Development of a commercial retinal scanning display

The Human Interface Technology Laboratory at the University of Washington is developing a new display device, the Virtual Reality Display (VRD), in which a coherent light source is used to scan an image directly on the retina of the viewer's eye. Development work is funded by Micro Vision, Inc., Seattle, which holds an exclusive license to manufacture and distribute the VRD. Using the VRD technology it is possible to build a high resolution, wide field-of- view, full color personal display device that is light weight and will operate in a high brightness environment. Current work is aimed at developing the technologies that will make the VRD a commercially viable product from both a performance and cost standpoint. Prototypes produced to date include a full color, VGA resolution device based on a unique mechanical resonant scanner as the horizontal scanning element. This paper will briefly explain the VRD concept and discuss potential applications of the technology. It will also describe the current research and development efforts which are aimed at creating a high performance yet low cost display system.