An optical display apparatus includes a lightguide optical element (12) with major surfaces (12a, 12b) that guide image light by total internal reflection. A projector (14) injects image light; a first region (16) redirects the guided light from a first to a second direction using reflective or diffractive arrangements, and a second region (18) out-couples the guided light toward an eye- motion box (102). To suppress real-world ghosts from external light that follows a path through the LOE including a single reflection at an internal partially reflective surface (26, 27) or other interface (25), a plurality of ray-blocking elements are formed as elongate strips deployed on one or both of the lightguide surfaces running adjacent to the internal surfaces or interfaces. The ray- blocking strips may be lines of ink. A low-index layer may underlie the ray-blocking elements if needed to preserve lightguide internal reflection.
A system generates images of seam-lines in an optical structure. The system includes an illumination arrangement with a light source and a collimating lens that outputs a collimated beam towards the optical structure. The illumination arrangement directs the output beam at non-normal angles, causing scattering by seam-lines formed at interfaces within the optical structure. An imaging arrangement is also included, and has an imaging lens and a detector. The imaging lens receives scattered light from the seam-lines while substantially excluding direct light from the light source from reaching the detector. This arrangement ensures that the scattered light from the seam-lines forms a visible image on the detector against a substantially dark background.
An image projector (14) for a near-eye display includes a polarizing beam-splitter prism (72) having a first face (72a) adjacent to an image generator (70), a second face (72b) adjacent to a reflective lens arrangement (80), and a third face (72c) separated by an air gap (104) from a refractive lens arrangement (100). Collimating optical power is subdivided between the reflective and refractive lens arrangements, thereby relaxing the optical design requirements on each and enhancing performance. The width of the air gap (104) is selected during assembly to adjust image focus, enabling collimation of the output light for injection into a lightguide (12) while simplifying deployment of the image generator. A corresponding method of assembly is provided. The system allows compact integration and precise optical alignment using objective image quality metrics.
Described herein is a rotating cold plate assembly that includes a base configured to be mounted to a printed circuit board (PCB) to at least partially surround an electronic circuit disposed on the PCB. The cold plate assembly further includes a cold plate having a heat transfer surface configured to transfer heat from the electronic circuit to a cooling medium. The cold plate assembly also includes a hinge coupling the base and the cold plate. The hinge is configured to move the heat transfer surface into and away from thermal contact with the electronic circuit.
G02B 6/10 - Light guidesStructural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings of the optical waveguide type
5.
METHODS AND INTERMEDIATE STRUCTURES FOR PRODUCING LIGHTGUIDES WITH INTERNAL REFLECTORS FOR NEAR-EYE DISPLAYS
A method is provided for fabricating lightguide components (32) with internal partially-reflecting surfaces ("facets") for use in near-eye displays. A stack (10) is formed by bonding a plurality of optical plates (12) using optical adhesive, with at least one surface at each adhesive interface carrying a partially reflective coating. The inter-plate spacing is controlled using spacer components, which may include transparent, index- matched solid inclusions (20) dispersed within the adhesive, or peripheral spacer elements (22, 24) positioned at the plate margins. The adhesive is cured to form a bonded stack, which is sliced along planes non-parallel to the plates to form lightguide components (32) containing internal facets at controlled orientations. These components may be combined into an assembled lightguide structure (34) including a coupling-in region (38), a redirection region (32) for in-plane propagation (36), and a coupling-out region (33) directing light toward a viewer (40), enabling two-dimensional aperture expansion.
B32B 37/10 - Methods or apparatus for laminating, e.g. by curing or by ultrasonic bonding characterised by the pressing technique, e.g. using direct action of vacuum or fluid pressure
A lightguide-based display system includes a lightguide (82). An image projector (50, 50', 52, 58, 60, 62, 64, 130, 150) is coupled to the lightguide (82) and includes: at least one active¬ pixel array (70); a polarizing beam splitter (PBS) (76); first reflective back-collimating optics (80a); and second reflective back-collimating optics (80b). The PBS (76) splits the unpolarized image light from the active-pixel array (70) and recombines reflected polarized images from the back-collimating optics (80a, 80b) to inject a superposition of the images into the lightguide (82) as a mixed polarization image.
G03B 21/00 - Projectors or projection-type viewersAccessories therefor
G02B 27/00 - Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups ,
G02B 6/10 - Light guidesStructural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings of the optical waveguide type
A waveguide system for a near-eye display may include a first waveguide section and a second waveguide section, with the waveguide sections overlapping. The waveguide sections may be substantially parallel to each other or may be at some nonzero angle relative to one another. The waveguide sections may include a pair of sets of partially reflecting surfaces configured to expand light in a pair of different dimensions. One or more reflecting surfaces, possibly in combination with a prism, may be used to direct light from the first waveguide section to the second waveguide section.
G02B 6/10 - Light guidesStructural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings of the optical waveguide type
8.
DISPLAY WITH CHROMATIC DISPERSION COMPENSATION IN A LIGHTGUIDE ARCHITECTURE
A display includes a lightguide (12) formed from a transparent material having parallel major surfaces for supporting propagation of collimated image light by internal reflection. An image generator (30) forms an image at an image plane, and a collimating optical arrangement includes a reflective lens and a quarter-wave plate. A polarizing beam splitter arrangement includes a PBS surface (36) at an interface between a first PBS prism component (38) and a second PBS prism component (40), the latter being optically bonded to the lightguide (12). The image light follows a folded path through the PBS and collimating optics before entering the lightguide (12). The lightguide and at least one of the PBS prism components are formed from materials with different Abbe numbers, introducing a compensatory chromatic dispersion that at least partially offsets linear chromatic aberration caused by the geometry of the lightguide with respect to the viewing direction.
G02B 27/28 - Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups , for polarising
G02B 30/60 - Optical systems or apparatus for producing three-dimensional [3D] effects, e.g. stereoscopic images involving reflecting prisms and mirrors only
A near-eye display (NED) system is provided with ghost image suppression using quarter-wave plates (QWPs). The system includes a projector (1) that generates an image and directs light through a polarizing beam splitter (PBS) prism (10). The image light exits the projector and passes through an intermediate optical element (2) before entering a lightguide (3), where it is guided toward the user's eye. Unwanted reflections from the intermediate optical element (2) can re-enter the projector (1), causing ghost images. A first QWP (41) is positioned between the projector exit (16) and the intermediate optical element (2) to alter the polarization state of these reflections, preventing them from retracing the original image path. A second QWP (42) may be positioned between the intermediate optical element (2) and the lightguide entrance aperture (17) to maintain or adjust polarization. This approach effectively reduces ghost artifacts while preserving image quality.
Methods for bonding parallel-faced transparent plates are provided. The plates are arranged in a stack with a lateral offset between one or more pairs of adjacent plates to define plate steps. Adhesive is provided at the interfaces between adjacent plates of the stack, and a coating is provided at one face at each of the interfaces. In one set of methods, the stack is placed between a pair of pressing members, and compensation members are provided in a stepped configuration that corresponds to the plate steps. Pressure is then applied to the plates via the pressing members. In another set of methods, the stack is placed in a flexible container that has an opening, and gas is removed from the container via the opening to cause the container to deform around the stack which applies pressure on sides of the stack and causes redistribution of excess adhesive from the interfaces.
B32B 37/10 - Methods or apparatus for laminating, e.g. by curing or by ultrasonic bonding characterised by the pressing technique, e.g. using direct action of vacuum or fluid pressure
B32B 17/00 - Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or fibres of glass, slag or the like
B32B 37/12 - Methods or apparatus for laminating, e.g. by curing or by ultrasonic bonding characterised by using adhesives
11.
METHODS FOR FABRICATING LIGHT-GUIDE OPTICAL ELEMENTS
Methods for fabricating light-guide optical elements (LOEs) are provided. The methods involve obtaining first and second optical structures, each with a set of mutually-parallel partially reflective surfaces. These structures are bonded together such that their reflective surfaces are non-parallel, forming a third optical structure. At least one of the first or second optical structure is cut along a specific line, prior to bonding or after bonding, and the third optical structure is sliced along parallel planes to create one or more LOEs. Each LOE features parallel major external surfaces and regions with mutually-parallel partially reflective surfaces from both original sets. The specific line can include a contoured section and/or a typically straight section. The contoured section defines a contoured profile of the LOE, and the typically straight section defines a coupling-in surface of the LOE.
A lightguide-based display with improved polarization control is disclosed. The display includes a lightguide and an image projector. The lightguide includes partially-reflecting surfaces configured to deflect an image injected into the lightguide by the image projector so that it propagates in a second direction within the lightguide and is then coupled out of the lightguide. The partially-reflecting surfaces may be implemented as multilayer dielectric coatings configured to have a partial reflectance to p-polarization at a range of angles of incidence greater than a Brewster angle and to have a reduced reflectance at a lower range of angles of incidence.
G02B 6/10 - Light guidesStructural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings of the optical waveguide type
13.
OPTICAL SYSTEMS HAVING LIGHT-GUIDE OPTICAL ELEMENT AND HOMOGENIZING ARRANGEMENT
An optical system has a homogenizing arrangement and a light-guide optical element (LOE) with a pair of parallel major external surfaces that support propagation of image illumination within the LOE by internal reflection at the external surfaces. The LOE has a first region with a first coupling configuration and a second region with a second coupling configuration. The homogenizing arrangement receives image illumination from an image projector via a coupling element, and injects the image illumination into the LOE so that the image illumination propagates within the LOE by internal reflection. The homogenizing arrangement has a block of transparent material, at least one beamsplitter between a pair of faces of the block, and a reflector generally opposite an interface between the LOE and block, and performs beam multiplication on the received image illumination prior to injection of the image illumination into the LOE.
G02B 6/10 - Light guidesStructural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings of the optical waveguide type
The optical waveguide includes a first waveguide and a second waveguide that are facing each other (e.g., they are parallel or have an acute angle between them). The first waveguide has an aperture configured to receive an input beam. The first waveguide also has a first set of facets configured to receive the input beam and at least partially reflect the input beam as first beams. The first waveguide further has a coupling-out element configured to receive the first beams and reflect the first beams out of the first waveguide. The second waveguide has a coupling-in element configured to receive the first beams and reflect the first beams towards a second set of facets of the second waveguide that are configured to at least partially reflect the first beams as second beams and couple the second beams out of the second waveguide.
G02B 6/10 - Light guidesStructural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings of the optical waveguide type
G02B 27/14 - Beam splitting or combining systems operating by reflection only
A waveguide system for a near-eye display may include a first waveguide section and a second waveguide section optically coupled at a non-normal angle by a folding prism element. The waveguide sections may each include first side edges for receiving light beams corresponding to an image, mutually parallel major external surfaces extending lengthwise to support propagation of the image by internal reflection, and second side edges oriented nonparallel with respect to the first major external surface and configured to output light beams corresponding to the image. The folding prism element may be configured to direct light beams passing through the second side edge of the first waveguide section in a first propagation direction toward the folding prism element through the first side edge of the second waveguide section in a second propagation direction away from the folding prism element.
G02B 6/00 - Light guidesStructural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
G02B 6/10 - Light guidesStructural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings of the optical waveguide type
G02B 13/00 - Optical objectives specially designed for the purposes specified below
16.
OPTICAL SYSTEM FOR CONVEYING AN IMAGE TO AN EYE OF A VIEWER
An optical system (100) for conveying light corresponding to an image to an eye of a viewer has a first lightguide portion (120) including a progressive redirection configuration (121) for progressively redirecting light propagating within the first lightguide portion, a polarization modifying element (131) and a second lightguide portion (110) including a progressive coupling-out configuration (111) for progressively coupling-out light propagating within the second lightguide portion towards the eye of the viewer. A pair of major surfaces (101b, 102b) of the second lightguide portion (110) are parallel to, but non-coplanar with, a corresponding pair of major surfaces (101a, 102a) of the first lightguide portion (120). A dimension (T3) of the polarization-modifying element (131) perpendicular to the first and second pairs of major surfaces overlaps an entirety of both an optical thickness of the first lightguide portion (T 1) and an optical thickness of the second lightguide portion (T2).
An optical system (1) includes a lightguide (100) and an image projector (200). A coupling-in configuration includes a first planar reflector (250) forming an acute angle [3 with a major surface (101) of the lightguide and extending across a thickness h of the lightguide, and a second planar reflector (271) external to the lightguide and inclined at an angle 2|3 thereto. Light rays passing through a first part (Di) of the projector exit aperture impinge directly on the first planar reflector (250) and are reflected to impinge on major surface (101) of the lightguide at a first angle of incidence and light rays passing through a second part (D2) of the projector exit aperture impinge on the second planar reflector (271), are reflected towards the first planar reflector (150) and impinge on the second major surface (102) at the same angle of incidence.
G02B 6/10 - Light guidesStructural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings of the optical waveguide type
G02B 6/42 - Coupling light guides with opto-electronic elements
A waveguide system for a near-eye display may include a first waveguide section and a second waveguide section. The first waveguide section may include a first set of at least partially reflecting surfaces configured to couple light corresponding to the image out of the first waveguide section so as to expand the aperture in a first dimension. The second waveguide section may be disposed on a side of the first waveguide section and configured to receive light from the first waveguide section and including a second set of partially reflecting surfaces configured to couple out light corresponding to the image so as to expand the aperture in a second dimension nonparallel to the first dimension.
G02B 6/10 - Light guidesStructural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings of the optical waveguide type
A display (100) includes a lightguide optical element (102) with internal partially reflecting surfaces (106) for delivering an image from an image projector (100) to the eye of a viewer. Chromatic variations in the appearance of white pixels across the output image are reduced by using a bro ad- spectrum white light source (114W) to provide at least part of the illumination for the white pixels. Additionally, or alternatively, chromatic corrections for groups of white pixels, or for individual pixels, are provided by delivering corresponding white-balance corrective illumination from red, blue and/or green light sources (114R, 114G, 114B). The corrections are derived from maps of chromatic variations for the display when activated to deliver a uniform white image as calculated, or preferably measured, at one or more locations within an eye-motion box (108) from which the image is to be viewed.
G02B 6/10 - Light guidesStructural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings of the optical waveguide type
G02B 27/18 - Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups , for optical projection, e.g. combination of mirror and condenser and objective
20.
METHODS FOR FABRICATING LIGHT-GUIDE OPTICAL ELEMENTS
An optical device is fabricated by obtaining at least one optical element and a frame. The at least one optical element is arranged within the frame according to a spatial configuration that defines a position of the at least one optical element in the frame and an orientation of the at least one optical element relative to the frame. The at least one optical element is bonded to the frame to fix the spatial configuration, and regions of the frame unoccupied by the at least one optical element are filled with a transparent optical material.
An optical system (100, 111, 125, 126, 127, 128) includes an aperture-expanding lightguide optical element (LOE) (106) with major surfaces (103a, 103b) separated by a first thickness Tl. The LOE (106) includes redirecting configurations for progressively redirecting light within the LOE and coupling it out towards a viewer. A coupling-in arrangement includes a coupling lightguide element (CLE) (104) with mutually parallel surfaces separated by a second thickness T2 that is no more than half of the first thickness TL CLE (104) is bonded to major surface (103a) at an interface (105) provided with a beam splitter coating having a reflectivity of at least 50%. The coupling-in arrangement also includes an input coupler deployed to couple light corresponding to a collimated image into the CLE.
G02B 6/10 - Light guidesStructural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings of the optical waveguide type
G02B 6/122 - Basic optical elements, e.g. light-guiding paths
22.
LIGHT-GUIDE OPTICAL ELEMENTS WITH EMBEDDED BEAM SPLITTER OVERLAPPING COUPLING-OUT REGION
An optical system has a light-guide optical element (LOE) with a pair of parallel major external surfaces that support propagation of image illumination within the LOE by internal reflection at the major external surfaces. A plurality of mutually-parallel partially reflecting surfaces is deployed within a coupling-out region of the LOE obliquely to the major external surfaces, and couples out at least part of the image illumination from the LOE towards an eye- motion box. In an embodiment, a planar homogenizer is internal to the LOE and parallel to the major external surfaces, and at least partially extends into the coupling-out region so as to overlap with some but not all of the mutually-parallel partially reflecting surfaces. In another embodiment, the LOE includes a second plurality of mutually-parallel partially reflecting surfaces, and the homogenizer is alternatively deployed in overlapping relation with the second plurality of mutually-parallel partially reflecting surfaces.
G02B 6/10 - Light guidesStructural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings of the optical waveguide type
An optical waveguide is described herein that includes a pair of major surfaces and an aperture configured to receive an input beam. The waveguide also includes a first set of facets disposed along a first axis that are configured to reflect the input beam along a second axis. The waveguide further includes an iris matched to the aperture that is configured to block rays outside of the aperture from entering the optical waveguide. A first dimension of the aperture (and, thus, the iris) corresponds to a pitch of the first set of facets and a second dimension of the aperture (and, thus, the iris) corresponds to aspects of the waveguide corresponding to the second axis. By using the iris, overexposure of the waveguide and, thus, non-uniformity in a projected image, may be minimized.
An optical system includes a lightguide and an image projecting arrangement. The image projecting arrangement includes a polarizing-beam-splitter prism having a diagonal polarizing beam splitter surface reflecting light from an image-generating matrix to reflective collimating optics. A coupling prism is deployed between the polarizing beam splitter surface and a lightguide entrance, providing a coupling surface that is coplanar with, or parallel to, one of the parallel major surfaces of the lightguide. A reference length RL is defined as a distance along the optical axis from a principal plane of the collimating optics to the polarizing beam splitter surface. Both a first light path from the image plane to the principal plane and a second light path from the principal plane to the lightguide entrance have a length less than 3xRL.
A method for manufacturing lightguide optical elements (LOEs) having an embedded retarder inclined at an oblique angle includes forming a first stack (560) of a plurality of planar retarder elements interspaced with, and bonded to, a plurality of transparent plates (562). This first stack is then sliced along slicing planes (566) obliquely angled to the retarder elements to form a tilted retarder plate (569) containing obliquely angled portions (570) of the retarder elements. The tilted retarder plate (569) is then combined into a second stack (571) bonded between a first precursor block (572) and a second precursor block (574). This second stack is then sliced along slicing planes (578) to form LOEs (510) each containing an obliquely angled embedded retarder (526).
G02B 6/10 - Light guidesStructural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings of the optical waveguide type
An optical system includes a prism (36) having a planar input surface (38, 44a, 44b, 54) for injection of a laser beam, the prism integrated with a lightguide (10, 220). A fast-scanning mirror (32) is deployed in facing relation to a scanner interface surface (12) of the prism. A laser beam introduced via the input surface passes through the prism and the scanner interface surface, impinging on the fast-scanning mirror to generate a scanned reflected beam that scans an angular field of view, passing through the prism so as to enter the lightguide. One side of the lightguide entrance aperture has an optical cutoff edge (24a) that trims an edge of the scanned reflected beam for both a first beam direction (102) at a first extremity of the angular field of view and for a second beam direction (104) at a second extremity of the angular field of view.
An optical device may include a waveguide having a front surface and a parallel rear surface; a first aperture expander configured to receive an input image beam and provide a first plurality of expanded image beams, the first plurality of expanded image beams configured to propagate and reflect between the front and rear surfaces; a leaky image pipe configured to receive a first portion of the first plurality of expanded image beams and provide a plurality of transmitted image beams, the first portion of the first plurality of expanded image beams configured to partially reflect within the leaky image pipe; and a second aperture expander within the waveguide and configured to receive a second portion of the first plurality of expanded image beams and the plurality of transmitted image beams, the second aperture expander configured to provide a second plurality of expanded image beams configured to exit through the rear surface.
Systems and methods test optical plates for blemishes. An optical plate has first and second end surfaces and a pair of mutually-parallel major external surfaces that support propagation of light through the optical plate by internal reflection at the major external surfaces. A light source generates light and is deployed proximate the optical plate such that the light generated by the light source enters the optical plate proximate the first end surface and propagates through the optical plate toward the second end surface by internal reflection at the major external surfaces. A detector arrangement has at least a first detector that is deployed in association with the first of the major external surfaces and detects light generated by the light source that exits the optical plate through the first of the major external surfaces due to blemish induced scattering of the light propagating through the optical plate by internal reflection.
The waveguide includes a pair of major surfaces that are parallel to one another and an aperture configured to receive a plurality of beams. The aperture includes a pair of sub-apertures that are co-planar and offset in one dimension. The waveguide also includes a first set of facets that are configured to receive the beams from the aperture and at least partially reflect the beams towards a second set of facets. The second set of facets are configured to receive the beams from the first set of facets and at least partially reflect the beams out of the lightguide. The sub-apertures are offset in the one dimension by an offset distance that corresponds to a projected distance along the one dimension that the beams travel while the beams traverse one trip between the major surfaces between the first set of facets and the second set of facets.
G02B 6/10 - Light guidesStructural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings of the optical waveguide type
G02B 30/60 - Optical systems or apparatus for producing three-dimensional [3D] effects, e.g. stereoscopic images involving reflecting prisms and mirrors only
Disclosed herein is an apparatus and method for optical testing, the apparatus includes an assembly including: a first portion having a solid cylinder section, a second portion including a receptacle, wherein the first portion and the second portion are aligned forming a cylinder or a cylinder-like configuration and defining a void therebetween, the void is configured to be filled with fluid and to retain the sample in proximity to the first portion; and an optical arrangement including an optical source configured to emit an optical light beam normal to a surface area of the first portion of the assembly, and an optical detector configured to detect an output signal from the assembly, the output signal including reflection and/or transmission of the light beam emitted from the sample; wherein the reflection detected by the optical detector is deducted or devoid of signals emitted from a first or a second sample/liquid interface.
An arrangement for forming an image of an eye of a user for tracking eye motion includes a lightguide (20) containing an obliquely-angled internal reflector (21), an image sensor (10) and a lens (11) associated with the lightguide for focusing light reflected from the eye of the user and reflected by the internal reflector onto the image sensor. A width of the internal reflector, an effective aperture of the lens and deployment of the image sensor are such that light from different areas of the eye and reflected by the internal reflector reaches the lens via one of at least three distinct paths, resulting in discrete non-overlapping image regions on the image sensor. The sub-images derived from these regions of the sensor can be manipulated and combined to form an image of the eye.
A device, system, and method are provided for processing an output of a color camera, such that the color camera may be used to measure color uniformity and resolution of an optical system. The processing includes converting an output of the color camera into an XYZ color space using a conversion matrix. The conversion matrix is generated by capturing color images and colorimeter measurements of three different wavelength ranges of light. The processing also includes overcoming the deBayering effect of the color camera to measure a resolution of the optical system using an optical test target displayed by the optical system. The optical test target has a uniform appearance along a direction of homogeneity. The resolution is determined based on a one-dimension image generated by performing a mathematical operation along the direction of homogeneity.
G01J 3/46 - Measurement of colourColour measuring devices, e.g. colorimeters
G02F 1/01 - Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulatingNon-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour
G01N 21/00 - Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light
G02F 1/00 - Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulatingNon-linear optics
A method of manufacturing waveguides for head mount displays may include bonding a first set of waveguide elements with one or more adhesives sensitive to thermal or chemical removal and a second set of waveguide elements with one or more adhesives insensitive to thermal or chemical removal to form a waveguide stack, cutting the waveguide stack to form waveguide structures with embedded facets or diffractive elements, and removing portions corresponding to the first set of waveguide elements using a thermal or chemical removal while portions corresponding to the second set of waveguide elements remain bonded.
An image projector integrated with a lightguide (10) has a reflective or reflective- refractive (catadioptric) lens (150) deployed on a surface (11) of the lightguide itself, or on a prism surface which is parallel to, or coplanar with, a surface of the lightguide (10). In some cases, a polarizing beam splitter (158) deflects light reflected from the collimating lens so as to directly couple collimated image light into the lightguide (10) so as to propagate within the lightguide. In some cases, the collimating lens (150) is associated with the surface of the lightguide or the prism via an internal-reflection-maintaining interface (154) so that at least part of the image light coupled in to the lightguide is reflected at the internal-reflection-maintaining interface.
An LOE has a first region with a first set of facets, and a second region with a second set of facets at a different orientation from the first set. Both sets of facets are located between a set of parallel major external surfaces. An intermediate region between the faceted regions has a diffractive optical aperture expansion configuration. Image illumination introduced into the LOE from an image projector propagates along the LOE, is redirected by the first set of facets to the intermediate region to expand an optical aperture of the image projector in a first dimension, where the image illumination is deflected to the second region by the diffractive optical aperture expansion configuration such that the optical aperture is further expanded in the first dimension. The image illumination is then coupled out of the LOE by the second set of facets, expanding the optical aperture in a second dimension.
G02B 6/12 - Light guidesStructural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings of the optical waveguide type of the integrated circuit kind
An optical device may include a first and second polarization-selective surfaces, each configured to reflect a first polarization of incident light and transmit a second polarization of incident light orthogonal to the first polarization, the first polarization- selective surface disposed between first and second optical input surfaces at a first angle α relative to an optical axis of the device and the second polarization-selective surface disposed between the first and second optical input surfaces at a second angle β relative to the optical axis.
G02F 1/1335 - Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. polarisers or reflectors
F21V 8/00 - Use of light guides, e.g. fibre optic devices, in lighting devices or systems
G02B 23/04 - Telescopes, e.g. binocularsPeriscopesInstruments for viewing the inside of hollow bodiesViewfindersOptical aiming or sighting devices involving prisms or mirrors for the purpose of beam splitting or combining, e.g. fitted with eyepieces for more than one observer
37.
DOUBLE-HELIX ONTO A SINGLE LIGHT-GUIDE OPTICAL ELEMENT (LOE)
An optical device may include a first waveguide to receive and expand in a first dimension a first portion of guided image beams based on a first image field and provide a first plurality of expanded image beams; a second waveguide to receive and expand in the first dimension one of a second portion of guided image beams and a transmitted second portion of guided image beams corresponding to a second image field that is different from the first image field and to provide a second plurality of expanded image beams, the second waveguide to receive the first plurality of expanded image beams and provide a transmitted first plurality of expanded image beams; and a third waveguide to receive and expand in a second dimension the transmitted first plurality of expanded image beams and the second plurality of expanded image beams to provide a third plurality of expanded image beams.
An arrangement for achieving beam spreading without impacting the image quality from a reflective spatial light modulator (SLM) such as an LCOS matrix (10) includes a polarization- selective dispersive element (70) overlying the SLM. The polarization- selective dispersive element (70) is configured to be dispersive for light of a first polarization corresponding to the illumination polarization, while being non dispersive for light of a second polarization corresponding to the image light. In an alternative embodiment, a modified LCOS matrix is provided in which surfaces of the pixel electrodes (112) and/or an overlay (113) between the pixel electrodes and a layer of liquid crystal (110) are shaped to provide a reflective beam- spreading effect such that collimated illumination incident on each pixel electrode (110) is reflected as diverging pixel image light.
G02F 1/13 - Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulatingNon-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour based on liquid crystals, e.g. single liquid crystal display cells
H04N 9/31 - Projection devices for colour picture display
An optical system may include a light-guide having a light input and mutually- parallel first and second major external surfaces for guiding the light by internal reflection, a projector configured to project light corresponding to an image from an aperture, the light exiting the aperture with a chief ray defining an optical axis of the projector and with an angular field about the chief ray, and a prism disposed adjacent the light input and having an image injection surface and a partially reflective surface parallel to the first and second major external surfaces, the projector being associated with the image injection surface and oriented such that the chief ray and at least some of the angular field about the chief ray are injected through the image injection surface, some rays corresponding to the angular field partially reflected and some partially transmitted by the partially reflective surface prior to entering the light-guide.
G02B 6/10 - Light guidesStructural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings of the optical waveguide type
A display includes a lightguide arrangement in which at least part of the image light is not coupled-out from the lightguide during a first pass of a coupling-out arrangement, and is recirculated so as to pass repeatedly the coupling-out arrangement. In one set of embodiments, recirculation of light is performed via a separate lightguide. In another set of embodiments, light is recirculated within a single lightguide, employing polarization management to avoid unwanted interactions between the light and the coupling-out arrangement.
An image projector for injecting a collimated image into an entrance aperture of a lightguide employs collimating optics including a polarizing catadioptric arrangement to provide enhanced proximity of the principal plane of the collimating optics to the entrance aperture of the lightguide, thereby reducing the size of the optics or allowing an enlarged field of view for optics of a given size. Disclosed embodiments employ a front- lit polarization-modifying spatial light modulator (SLM) illuminated via a polarizing beam splitter (PBS) prism with a 30-degree or 45-degree PBS angle, laser scanning illumination arrangements, with or without an SLM, and active-matrix image generators combined via a dichroic combiner cube.
Examining a light optical element (LOE) may include placing a first slit optically between a projector configured to emit light and the LOE's first major surface and placing a second slit optically between the LOE's second major surface and a detector. Facet parallelism between two facets may be deduced based on a shift of the image reflected from the first facet to the second facet relative to light transmitted normal to the first and second major surfaces through a portion of the substrate not including a facet. Facet refractive index homogeneity or deviation may be deduced based on the light transmitted through the facet relative to light transmitted normal to the first and second major surfaces through a portion of the substrate not including a facet.
G01B 11/27 - Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of optical techniques for measuring angles or tapersMeasuring arrangements characterised by the use of optical techniques for testing the alignment of axes for testing the alignment of axes
G02B 26/08 - Optical devices or arrangements for the control of light using movable or deformable optical elements for controlling the direction of light
G02B 27/09 - Beam shaping, e.g. changing the cross-sectioned area, not otherwise provided for
G02B 6/00 - Light guidesStructural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
According to an example, an optical device may include a light-guide optical element having a front surface and a rear surface that are parallel to each other; a reflector configured to receive a plurality of guided image beams and reflect a plurality of reflected guided image beams, the plurality of guided image beams and plurality of reflected guided image beam being propagated within the light-guide optical element between the front surface and the rear surface; a first aperture expander having a first plurality of partially reflecting parallel facets configured to expand the plurality of reflected guided image beams and provide a first plurality of expanded image beams; and a second aperture expander having a second plurality of partially reflecting parallel facets configured to expand the first plurality of expanded image beams and provide a second plurality of expanded image beams configured to exit from the rear surface.
G02B 6/10 - Light guidesStructural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings of the optical waveguide type
An optical device may include a coupling assembly configured to receive a collimated image beam and provide a first output image beam and a second output image beam; an image pipe configured to receive the first output image beam at an image pipe input and provide at least one propagated image beam at an image pipe output; a first waveguide having a first waveguide rear surface, the first waveguide configured to receive the second output image beam and emit a first expanded output image beam from the first waveguide rear surface; and a second waveguide having a second waveguide rear surface, the second waveguide configured to receive the at least one propagated image beam and emit a second expanded output image beam from the second waveguide rear surface.
A near eye display optical system may include a lens extending along an arrangement axis and having (a) an input plane and (b) first and second major surfaces generally extending along the arrangement axis, the lens may be configured to receive collimated light to an image via the input plane, the lens comprising a set of partially reflective internal surfaces disposed along the arrangement axis at angles relative to the arrangement axis, a first partially reflective internal surface from the set having partial reflectance such that at least some of the collimated light is reflected out of the lens by the first partially reflective internal surface without previously having reflected off the first or second major surfaces.
In some implementations, the device may include a first optical system corresponding to a first eye of the user and a second optical system corresponding to a second eye of the user, each of the first and second optical systems having: a projection unit configured to project light corresponding to an image; a lens operably including an optical element configured to direct the light from the projection unit to a respective eye motion box of the user. In addition, the device may include where the lens of the first optical system and the lens of the second optical system are symmetrically disposed about a mid-sagittal plane corresponding to a center of the nose bridge of the user, and where the first and second optical systems are geometrically asymmetric about the mid-sagittal plane.
A light projecting system may include a discrete light source matrix for emitting light corresponding to an image. The system may also include a waveguide formed from transparent material and having a coupling-in interface for coupling in the light corresponding to the image into the waveguide, and a coupling-out interface for coupling out the image out of the waveguide. The system may include an inner partially reflective surface and one or more partial lenses for enhancing color uniformity of the light projecting system.
Optical systems including an optical structure, and methods for forming the optical structure, are described. The optical structure can include a lightguide having two major surfaces. The optical structure can further include a transparent plate, a first polymer later, and a second polymer layer. The first polymer layer can be arranged on one of the two major surfaces of the lightguide. A material of the first polymer layer can maintain total internal reflectance at the lightguide, and a refractive index of the first polymer layer can be less than a refractive index of the lightguide. The second polymer layer can be arranged between the first polymer layer and the transparent plate. A material of the second polymer layer can have a Young's modulus lower than a Young's modulus of the first polymer layer, and can have a refractive index greater than the refractive index of the first polymer layer.
G02B 6/10 - Light guidesStructural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings of the optical waveguide type
An optical system may include (1) a light-guide optical element formed from transparent material and having at least first and second mutually-parallel major external surfaces for supporting propagation of an image by internal reflection, and (2) a mediating layer adjacent at least one of the at least first and second mutually-parallel major external surfaces, the mediating layer configured such that (1) reflectivity, averaged over the visible spectrum, of light coupled into the LOE and transmitted between the at least first and second mutually-parallel major external surfaces at angles below the critical angle is higher than the reflectivity that would have been expected absent the mediating layer and (2) reflectivity of purely white light lies closer to a purely white color point for an angular range from angles below the critical angle to the critical angle than the reflectivity that would have been expected absent the mediating layer.
G02F 1/01 - Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulatingNon-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour
G02B 27/09 - Beam shaping, e.g. changing the cross-sectioned area, not otherwise provided for
G02B 27/18 - Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups , for optical projection, e.g. combination of mirror and condenser and objective
G02B 6/10 - Light guidesStructural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings of the optical waveguide type
An apparatus for delivering an image to a human eye (30) and deriving a gaze direction includes an image-output lightguide (20), visible and non-visible illumination coupling-out arrangements (22V, 24V), a receiving lightguide (50), and a filter layer (56, 56a, 56b). The image-output lightguide guides light by internal reflection. The visible-image coupling-out arrangement couples out visible light corresponding to a visible image, while the non-visible- illumination coupling-out arrangement couples out non-visible illumination of at least one wavelength. The receiving lightguide (50) has a coupling-in configuration (52V) for non-visible illumination reflected from the eye. The filter layer (56, 56a, 56b) blocks non-visible light from passing to the eye except in the non-visible-light coupling-out area (57a, 57b), which is smaller than an image coupling-out area (53).
A display includes a lightguide (10, 110) with mutually-parallel major surfaces and at least two image projectors (2a, 2b, 2c) outputting collimated light of at least first and second colors, respectively. In one embodiment, the two image projectors introduce the collimated light so as to propagate within the lightguide along the same in-plane direction. Interference of one of the coupling-in arrangements with internal reflection of the other color is avoided by providing a dichroic reflector (9al, 9b 1, 9a2, 9b2, 9a3) coplanar with a major surface of the lightguide. Alternatively, or additionally, the two colors may be introduced so as to propagate in two non parallel directions, and are combined by a dichroic reflector (12a, 12b) embedded within the lightguide. Also disclosed is a display with an optical relay (66a, 66b) for transferring images between two non-parallel lightguides (110a and 110b, 10).
An optical system includes a partial-internal-reflection rectangular light guide (PRLG) (10) having three surfaces supporting internal reflection and a partially-reflecting fourth surface (34) with which a second light guide portion (30) is associated. A light beam redirecting arrangement, typically including a set of embedded partially-reflecting surfaces (12), in light guide portion (30) redirects light emerging from the PRLG towards a third light guide portion (20) that includes a coupling-out configuration (122), such as a further set of partially-reflecting surfaces (28), coupling-out light beams of an image towards the eye of a user.
G02F 1/29 - Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulatingNon-linear optics for the control of the position or the direction of light beams, i.e. deflection
G02F 1/313 - Digital deflection devices in an optical waveguide structure
G02F 1/315 - Digital deflection devices based on the use of controlled total internal reflection
An optical system includes a light-guide optical element (LOE) formed from transparent material and having parallel major external surfaces. A projector is configured to project illumination corresponding to a collimated image into the LOE via a reflective coupling-in configuration that includes an image injection surface coplanar with the first major external surface, a reflector surface obliquely angled to the major external surfaces, and a partially-reflecting surface parallel to the reflector surface. A first part of the intensity of the illumination of the collimated image is reflected by the partially-reflecting surface and a second part of the intensity of the illumination of the collimated image is reflected by the reflector surface and transmitted by the partially- reflecting surface. Both parts of the intensity contribute to image illumination coupled into the LOE so as to propagate within the LOE by internal reflection at the major external surfaces.
G02B 6/10 - Light guidesStructural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings of the optical waveguide type
A projector (200) has a scanning illumination subsystem, reflective converging optics (18) that focuses the scanned light beam to form a real image with convex field curvature at a non-planar focal surface, a transmissive beam-spreading configuration (20) conforming to the non-planar focal surface, and a refractive optical arrangement (22) collimating light from the transmissive beam-spreading configuration so as to emerge as a collimated image from an output optical aperture (24). The refractive optical arrangement has a concave field curvature which at least partially cancels out with the convex field curvature of the reflective converging optics.
G03B 21/00 - Projectors or projection-type viewersAccessories therefor
G02B 26/08 - Optical devices or arrangements for the control of light using movable or deformable optical elements for controlling the direction of light
A device having an active occlusion subsystem having a liquid crystal panel configured to operate in one of a normally on mode to pass light or a normally off mode to block light, and one or more processors configured to determine a direction of light rays from a light source, and control, based on the direction of light rays received, at least one specific portion of the liquid crystal panel to switch from the normally on mode to block light and/or the at least one specific portion to switch from the normally off mode to pass light.
G02F 1/13 - Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulatingNon-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour based on liquid crystals, e.g. single liquid crystal display cells
G02F 1/15 - Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulatingNon-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour based on an electrochromic effect
H04N 13/322 - Image reproducers for viewing without the aid of special glasses, i.e. using autostereoscopic displays using varifocal lenses or mirrors
G02F 1/01 - Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulatingNon-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour
H04N 13/344 - Displays for viewing with the aid of special glasses or head-mounted displays [HMD] with head-mounted left-right displays
An optical system may include (a) a light-guide optical element (LOE) formed from transparent material and having at least first and second mutually-parallel major external surfaces for supporting propagation of an image by internal reflection at the first and second major external surfaces, the LOE having a coupling-out arrangement for coupling out the image towards an eye of the user, the LOE having a coupling-in arrangement; and (b) an image projector comprising an image generator for generating an image and an image conjugate generator for generating a conjugate image, the image generator and the image conjugate generator disposed such as to project the image and the conjugate image, respectively, from directions not directly in front of the LOE.
G02B 6/10 - Light guidesStructural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings of the optical waveguide type
G02B 27/18 - Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups , for optical projection, e.g. combination of mirror and condenser and objective
57.
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BONDING OF OPTICAL SURFACES BY ACTIVE ALIGNMENT
Disclosed herein is a system for producing a composite prism having a plurality of planar external surfaces by aligning and bonding two or more prism components along bonding surfaces thereof, the system includes: an infrastructure configured to bring the bonding surfaces of the first prism component and the second prism component into close proximity or contact; a controllably rotatable mechanical axis configured to align at least one first surface of the first prism component and at least one second surface of the second prism component; a light source configured to project at least one collimated incident light beam on the at least one first surface and the at least one second surface; one or more detectors configured to sense light beams reflected from the first and second surfaces; a computational module configured to determining an average actual relative orientation between the at least one first surface and the at least one second surface based on the sensed data and if a difference between the weighted average actual relative orientation and an intended relative orientation between the at least one first surface and the at least one second surface is below an accuracy threshold, determine a correction angle for the controllably rotatable mechanical axis, wherein one or more of the prism components are transparent or semi-transparent.
G01B 11/26 - Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of optical techniques for measuring angles or tapersMeasuring arrangements characterised by the use of optical techniques for testing the alignment of axes
B29D 11/00 - Producing optical elements, e.g. lenses or prisms
G02B 7/18 - Mountings, adjusting means, or light-tight connections, for optical elements for prismsMountings, adjusting means, or light-tight connections, for optical elements for mirrors
G01M 11/00 - Testing of optical apparatusTesting structures by optical methods not otherwise provided for
A stack has first and second faces and multiple LOEs that each has two parallel major surfaces and a first plurality of parallel internal facets oblique to the major surfaces. A first block has third and fourth faces and a second plurality of parallel internal facets. The first block and the stack are bonded such that the second face joins the third face and the first and second facets are non-parallel, forming a second block. The second block is cut at a plane passing through the first face, forming a first structure having an interfacing surface. A third block has fifth and sixth faces and a plurality of parallel internal reflectors. The third block and the first structure are bonded such that fifth face joins the interfacing surface and the internal reflectors are non-parallel to all the facets, forming a second structure. Compound LOEs are sliced-out from the second structure.
G02B 6/00 - Light guidesStructural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
G02B 6/10 - Light guidesStructural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings of the optical waveguide type
G02B 6/122 - Basic optical elements, e.g. light-guiding paths
G02B 6/25 - Preparing the ends of light guides for coupling, e.g. cutting
59.
METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR VALIDATING PARALLELISM BETWEEN INTERNAL FACETS
G01B 11/26 - Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of optical techniques for measuring angles or tapersMeasuring arrangements characterised by the use of optical techniques for testing the alignment of axes
G01N 21/01 - Arrangements or apparatus for facilitating the optical investigation
G02B 26/08 - Optical devices or arrangements for the control of light using movable or deformable optical elements for controlling the direction of light
G02B 27/00 - Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups ,
nomnomnom; (iii) positioning the sample and the prism, such that the surface of the sample is parallel and adjacent to the second surface of the prism; (iv) projecting on the first surface of the prism, substantially normally thereto an incident light beam; (v) sensing light returned from the prism following reflection off the internal facets; and (vi) computing deviation from parallelism between the internal facets.
G01B 11/26 - Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of optical techniques for measuring angles or tapersMeasuring arrangements characterised by the use of optical techniques for testing the alignment of axes
A method for generating an image in a near-eye display may include operating a light source to emit the image as incident light. The light source may be configured such that incident light as received by the light reflecting elements compensates for the chromatic reflectance of the light reflecting elements. The method may include coupling the incident light into a light-transmitting substrate, thereby trapping the light between first and second major surfaces of the light-transmitting substrate by total internal reflection and coupling the light out of the substrate by the light reflecting elements having chromatic reflectance.
A display for providing an image to an eye of a user has a compound light-guide arrangement formed from juxtaposed first and second slab waveguides (10, 20). Image illumination from a projector (100) is introduced, part into each waveguide, so as to propagate by internal reflection within the waveguide. A coupling-out configuration of the first waveguide (10) includes a first set of obliquely-angled internal partially -reflecting surfaces (11) in a first region of the compound light-guide arrangement for coupling-out a first part of the field of view, and a coupling-out configuration of the second waveguide (20) includes a second set of obliquely- angled internal partially-reflecting surfaces (21) in a second region of the compound light-guide arrangement, at least partially non- overlapping with the first region, for coupling -out a second part of the field of view.
G02B 6/10 - Light guidesStructural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings of the optical waveguide type
An optical device has an LOE formed from a light-transmitting material having a first refractive index. A pair of parallel major external surfaces of the LOE guide image illumination within the LOE by TIR. At least one optical coupling configuration of the LOE deflects a proportion of the image illumination that is guided within the LOE by TIR. An optical material includes at least one transparent material directly attached to the LOE at least at the major external surfaces so as to be in direct contact with the major external surfaces and so as to at least partially encapsulate the LOE. The optical material has a second refractive index less than the first refractive index to maintain conditions of TIR at the major external surfaces. In certain embodiments, the TIR-guided image illumination is incident to the major external surfaces at angles greater than a critical angle, including shallow angles.
G02B 6/10 - Light guidesStructural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings of the optical waveguide type
G02B 27/09 - Beam shaping, e.g. changing the cross-sectioned area, not otherwise provided for
A method of fabricating an optical aperture multiplier is provided. A slice and a first optical structure are obtained. The slice has external faces including a pair of parallel faces, and a first plurality of partially reflective internal surfaces oblique to the pair of parallel faces. The first optical structure has external surfaces including a planar coupling surface, and a second plurality of partially reflective internal surfaces oblique to the coupling surface. The slice is optically coupled with the first optical structure such that one of the faces of the pair of parallel faces is in facing relation with the coupling surface to form a second optical structure. At least one optical aperture multiplier is sliced from the second optical structure by cutting the second optical structure through at least two cutting planes perpendicular to the coupling surface. The optical aperture multiplier is preferably part of a near eye display augmented reality system.
In an embodiment, an apparatus is disclosed that includes at least one processor configured to determine a target coupling-out facet, identify an optical path to the target coupling-out facet, identify an active wave plate corresponding to the optical path, determine a target state of the active wave plate that corresponds to the optical path, set the active wave plate to the identified target state and cause a projection device to project a light beam comprising an image field of view component along the identified optical path.
A method for generating an image in a near-eye display may include dividing an image into first and second sub-images, sequentially transmitting the first sub-image and the second sub-image through a channel, extracting light corresponding to the first sub-image in a first polarization and light corresponding to the second sub-image in a second polarization, deflecting a first order of the light in the first polarization in a first direction, and deflecting an opposite order of the light in the second polarization in a opposite direction different from the first direction. The resulting image width corresponding to a wider field of view.
A display (10) includes a flat light-guide optical element (LOE) (100) having first and second progressive deflection arrangements associated with first and second regions (110, 120) of the LOE. A support arrangement (106), such as a glasses frame, supports the LOE in facing relation to the eye of the user. An image projector (200) injects a collimated image into the LOE via a reflective coupling-in surface (131). The reflective coupling-in surface is preferably obliquely oriented to both the major horizontal and vertical axes of the LOE. A multi-component wedge (132) is preferably used to compensate for chromatic aberration.
An optical system includes a light-guide optical element (LOE) (10) having mutually-parallel first and second major external surfaces (11, 12) for guiding light by internal reflection, and a projector (100) that projects illumination corresponding to a collimated image from an aperture (101). The projector injects light in to the LOE via a coupling prism (30) attached to the first major external surface (11) that projects an image injection surface. A reflective polarizing beam splitter (51) is deployed at an interface between the major external surface (11) and the coupling prism (30) parallel to the major external surfaces, to selectively transmit illumination from the coupling prism into the LOE while trapping light already within the LOE so as to propagate within the LOE by internal reflection.
G02B 27/18 - Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups , for optical projection, e.g. combination of mirror and condenser and objective
G02B 6/34 - Optical coupling means utilising prism or grating
G02F 1/315 - Digital deflection devices based on the use of controlled total internal reflection
69.
OPTICAL APERTURE MULTIPLIERS HAVING A RECTANGULAR WAVEGUIDE
An optical device includes a first waveguide, having parallel first and second faces and parallel third and fourth faces forming a rectangular cross-section, that guides light by four-fold internal reflection and is associated with a coupling-out configuration that couples light out of the first waveguide into a second waveguide. The first or second face is subdivided into first and second regions having different optical characteristics. The optical device also includes a coupling-in configuration having a surface that transmits light into the first waveguide. The surface is deployed in association with a portion of the third or fourth face adjoining the second region such that an edge associated with the surface trims an input collimated image in a first dimension, and a boundary between the first and second regions trims the input collimated image in a second dimension to produce a trimmed collimated image that advances by four-fold internal reflection.
An optical system for directing image illumination injected at a coupling-in region to an eye-motion box for viewing by an eye of a user, including a light-guide optical element (LOE) formed from transparent material that includes: a first region containing a first set of planar, mutually-parallel, partially-reflecting surfaces having a first orientation; a second region containing a second set of planar, mutually-parallel, partially-reflecting surfaces having a second orientation non-parallel to the first orientation; a set of mutually-parallel major external surfaces extending across the first and second regions, and an optical retarder deployed between the first region and the second region so as to rotate a polarization of light deflected by the first set of partially-reflecting surfaces prior to reaching the second set of partially-reflecting surfaces.
A projector for projecting an image includes an LED array (2) having separately- controllable LEDs for illuminating a spatial light modulator (SLM) (10) via illumination optics (8) with a converging beam. Projection optics (12) projects the image generated by the SLM. A reflective arrangement (16) typically having four planar reflectors, is deployed between the LED array (2) and the illumination optics (8) so that light from each of LED illuminates a first region of the SLM by direct transmission from the LED via the illumination optics and additional regions of the SLM via reflection in the planar reflectors.
An image projector employing a laser scanning illumination arrangement to illumination a spatial light modulator (SLM), where an angular beam spreader element, typically a diffuser or a micro-lens array (MLA), adjacent to, or in a conjugate plane with, the SLM, enhances filling of the exit aperture while minimizing impact on the precision of scanning of the laser illumination on the SLM. Also disclosed are various schemes for synchronous rolling update of the SLM during scanned illumination, and systems employing binary- switchable SLMs.
G02B 27/18 - Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups , for optical projection, e.g. combination of mirror and condenser and objective
A light-transmitting substrate is deployed with a first of two major surfaces in facing relation to an eye of a viewer and guides light by internal reflection between the two major surfaces. An optical coupling-out configuration couples image light, that corresponds to a collimated image and that is guided by internal reflection between the two major surfaces, out of the light-transmitting substrate. A first optical coupling configuration collimates light from the eye to produce collimated light, and couples the collimated light into the light-transmitting substrate for guiding by internal reflection. A second optical coupling configuration couples the collimated light out of the light-transmitting substrate toward an optical sensor that senses the coupled-out light. A processing system derives current gaze direction of the eye by processing signals from the optical sensor.
A61B 3/113 - Objective types, i.e. instruments for examining the eyes independent of the patients perceptions or reactions for determining or recording eye movement
G06F 3/01 - Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
G02B 27/00 - Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups ,
A laser device comprises a plurality of laser diodes, each laser diode emitting a light beam having a fast axis and a slow axis and a beam direction; and one or more optical components configured to modify a divergence of the light beams in a fast axis plane and/or in a slow axis plane such that the light beams have a same focal plane in the fast axis plane and in the slow axis plane.
In an embodiment, an apparatus is disclosed that includes at least one processor. The at least one processor is configured to select a light source from a plurality of lights sources based at least in part on a location of a pupil of an eye relative to an eye motion box. The selected light source is configured to illuminate a portion of the eye motion box that corresponds to the location of the pupil with a light beam. The at least one processor is further configured to activate the selected light source to illuminate the portion of the eye motion box.
Disclosed herein is an optical-based method for validating angles between external, flat surfaces of samples. The method includes: (i) providing a sample including an external, flat first surface and an external, flat second surface nominally inclined at a nominal angle relative to the first surface; (ii) generating a first incident light beam (LB), directed at the first surface, and a second incident LB parallel to the first incident LB; (iii) obtaining a first returned LB by reflection of the first incident LB off the first surface; (iv) obtaining a second returned LB by folding the second incident LB at the nominal angle, reflecting the folded LB off the second surface, and folding the reflected LB at the nominal angle; (v) measuring a first angular deviation between the returned LBs; and (vi) deducing an actual inclination angle between the first second surfaces, based at least on the measured first angular deviation.
G01B 11/26 - Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of optical techniques for measuring angles or tapersMeasuring arrangements characterised by the use of optical techniques for testing the alignment of axes
G01C 9/06 - Electric or photoelectric indication or reading means
77.
OPTICAL-BASED VALIDATION OF ORIENTATIONS OF INTERNAL FACETS
Disclosed herein is a method including: providing a light guiding arrangement (LGA) configured to redirect light, incident thereon in a direction perpendicular to an external surface of the sample, into or onto the sample, such that light impinges on an internal facet of the sample nominally normally thereto; generating a first incident light beam (LB), directed at the external surface normally thereto, and a second incident LB, parallel to the first incident LB and directed at the LGA; obtaining a first returned LB by reflection of the first incident LB off the external surface, and a second returned LB by redirection by the LGA of the second incident LB into or onto the sample, reflection thereof off the internal facet, and inverse redirection by the LGA; measuring an angular deviation between the returned LBs and deducing therefrom an actual inclination angle of the internal facet relative to the external surface.
G01B 11/26 - Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of optical techniques for measuring angles or tapersMeasuring arrangements characterised by the use of optical techniques for testing the alignment of axes
G01C 9/06 - Electric or photoelectric indication or reading means
A method of moderating chromaticity of ambient light in an environment reflected back into the environment by a component comprised in a lens of glasses through which a user of views the environment, the method comprising: determining a first set of tristimulus values that characterizes ambient light reflected by the component surface as a function of angle of reflection Θ in a bounded span of angles of reflection; determining a second set of tristimulus values for angles in the bounded span of angles so that light characterized by the second set of tristimulus values combined with light reflected by the component would be perceived substantially as white light; and providing an optical coating that reflects ambient light from the environment so that the reflected light is substantially characterized by the second set of tristimulus values.
An optical element (24) for compensating for chromatic aberration includes two wedge components (26, 28), each having different refractive indices and Abbe numbers. The two wedge components have the same wedge angle, and are bonded together oriented such that the outer surfaces are parallel to each other. The optical element (24) can be integrated in the optical path between an image projector (14) and a waveguide (12) in order to compensate for linear chromatic aberration introduced by a face-curve angle and/or pantoscopic tilt of the waveguide of a near-eye display.
A laser package is described, the laser package comprising at least a first laser diode set having at least two laser diodes emitting light beams of a first color, at least a second laser diode set having at least two laser diodes emitting light beams of a second color, and a beam combiner.
An optical system (100) for directing an image towards a user for viewing includes a light-guide optical element (LOE) (10) having parallel major external surfaces (11a, lib) for supporting propagation of an image by internal reflection, a coupling-out arrangement for coupling out the image towards an eye of the user, and a coupling-in aperture. An image projector (114) includes an image generator (32) for generating an image, collimating optics (31) for collimating the image, and an image conjugate generator (20, 33, 34). The image projector is coupled to the coupling-in aperture so as to introduce both the collimated image and its conjugate image into the LOE prior to the images impinging on either of major external surfaces. The image conjugate generator may be a second image generator (33), or may employ one or more reflecting surface (22, 23, 24, 34) non-contiguous with the major external surfaces of the LOE.
An optical system employs a waveguide including a first set of partially-reflecting surfaces ("facets") for progressively redirecting image illumination propagating from a coupling-in region towards a second region, and a second set of facets in the second region for progressively coupling-out the redirected image illumination towards the eye of a viewer. The first set of facets includes at least a first facet close to the coupling-in region, a third facet fare from the coupling-in region, and a second facet located on a medial plane between the first and the third facets. The second facet is located in a subregion of the medial plane such that image illumination propagating from the coupling-in region to the third facet passes through the medial plane without passing through the second facet.
Disclosed herein is an optical assembly for generating a color image using white light as source. The optical assembly includes a broadband white light source array, a color filter assembly configured to allow selectively filtering therethrough light in each of three additive primary colors, and a control unit. The control unit is configured to actuate light sources in the light source array according to three intensity maps. Each of the intensity maps corresponds to one of the three additive primary colors. The control unit is further configured to synchronize operations of the light source array and the color filter arrangement such that, when light sources in the light source array are actuated according to one of the three intensity maps, the color filter arrangement filters therethrough light at the additive primary color to which the intensity map corresponds.
An image projector includes a spatial light modulator (SLM) (320) illuminated by light from an illumination source (316) so as to reflect light corresponding to an image. A first optical arrangement (322) with positive optical power focuses light reflected from the SLM at an image plane (324). A second optical arrangement (328) with positive optical power collimates light from the image plane (324) as a collimated output image.
A field of view (FOV) expansion device for use in a near-eye display includes a first surface which receives incident illumination from a projector of departure of the near-eye display. The incident illumination, which may consist of a multiplicity of incident illumination fields is characterized by an incident angular aperture. The expansion device is adjacent to a non-sequential (NS) optical element which projects output light to an observer. The refractive index of the device is greater than that of the NS optical element. A FOV expansion ratio, which is equal to the ratio between a projected angular aperture of the output light and an incident angular aperture of the incident illumination, is greater than or equal to a pre-determined threshold value. The first surface of the FOV expansion device is transparent in one embodiment and reflective in another.
A vehicular head-up display (HUD) for displaying an image to a user of a vehicle having a windshield (15) includes an image projector (14) outputting a collimated image and an optical aperture expander. The optical aperture expander includes a light-guide optical element (LOE) (10) having two major external surfaces (30a, 30b). The image projector (14) injects the collimated image so as to propagate within the LOE by internal reflection at the major external surfaces. The LOE also has a set of parallel partially-reflecting internal surfaces (12) which progressively couple out the image illumination from the LOE. The optical aperture expander is deployed such that the image illumination coupled-out of the LOE (12) follows a light path including a reflection from a surface associated with the windshield (15) of the vehicle so as to be visible to the user while the user looks at a scene beyond the windshield.
An image delivery system (IDS) comprising: a first waveguide comprising an input aperture for receiving an input virtual image provided by a display engine and a first plurality of first facets positioned to reflect light from the received input virtual image out from the first waveguide; a second waveguide configured to receive the light reflected out from the first waveguide and comprising a second plurality of second facets positioned to reflect the received light out from the second waveguide to project an output virtual image responsive to the input into an eye motion box (EMB); and a partially reflective coating formed on each facet selected from a number of different partially reflective coatings less than a total number of facets equal to a sum of the number of facets in the first and second pluralities; wherein the output virtual image exhibits a fidelity of 80% or better.
An optical system for directing image illumination injected at a coupling-in region towards a user for viewing includes a light- guide optical element (LOE) (12) with a pair of parallel major external surfaces (24). A first region (16) of the LOE contains a first set of partially-reflecting surfaces (17) oriented to redirect image illumination propagating within the LOE towards a second region of the LOE (18), which contains a second set of partially-reflecting surfaces (19) oriented to couple out the image illumination towards the user. The first set of partially-reflecting surfaces (17) extend across at least 95 percent of a thickness of the LOE, while the second set of partially-reflecting surfaces (19) are contained within a subsection of the thickness spanning less than 95 percent of the thickness, so that the second set of partially- reflecting surfaces (19) are excluded from one or both surface layers of the second region (18).
A method of fabricating a compound light-guide optical element (LOE) is provided. A bonded stack of a plurality of LOE precursors and a plurality of transparent spacer plates alternating therebetween is bonded to a first optical block having a plurality of mutually parallel obliquely angled internal surfaces. The block is joined to the stack such that first plurality of partially reflective internal surfaces of the block is non-parallel to the internal surfaces of the LOE precursor. After bonding, a second optical is thereby formed. At least one compound LOE is sliced-out of the second optical block by cutting the second block through at least two consecutive spacer plates having a LOE precursor sandwiched therebetween.
Based on a rotational axis of symmetry for an output of a lightpipe coinciding with an input axis for projection optics, the lightpipe can be rotated around the rotational axis, in order to align the lightpipe with a frame of associated glasses, or correspondingly the temple of a wearer of the glasses. Thus, an improved or optimal aesthetic look of a display system can be approached. The lightpipe of the display system can be aligned with the frame of the glasses, or even hidden within the frame, depending on implementation details and requirements for image projection components. If a pantoscopic tilt of the lens (waveguide) changes, a rotation of the lightpipe can be applied to the lightpipe to bring the lightpipe in a position aligned with the temple again, thus avoiding the need for a lightpipe redesign.
Optical sample characterization facilitates measurement and testing at any angle in a full range of angles of light propagation through an optical sample, such as a coated glass plate, having a higher than air index of refraction. A rotatable assembly includes a cylinder having a hollow, and a receptacle including the hollow. The receptacle also contains a fluid with a known refractive index. An optical light beam is input normal to the surface of the cylinder, travels through the cylinder, then via the fluid, to the optical sample, where light beam is transmitted and/or reflected, then exits the cylinder and is collected for analysis. Due at least in part to the fluid surrounding the optical sample, the optical sample can be rotated through a full range of angles (±90°, etc.) for full range testing of the optical sample.
A near-eye display for displaying an image to a viewer has enhanced laser efficiency and enhanced eye-safety features. The display includes a laser source which generates one or more laser spots and a scan driver which scans the laser spots across an image field. The electrical energy consumption is minimized by modulating the laser source at 3 power levels — a near-zero level, a near-threshold level, and a lasing level - and by synchronizing the modulation with the scan driver. In another embodiment, the laser module generates two or more laser spots which scan non-overlapping lines on the image field. The scanning is configured to prevent the light intensity at the eye of a viewer from exceeding eye- safety levels, even in the event of a scanning malfunction.
An optical system includes an image redirecting arrangement with at least two reflectors to direct a collimated image from an image projector so as to propagate within a light-guide optical element (LOE) in first and second directions, to be subsequently reflected by corresponding first and second sets of partially-reflecting internal surfaces towards a coupling-out optical arrangement. A part of a field of view (FOV) adjacent to the right side of the collimated image propagating in the first direction crosses a plane of one of the sets of partially-reflecting internal surfaces or a plane parallel to the major external surfaces, thereby forming self-overlap of a part of the collimated image in a region of the field of view which does not reach the eye of a user.
An optical device has a light-transmitting substrate, an optical coupling-out configuration, and an optical arrangement. The light-transmitting substrate has at least two major surfaces and guides light by internal reflection between the major surfaces. The optical coupling-out configuration couples the light, guided by internal reflection, out of the light-transmitting substrate toward an eye of a viewer. The optical arrangement is associated with at least one of the two major surfaces, and has a first optical element and a second optical element. The optical elements are optically coupled to each other to define an interface region associated with at least a portion of the coupling-out configuration. The interface region deflects light rays that emanate from an external scene that are incident to the optical arrangement at a given range of incident angles.
An optical waveguide combiner having an output coupler comprising an array of embedded partially reflective dielectric mirrors expanding and coupling a virtual, optionally color, image generated by a laser display engine into a user EMB, wherein the dielectric mirrors are configured having a wavelength band for each lasing band of the laser display engine that includes wavelengths of light in the lasing band and in a range of wavelengths over which the lasing band is expected to drift, a reflectivity angular range exhibiting a first reflectivity, a transmittance angular range exhibiting a second reflectivity less than the first reflectivity, and a see-thru angular transmittance range having high transmittance for natural light incident on the facets.
A method for producing light-guide optical elements (LOEs) (16, 18, 56, 58) each having a set of mutually-parallel partially -reflecting surfaces (17) located between, and oriented non-parallel to, a pair of major external surfaces, and at least one region (30a, 30 b, 30c) without partially-reflecting surfaces. The method includes bonding together parallel-faced plates (4) at interfaces to form a stack (42) of plates with partially- reflecting coatings between them. The stack is cut and polished to form a boundary plane (48, 48a, 48 b) intersecting the interfaces, and a block (50, 50a, 50 b) of transparent material is bonded to the stack. The resulting precursor structure (52, 52') is sliced along parallel planes to form slices, each containing a part of the stack for the active region of the LOE and a part of the block.
An optical waveguide has at least two maj or external surfaces and is configured for guiding light by internal reflection, and is deployed with one of the two major external surfaces in facing relation to a scene. An optical coupling-out configuration is associated with the optical waveguide and is configured for coupling a proportion of light, guided by the optical waveguide, out of the optical waveguide toward the scene. An illumination arrangement is deployed to emit light for coupling into the optical waveguide that is collimated prior to being coupled in the optical waveguide. A detector is configured for sensing light reflected from an object located in the scene in response to illumination of the object by light coupled out of the optical waveguide by the optical coupling-out configuration. A processing subsystem is configured to process signals from the detector to derive information associated with the object.
An optical system provides two-stage expansion of an input optical aperture for a display based on a light-guide optical element, A first expansion is achieved using two distinct sets of mutually-parallel partially-reflecting surfaces, each set handing a different part of an overall field- of-view presented to the eye. In some cases, a single image projector provides image illumination to two sets of facets that are integrated into the LOE. In other cases, two separate projectors deliver image illumination corresponding to two different parts of the field-of-view to their respective sets of facets.
G02B 6/10 - Light guidesStructural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings of the optical waveguide type
99.
OPTICAL SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR EYE TRACKING BASED ON REDIRECTING LIGHT FROM EYE USING AN OPTICAL ARRANGEMENT ASSOCIATED WITH A LIGHT-GUIDE OPTICAL ELEMENT
A light-transmitting substrate has at least two major surfaces and is deployed with a first of the major surfaces in facing relation to an eye of a viewer. A light redirecting arrangement is associated with the light-transmitting substrate and deflects light from the eye toward an optical sensor that senses light, such that the light deflection occurs at the light-transmitting substrate and the deflected light that reaches the optical sensor is unguided by the light-transmitting substrate. A processor derives current gaze direction of the eye by processing signals from the optical sensor.
G02B 6/10 - Light guidesStructural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings of the optical waveguide type
An image projector with a high optical efficiency projects an image at an arbitrary distance from an observer. The image projector includes an illumination module having at least one spatially coherent light source; a phase image generator with an array of optical phase shifting elements; an electronic image controller connected electrically to the phase image generator; and a waveguide which includes at least one embedded partial reflector. The waveguide may be positioned either between the illumination module and the waveguide, or between the waveguide and the observer. The phase image generator may include phase shifts for canceling speckle, correcting optical aberrations, and/or compensating interference caused by light rays having different optical path lengths.
G03B 21/00 - Projectors or projection-type viewersAccessories therefor
G03B 21/14 - Projectors or projection-type viewersAccessories therefor Details
G02B 26/08 - Optical devices or arrangements for the control of light using movable or deformable optical elements for controlling the direction of light
H04N 5/74 - Projection arrangements for image reproduction, e.g. using eidophor
F21K 9/61 - Optical arrangements integrated in the light source, e.g. for improving the colour rendering index or the light extraction using light guides
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