Rain Technology has announced new developments in its patented optical engine for augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) headsets, known as Anamorphic-XR. Dr. Michael Robinson, the company’s chief scientist, will present these advancements at Display Week 2024.
Anamorphic-XR aims to enhance AR and VR headset performance by offering high-definition, wide-angle images in a compact and transparent form factor. The technology integrates an anamorphic microdisplay within the frame of an anamorphic waveguide, using a cylindrical mirror to reflect light upward, allowing both real-world and virtual images to appear in the user’s field of vision.
The technology magnifies images in orthogonal planes independently to optimize resolution and field-of-view. It uses polarization instead of diffraction to extract light from the waveguide, resulting in a brighter and crisper image. This approach addresses common AR/VR challenges such as size, eye relief, field-of-view, resolution, and brightness.
According to Rain Technology, the R&D has shown that using a mirror for the lateral optical path and lenses for the transverse path can improve field-of-view and efficiency over conventional AR/VR optics. This can address key optical challenges like wide-field image fidelity, brightness, dynamic range, and eye fatigue.
The technical paper, “Anamorphic-XR: Imaging Waveguide Technology for Efficient and Wide Field-of-View Near-Eye Display,” will be available for download after the presentation.
