Designing a high-performance eyepiece for a 0.97-inch OLED microdisplay

Abstract

The eyepiece is an essential component in optical equipment such as binoculars and optical sights; however, its design has received less research attention compared to objective lenses. In thermal imaging sights, images are displayed on a microdisplay and viewed through the eyepiece. OLED microdisplays, known for their high image quality, durability, reasonable cost, and common diagonal sizes (0.5, 0.6, and 0.97 inches), are increasingly adopted in both research and commercial optical systems. This paper presents a design methodology for an eyepiece tailored to a 0.97-inch microdisplay used in thermal imaging sights. Optical evaluation based on MTF, chromatic aberration, field curvature, and distortion demonstrates that the eyepiece meets the necessary requirements for viewing large-size microdisplays. The design is suitable for fabrication and integration into thermal sighting systems.