ABSTRACT

Abstract

The Virtual Retinal Display (VRD) is a personal display device under development at the University of
Washington's Human Interface Technology Laboratory in Seattle, Washington USA. The VRD scans light
directly onto the viewer's retina. The viewer perceives a wide field of view image. Because the VRD
scans light directly on the retina, the VRD is not a screen based technology.

The VRD was invented at the University of Washington in the Human Interface Technology Lab (HIT) in
1991. The development began in November 1993. The aim was to produce a full color, wide field-of-
view, high resolution, high brightness, low cost virtual display. Microvision Inc. has the exclusive license
to commercialize the VRD technology. This technology has many potential applications, from head-
mounted displays (HMDs) for military/aerospace applications to medical society.

The VRD projects a modulated beam of light (from an electronic source) directly onto the retina of the
eye producing a rasterized image. The viewer has the illusion of seeing the source image as if he/she
stands two feet away in front of a 14-inch monitor. In

reality, the image is on the retina of its eye and not on a screen. The quality of the image he/she sees is
excellent with stereo view, full color, wide field of view, no flickering characteristics