The new pancake lenses in the Bigscreen Beyond 2 significantly improve clarity by incorporating several advanced design features. Here's a detailed explanation of how these improvements enhance the viewing experience:
1. Folded Optical Path: Pancake lenses utilize a folded optical path, which involves multiple reflections and polarizers to reduce the physical length of the lens system. This design allows for a more compact and lightweight headset without compromising image quality[3].
2. Controlled Internal Reflections: Inside a pancake lens, carefully shaped glass elements are used to bend and focus light. Engineers control internal reflections by designing the shape and angles of these elements, ensuring that all light rays are precisely focused, resulting in a clear and sharp image[2].
3. Total Edge-to-Edge Clarity: The Beyond 2's pancake lenses offer "total edge-to-edge clarity," meaning that the image remains sharp and clear across the entire field of view. This is a significant improvement over previous models, where clarity might decrease towards the edges[1][4].
4. Reduced Glare: The new lens design also features "massively reduced glare," which enhances the overall visual experience by minimizing distracting reflections within the lens. This reduction in glare contributes to a more immersive experience[1][4].
5. Large Sweet Spot: The Beyond 2's lenses have a very large sweet spot, ensuring that users can enjoy optimal clarity without needing to adjust their head position frequently. This feature is particularly beneficial for prolonged VR sessions[4].
6. Adjustable IPD Mechanism: For the first time, the Beyond 2 introduces an adjustable IPD (Interpupillary Distance) mechanism. This allows users to customize the lens distance to their eyes, further enhancing clarity and comfort by ensuring that each lens is optimally positioned for the user's specific eye spacing[4].
Overall, the combination of these features in the pancake lenses of the Bigscreen Beyond 2 provides a significant boost in clarity and user comfort compared to its predecessor.
Citations:
[1] https://www.uploadvr.com/bigscreen-beyond-2-and-beyond-2e-announced/
[2] https://uvisan.com/guardians-of-clarity-pancake-lenses-and-uv-c-light/
[3] https://vskel.com/3-types-of-vr-headset-lenses/
[4] https://www.roadtovr.com/pc-vr-bigscreen-beyond-2-fov-boost-release-date-price/
[5] https://steamcommunity.com/app/250820/discussions/0/4692279782569579930/
[6] https://www.slrlounge.com/glossary/pancake-lens/
[7] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gd_kEafeR0
[8] https://www.vr-wave.store/en-be/blogs/virtual-reality-prescription-lenses/bigscreen-beyond
[9] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjys9oMuhIg
[10] https://vrx.vr-expert.com/pancake-lens-technology-revolutionizing-vr-headset-design/