic tracking of the adjustment optics for the retinal projection of the second raster sub-image onto the fovea centralis.
(394) 806. Method of operating a light field display according to any of the preceding items, characterized in that a first raster sub-image is imaged onto the retina of a user and a second raster sub-image, which has a higher resolution than that of the first raster sub-image, is imaged at least onto the fovea centralis in the user's eye.
(395) 807. Pixel array, in particular for a display in polar coordinates, comprising
(396) a plurality of pixel elements arranged from a starting point on an axis through the starting point in at least one row, wherein
(397) the first plurality of pixel elements in planar view have a length and a variable width such that the width of the pixel elements substantially increases from the starting point.
(398) 808. Pixel array according to item 807, in which the starting point forms a central point and the plurality of pixel elements are arranged symmetrically about the central point along the axis in a row.
(399) 809. Pixel array according to any of the preceding items, in which any two adjacent pixel elements of the plurality of pixel elements have at least one of the following characteristics:
(400) luminous areas of equal size, the distance between them increasing with increasing distance from the starting point;
(401) luminous areas, the corresponding increasing width of the pixels becomes larger; or
(402) a combination of these two possibilities.
(403) 810. Pixel array according to any of the preceding items, in which the plurality of pixel elements have a variable length such that the length of the pixel elements increases with increasing distance from the starting point.
(404) 811. Pixel array according to any of the preceding items, where two adjacent subpixels of the multiplicity of pixels have different colors.
(405) 812. Pixel array according to any of the preceding items, in which the plurality of pixel elements have at least three different colors, the number of pixels of each color being different.
(406) 813. Pixel array according to any of the preceding items, in which a first number of said plurality of pixel elements are arranged in a first row and a second number of said plurality of pixel elements are arranged in at least one second row, said first and second numbers of pixel elements having a different color in operation.
(407) 814. Pixel array according to item 813, in which pixels in each of at least two rows have different colors in operation, the pixels being arranged such that the n-th pixel of a first row has a different color from an n-th pixel of the at least one second row.
(408) 815. Pixel array according to item 813, in which at least three rows of pixel elements are arranged, the colors of which are different in operation.
(409) 816. Pixel array according to any one of the items 813 to 815, in which the first row runs along a first axis and the at least one second row runs along a second axis different from the first axis through a common center point.
(410) 817. Pixel array according to any of the preceding items, in which the first number of the plurality of pixel elements in the first row is different from the second number of the plurality of pixel elements in the at least one second row.
(411) 818. Pixel array according to any of the preceding items, in which at least some pixels of the first and at least one second row have the same width and from an n-th pixel of the first row onwards the width is different from the width of the n-th pixel of the at least one second row.
(412) 819. Pixel array according to any of the preceding items, in which the first row and the at least one second row comprise pixels of different colors, and are arranged along the axis and starting from the starting point.
(413) 820. Pixel array according to any of the preceding items, where the row with the largest number of pixels preferably comprises pixel sin a green color.
(414) 821. Pixel array according to any of the preceding items, where from an nth pixel of the first row onwards the width of adjacent pixels in the first row is smaller than that from the nth pixel onwards in the at least one second row.
(415) 822. Pixel array according to any of the preceding items, where a number of pixels of the color green is greater than a number of pixels of the other colors.
(416) 823. Pixel array according to any of the preceding items, in which the plurality of pixel elements in the at least one row are formed by a monolithically shaped pixelated array of μ-LEDs.
(417) 824. Pixel array according to any of the preceding items, in which at least some of the plurality of pixel elements in the at least one row are formed by transferred μ-LEDs.
(418) 825. Pixel array according to any of the preceding items, in which the μ-LEDs each comprise a horizontally aligned microrod contacted on a substrate.
(419) 826. Pixel array according to any of the preceding items, in which the μ-LEDs each comprise a pair of spaced light-emitting elements with a converter material disposed therebetween.
(420) 827. pixel array according to any of the preceding items, in which the μ-LEDs have been manufactured by a process according to any of the preceding items.
(421) 828. Pixel array according to any of the preceding items objects, in which at least some μ-LEDs are assigned redundant μ-LEDs of the same color, at least one of the μ-LEDs and the redundant μ-LEDs being assigned a fuse element.
(422) 829. Pixel array according to any of the preceding items, in which the μ-LEDs are composed of μ-LED modules, each module comprising at least one base module according to any of the preceding items, the number of base modules per μ-LED module increasing towards the outside.
(423) 830. Pixel array according to any of the preceding items, in which the pixel elements have a light-shaping structure, in particular a reflective structure, a microlens or a photonic crystal.
(424) 831. Pixel array according to any of the preceding items, comprising a substrate on which the pixel array is disposed, the substrate having a supply circuit or driver circuit following one of the following items.
(425) 832. Pixel matrix comprising at least two pixel arrays according to any of the preceding items, in particular for a display in polar coordinates, in which the at least two pixel arrays have a common center point and enclose an angle substantially equal to 360° divided by twice the number of the at least two pixel arrays.
(426) 833. Pixel matrix according to item 832, in which three pixel arrays are provided, each of which has a different color.
(427) 834. Display arrangement in polar coordinates with an array or matrix of pixels according to any of the preceding items, further comprising
(428) an optical system comprising at least one mirror movable about two axes, which is arranged in a main radiation direction of the pixel array or pixel matrix and is adapted to rotate radiated light from the pixels arranged in row about a point corresponding to the starting point.
(429) 835. Method of operating a pixel array or a pixel matrix according to any of the preceding items, comprising the steps of;
(430) creating a first light line with the multitude of pixel elements arranged in a row;
(431) guiding the first light line to a destination;
(432) creating a second light line;
(433) rotating the second light line by a certain angle and a rotation point corresponding to the starting point of the pixel elements arranged in line;
(434) guiding the second light line to the destination.
(435) The description with the help of the exemplary embodiments does not limit the various embodiments shown in the examples to these. Rather, the disclosure depicts several aspects, which can be combined with each other and also with each other. Aspects that relate to processes, for example, can thus also be combined with aspects where light extraction is the main focus. This is also made clear by the various objects shown above.
(436) The invention thus comprises any features and also any combination of features, including in particular any combination of features in the subject-matter and claims, even if that feature or combination is not explicitly specified in the exemplary embodiments.