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SonyPatent applicationAR, VR & displaysInterest 6/10

Sony patents eye-mounted projector that focuses light near the pupil

Sony has filed a patent for a video projection system that uses a specific optical element to gather light beams and focus them near the pupil of the eye. The design ensures that the light rays hitting the optical element are parallel to the main axis, allowing the image to reach the retina effectively. This setup requires the optical element and the eye to maintain a fixed position relative to each other during use.

Why it mattersThis technology could lead to more compact and efficient displays for augmented reality glasses by optimizing how light is delivered directly to the eye.

In the filing’s own words

The present technology provides a video projection system ( 100) including: a video projection device ( 101) equipped with a projection optical system ( 110) configured to project video display light onto an eyeball ( 130); and an optical element ( 120) configured to cause the video display light to be collected near a pupil and then to reach a retina. The video projection system ( 100) is used in a state where a positional relationship between the optical element ( 120) and the eyeball ( 130) is fixed. Furthermore, the present technology also provides a video projection method including: a projection step of projecting video display light from a video projection device toward an eyeball; and a light collecting step of causing video display light projected in the projection step to be collected near a pupil with an optical element ( 120) and then to reach a retina. The projection step and the light collecting step are performed in a state where a positional relationship between the optical element ( 120) and the eyeball ( 130) is fixed.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. An image projection system, comprising: at least one optical element configured to collect image light near a pupil of an eyeball; and a projection device that includes a projection optical device configured to emit the image light, wherein the image light includes a plurality of light beams, each light beam of the plurality of light beams includes a first ray passing through a center of the each light beam, and a plurality of second rays passing outside the center of the each light beam, each light beam of the plurality of light beams has a focal point in front of the at least one optical element, and first rays of the image light, including the first ray, incident to the at least one optical element are substantially parallel to an optical axis.

Facts

Company
Sony (SONY GROUP CORPORATION)
Official title
VIDEO PROJECTION SYSTEM, VIDEO PROJECTION DEVICE, VIDEO DISPLAY LIGHT DIFFRACTION OPTICAL ELEMENT, AND VIDEO PROJECTION METHOD
Publication number
US20260276999A1
Application number
19667804
Filed
May 5, 2026
Published
Sep 17, 2026
Inventors
1
Claims
20

Classified under

G02B 27/0172 Physics & computingG02B 2027/0174 Physics & computingG02B 2027/0187 Physics & computing
Read the full filing (official PDF) ↗ Open in the Patent Tracker

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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.