Virtual retinal display

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Not to be confused with Retina Display.
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A diagram showing the workings of the virtual retinal display
A virtual retinal display (VRD), also known as a retinal scan display (RSD) or r
etinal projector (RP), is a display technology that draws a raster display (like
a television) directly onto the retina of the eye. The user sees what appears t
o be a conventional display floating in space in front of them.
Contents
1
2
3
4
5

Mechanics
Comparison to LCDs and other display devices
Eye
History
Advantages
5.1 Safety
5.2 LED enhancements
6 Utilities
6.1 Military utilities
7 Manufacturers and commercial uses
8 See also
9 References
10 External links
Mechanics
In a conventional display a real image is produced. The real image is either vie
wed directly or, as in the case with most head-mounted displays, projected throu
gh an optical system and the resulting virtual image is viewed. The projection m
oves the virtual image to a distance that allows the eye to focus comfortably. I
n a VRD no real image is ever produced. Rather, an image is formed directly on t
he retina of the user's eye. A block diagram of the VRD is shown in the Figure a
bove.
To create an image with the VRD a photon source (or three sources in the case of
a color display) is used to generate a coherent beam of light. The use of a coh
erent source (such as a laser diode) allows the system to draw a diffraction lim
ited spot on the retina. The light beam is intensity modulated to match the inte
nsity of the image being rendered. The modulation can be accomplished after the
beam is generated. If the source has enough modulation bandwidth, as in the case
of a laser diode, the source can be modulated directly.
The resulting modulated beam is then scanned to place each image point, or pixel
, at the proper position on the retina. A variety of scan patterns are possible.
The scanner could be used in a calligraphic (vector) mode, in which the lines t
hat form the image are drawn directly, or in a raster mode, much like standard c
omputer monitors or television. Use of the raster method of image scanning allow
s the VRD to be driven by standard video sources. To draw the raster, a horizont
al scanner moves the beam to draw a row of pixels. The vertical scanner then mov
es the beam to the next line where another row of pixels is drawn.
After scanning, the optical beam must be properly projected into the eye. The go
al is for the exit pupil of the VRD to be coplanar with the entrance pupil of th
e eye. The lens and cornea of the eye will then focus the beam on the retina, fo

rming a spot. The position on the retina where the eye focuses the spot is deter
mined by the angle at which light enters the eye. This angle is determined by th
e scanners and is continually varying in a raster pattern. The brightness of the
focused spot is determined by the intensity modulation of the light beam. The i
ntensity modulated moving spot, focused through the eye, draws an image on the r
etina. The eye's persistence allows the image to appear continuous and stable.
Finally, the drive electronics synchronize the scanners and intensity modulator
with the incoming video signal in such a manner that a stable image is formed.[1
]
Comparison to LCDs and other display devices
Liquid crystal displays (LCDs) currently are the primary active display devices
for the presentation of entertainment and information. An image that is generate
d electronically is viewed with the optical system of the eye. The image you see
is subject not only to the quality of the optical system of the eye, but also t
o the quality of the display and the environment in which the display is located
.
With a VRD, defects in the eye's optical system, such as damaged cornea and lens
and reduced retinal sensitivity could be bypassed, as well as the problems of t
he display environment, such as ambient brightness, angle-of-view and display br
ightness. Additionally, the seen image could be augmented with other information
and brightness of the system doesn't affect the image formed on the retina
Although the VRD is an output device, the technology lends itself to augmentatio
n with eye tracking or eyegaze systems for input. Eye tracking is currently used
in advanced still and video cameras for focusing on the object you wish to reco
rd.
This approach produces several advantages over conventional display devices:[1]
Potentially very small and lightweight, glasses mountable
Large field and angle of view, greater than 120 degrees
High resolution, approaching that of human vision
Full color with better potential color resolution than conventional displays
Brightness and contrast ratio sufficient for outdoor use
True stereo 3D display with depth modulation
Bypasses many of the eye's optical and retinal defects
Eye
A brief review of how the eye forms an image will aid in understanding the VRD.
A point source emits waves of light which radiate in ever-expanding circles abou
t the point. The pupil of an eye, looking at the source, will see a small portio
n of the wavefront. The curvature of the wavefront as it enters the pupil is det
ermined by the distance of the eye from the source. As the source moves farther
away, less curvature is exhibited by the wavefronts. It is the wavefront curvatu
re which determines where the eye must focus in order to create a sharp image.
If the eye is an infinite distance from the source, plane waves enter the pupil.
The lens of the eye images the plane waves to a spot on the retina. The spot si
ze is limited by the aberrations in the lens of the eye and by the diffraction o
f the light through the pupil. It is the angle at which the plane wave enters th
e eye that determines where on the retina the spot is formed. Two points focus t
o different spots on the retina because the wavefronts from the points are inter
secting the pupil at different angles.
Neglecting the aberrations in the lens of the eye, one can determine the limit o

f the eye's resolution based on diffraction through the pupil. Using Rayleigh's
criteria the minimum angular resolution is computed as follows:[1]
\mathrm{angular\ resolution} = \frac{1.22 \lambda}{D}
Where
D = diameter of the pupil
lambda = wavelength of light
History
In the past similar systems have been made by projecting a defocused image direc
tly in front of the user's eye on a small "screen", normally in the form of larg
e glasses. The user focused their eyes on the background, where the screen appea
red to be floating. The disadvantage of these systems was the limited area cover
ed 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 in
door settings as well.
Only recently a number of developments have made a true VRD system practical. In
particular the development of high-brightness LEDs have made the displays brigh
t enough to be used during the day, and adaptive optics have allowed systems to
dynamically correct for irregularities in the eye (although this is not always n
eeded). The result is a high-resolution screenless display with excellent color
gamut and brightness, far better than the best television technologies.
The VRD was invented by Kazuo Yoshinaka of Nippon Electric Co. in 1986.[2] Later
work at the University of Washington in the Human Interface Technology Lab resu
lted in a similar system in 1991. Most of the research into VRDs to date has bee
n in combination with various virtual reality systems. In this role VRDs have th
e potential advantage of being much smaller than existing television-based syste
ms. They share some of the same disadvantages however, requiring some sort of op
tics to send the image into the eye, typically similar to the sunglasses system
used with previous technologies. It also can be used as part of a wearable compu
ter system.[3]
Advantages
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Apart from the advantages mentioned before, the VRD system scanning light into o
nly one eye allows images to be laid over one's view of real objects. For exampl
e, it could project an animated, X-ray-like image of a car's engine or the human
body.
VRD system also can show an image in each eye with an enough angle difference to
simulate three-dimensional scenes with high fidelity. If applied to video games
, for instance, gamers could have an enhanced sense of reality that liquid-cryst
al-display glasses could never provide, because the VRD can refocus dynamically
to simulate near and distant objects with a far superior level of realism.
This system only generates essentially needed photons, and as such it is more ef
ficient 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.
Another important advantage is privacy: Only the intended user (in the usual cas
e of single-user devices) is able to see the image displayed. This kind of devic
e is also less vulnerable to TEMPEST type side-channel leak of information.
Safety

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.
To ensure that VRD device is safe, rigorous safety standards from the American N
ational Standards Institute and the International Electrotechnical Commission we
re applied to the development of such systems. Optical damage caused by lasers c
omes from its tendency to concentrate its power in a very narrow area. This prob
lem is overcome in VRD systems as they are scanned, constantly shifting from poi
nt to point with the beams focus.
Damage to the eye could result if the laser stopped scanning with the beam focus
ed on a single point. This can be prevented by an emergency safety system to det
ect the situation and shut it off.
LED enhancements
Although the power required is low, light must be collected and focused down in
a point. This is an inherent property with lasers, but not so simple with a LED.
Advances in LED technology will be needed to further concentrate the light comi
ng from these devices.[citation needed]
Utilities
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by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged a
nd removed. (December 2011)
Military utilities
VRDs have been investigated for military use as an alternative display system fo
r Helmet Mounted Displays. However no VRD-based system has yet reached operation
al use and current military HMD development now appears focused on other technol
ogies such as holographic waveguide optics.
Manufacturers and commercial uses
Brother Industries from Japan exhibited VRD system named AirScouter in Septe
mber 2010.[4]
It was subsequently commercialised in August 2011.[5][6]
See also
Augmented reality
Bionic contact lens
Google Glass
Head-mounted display
Head-up display
List of emerging technologies
Magic Leap
Optical head-mounted display
Physics of the Future
Smartglasses
Visual prosthetic
References
The Virtual Retinal Display
A Retinal Scanning Imaging System. Michael Tidwell,
Richard S. Johnston, David Melville, and Thomas A. Furness III, Ph.D. Human Inte
rface Technology Laboratory, University of Washington.
DISPLAY DEVICE published 1986-09-03 (Japanese publication number JP61198892)
Virtual Retinal Display (VRD) Group
Thomas Ricker (September 17, 2010). "Brother's AirScouter floats a 16-inch displ
ay onto your eye biscuit (video)". Engadget.

"August 24, 2011 Brother announces commercialization of "AiRScouter" see-through

type head-mounted display". Brother.com. 2011-08-24. Archived from the original
on November 22, 2012. Retrieved 2013-10-13.
"AiRScouter
Head Mounted Display Brother UK". Brother.co.uk. 2010-10-20. Arc
hived from the original on June 16, 2013. Retrieved 2013-10-13.
External links
Animations of how a VRD works
Lewis, John R. (May 2004). "In the Eye of the Beholder". IEEE Spectrum.
AirScouter VRD system from Brother Industries
Sep 2010 (Engadget)
YouTube video for AirScouter VRD system from Brother Industries
Sep 2010
[show]
v t e
Virtual reality Mixed reality Reality
[show]
v t e
Stereoscopy
[show]
v t e
Emerging technologies
Categories:
Display technologyMultimodal interactionVirtual realityMixed realityEmerging
technologiesJapanese inventions
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