Dichoptic Vision System (DiVS)

ABSTRACT: The unlimited field of regard of head mounted displays (HMDs) provides a significant advantage in situational awareness. Unfortunately, this unlimited field of regard does not also mean that an HMD provides an unlimited field of view (FOV). The field of view of an HMD is limited most often by the number of pixels in the microdisplay source. Because of this, HMD designers are faced with the"resolution/field of view invariant", where an HMD can either have a wide field of view or a high resolution, but not both. There are a number of ways to address this invariant, but one of the most promising is via the use of dichoptic imaging. In a dichoptic imaging system, one eye is presented with a wide field of view (WFOV), low resolution image while the other is presented with a high resolution, narrow field of view (NFOV) image. The eye-brain system integrates these two images into a single image that appears expansive and detailed. SA Photonics"Phase I effort demonstrated the validity of a dichoptic imaging system in a laboratory environment. Our Phase II effort will prove the efficacy of a dichoptic head mounted display for both pilotage and dismounted warfighter applications. BENEFIT: A dichoptic HMD would provide benefits in increased situational awareness to uses across a variety of applications, including fighter jet and helicopter pilots, dismounted warfighters, paramilitary operators and search and rescue personnel.