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.
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.
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.
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 27/00 - Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups ,
G02B 6/10 - Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings of the optical waveguide type
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 27/00 - Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups ,
G02B 6/10 - Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings of the optical waveguide type
An optical system has a hollow mechanical body having first and second ends. An optical assembly has a plurality of optical components arranged in a stack configuration. Each of the optical components has a set of engagement configurations. For each pair of adjacent optical components in the stack configuration, at least some of the engagement configurations of a first optical component in the pair engage with at least some of the engagement configurations of a second optical component in the pair. Some of the engagement configurations of the optical component at a first end of the stack configuration engage with corresponding engagement configurations of the hollow mechanical body at the first end of the hollow mechanical body to position the other optical components of the stack configuration within the hollow mechanical body. An emissive display device is deployed at the second end of the hollow mechanical body.
G02B 6/10 - Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings of the optical waveguide type
G02B 27/00 - Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups ,
A transparent substrate has two parallel faces and guides collimated image light by internal reflection. A first set of internal surfaces is deployed within the substrate oblique to the parallel faces. A second set of internal surfaces is deployed within the substrate parallel to, interleaved and in overlapping relation with the first set of internal surfaces. Each of the internal surfaces of the first set includes a first coating having a first reflection characteristic to be at least partially reflective to at least a first subset of components of incident light. Each of the internal surfaces of the second set includes a second coating having a second reflection characteristic complementary to the first reflection characteristic to be at least partially reflective to at least a second subset of components of incident light. The sets of internal surfaces cooperate to reflect all components of light from the first and second subsets.
G02B 6/10 - Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings of the optical waveguide type
9.
LIGHT-GUIDE OPTICAL ELEMENT EMPLOYING COMPLEMENTARY COATED PARTIAL REFLECTORS, AND LIGHT-GUIDE OPTICAL ELEMENT HAVING REDUCED LIGHT SCATTERING
A transparent substrate has two parallel faces and guides collimated image light by internal reflection. A first set of internal surfaces is deployed within the substrate oblique to the parallel faces. A second set of internal surfaces is deployed within the substrate parallel to, interleaved and in overlapping relation with the first set of internal surfaces. Each of the internal surfaces of the first set includes a first coating having a first reflection characteristic to be at least partially reflective to at least a first subset of components of incident light. Each of the internal surfaces of the second set includes a second coating having a second reflection characteristic complementary to the first reflection characteristic to be at least partially reflective to at least a second subset of components of incident light. The sets of internal surfaces cooperate to reflect all components of light from the first and second subsets.
G02B 27/00 - Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups ,
G02B 6/10 - Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings of the optical waveguide type
A lightguide optical element (LOE) configured for polarization scrambling is provided. The LOE includes a transparent substrate having a first refractive index, the substrate having a pair of parallel external surfaces configured to propagate light within the LOE through total internal reflection (T!R), and a plurality of mutually parallel partially reflective internal surfaces, those being non-parallel to the pair of parallel external surfaces and configured to couple out said light to a viewer. The LOE further includes a first coating on at least one external surface of the substrate, the first coating being of a coating material having a second refractive index higher than the first refractive index; The LOE further includes an antireflective (AR) coating on at least one external surface of the substrate over the first coating.
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 modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour
G02B 6/10 - Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings of the optical waveguide type
G02B 27/00 - Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups ,
An optical system for displaying an image includes a light- guide optical element (LOE) having a coupling-in region and a propagation region, a coupling-out configuration associated with the propagation region of the LOE, an image projector for generating image illumination corresponding to a collimated image, and a beam- multiplication configuration external to the LOE. The beam-multiplier is a transparent plate bonded to the LOE adjacent to the coupling-in region. The transparent plate has a partiahy-reflective surface between the LOE and the plate, and a reflector at the opposite surface. The partiahy-reflective surface and the reflector multiply the beam from the projector so as to fully illuminate the propagation region of the LOE with both the collimated image and a conjugate of the collimated image.
An optical system for displaying an image includes a waveguide (10) having two major surfaces (12, 14) that support propagation of image illumination by internal reflection. A coupling-out configuration (16, 18) couples out image illumination towards the eye of the user. An image projector (20) is coupled so as to introduce image illumination into the waveguide so as to propagate by internal reflection. The waveguide also contains a symmetrical beam multiplier region, distinct from the coupling-out region, having one or more beam splitters (24) internal to the waveguide and parallel to its major surfaces. The symmetrical beam multiplier may be used to fill in a conjugate image after a compact coupling-in configuration, and/or may be used to fill the waveguide with the image as an intermediate stage (36) between two optical aperture expansion configurations (32, 34).
G02B 6/10 - Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings of the optical waveguide type
13.
APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR EYE TRACKING BASED ON EYE IMAGING VIA A LIGHT-GUIDE OPTICAL ELEMENT
A light-transmitting substrate has parallel surfaces deployed with a first of the parallel surfaces in facing relation to an eye. An optical element is associated with the first surface and applies optical power to incident light of a first type so as to collimate the incident light, and applies substantially no optical power to incident light of a second type. An optical coupling configuration is associated with the substrate and is configured for coupling-in a proportion of collimated light of the first type incident on the first surface so as to propagate within the substrate, and for coupling-out a proportion of light of the second type propagating within the substrate. Optics associated with the substrate convert collimated light of the first type into converging beams of light, which are sensed by an optical sensor. A processor derives current gaze direction of the eye by processing signals from the optical sensor.
An optical system including a light-guide optical element (LOE) with first and second sets (204, 206) of mutually-parallel, partially-reflecting surfaces at different orientations. Both sets of partially-reflecting surfaces are located between parallel major external surfaces. A third set of at least partially-reflecting surfaces (202), deployed at the coupling-in region, receive image illumination injected from a projector (2) with an optical aperture having a first in-plane width and direct the image illumination via reflection of at least part of the image illumination at the third set of at least partially-reflective facets towards the first set of partially-reflective facets with an effective optical aperture having a second width larger than the first width.
An optical system including a light- guide optical element (LOE) with a first set of mutually-parallel, partially-reflecting surfaces and a second set of mutually-parallel, partially-reflecting surfaces at a different orientation from the first set. Both sets of partially-reflecting surfaces are located between a set of mutually-parallel major external surfaces. Image illumination introduced at a coupling-in location propagates along the LOE, is redirected by the first set of partially-reflecting surfaces towards the second set of partially-reflecting surfaces, where it is coupled out towards the eye of the user. The first set of partially-reflecting surfaces are implemented as partial surfaces located where needed for filling an eye-motion box with the required image. Additionally, or alternatively, spacing of the first set of partially-reflecting surfaces is varied across a first region of the LOE. Additional features relate to relative orientations of the projector and partially reflecting surfaces to improve compactness and achieve various adjustments.
G02B 27/00 - Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups ,
G02B 6/10 - Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings of the optical waveguide type
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 modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour
A near-eye display includes a light- guide optical element (LOE) (10) having first and second major external surfaces (11A, 11B) that are planar and mutually parallel. An image projector (2) introduces into the LOE illumination corresponding to an image so that the illumination propagates within said LOE by internal reflection at the major external surfaces. A coupling-out arrangement couples the illumination out of the LOE towards the eye of the observer. The coupling-out arrangement may be a set of mutually-parallel, partially-reflective surfaces (12A) deployed at an oblique angle within the LOE. Various arrangements for suppressing reflections of ambient light sources include obstructing baffles oriented so as to avoid reduction of peripheral field of view, various non-reflective coatings and various deployments of polarization filters.
An optical system includes a light-guide optical element (LOE) (100) having a pair of parallel major external surfaces (102, 104) and a set of mutually-parallel reflector surfaces (106a, 106b, 106c) obliquely angled within the LOE. At least one of the reflector surfaces has high reflectivity for angles of incidence above 60 degrees to the normal and partial reflectivity for angles of incidence less than 35 degrees to the normal.
G02B 27/00 - Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups ,
G02B 6/10 - Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings of the optical waveguide type
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 modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour
18.
LIGHT-GUIDE OPTICAL ELEMENT WITH MULTIPLE-AXIS INTERNAL APERTURE EXPANSION
An optical device includes a lightguide having a first pair of external surfaces parallel to each other, and at least two sets of facets. Each of the sets including a plurality of partially reflecting facets parallel to each other, and between the first pair of external surfaces. In each of the sets of facets, the respective facets are at an oblique angle relative to the first pair of external surfaces, and at a non-parallel angle relative to another of the sets of facets. The optical device is particularly suited for optical aperture expansion.
G02B 6/10 - Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings of the optical waveguide type
G02F 1/295 - 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 modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the position or the direction of light beams, i.e. deflection in an optical waveguide structure
19.
OPTICAL APERTURE EXPANSION ARRANGEMENT FOR NEAR-EYE DISPLAYS
An optical aperture expansion arrangement particularly useful for near-eye displays employs a waveguide (30, 140, 145) with wedge configurations (25, 26) to generate two modes of propagation of image illumination along the waveguide, and to couple out both modes from the waveguide. Various embodiments employ rectangular waveguides within which the image illumination propagates by four-fold internal reflection. In some cases, the wedge configurations are combined with an array of partially-reflective internal surfaces (45, 150) to achieve two-dimensional aperture expansion.
A light-guide device includes a light guiding element (13) with a number of faces, including two parallel faces (26), for guiding light by internal reflection. A transparent optical element (19) has an interface surface for attachment to a coupling surface (14) of the light guiding element, and is configured such that light propagating within the transparent optical element passes through the interface surface and the coupling surface (14) so as to propagate within the light guiding element (13). A non-transparent coating (15) is applied to at least part of one or more faces of the light guiding element (13), defining an edge (17) adjacent to, or overlapping, the coupling surface (14) of the light guiding element (13). A quantity of transparent adhesive is deployed between the coupling surface and the interface surface so as to form an optically transmissive interface. An overspill region 31 of the adhesive extends to, and overlaps, the edge (17).
An optical aperture multiplier includes a first optical waveguide (10) having a rectangular cross-section and including partially reflecting surfaces (40) at an oblique angle to a direction of elongation of the waveguide. A second optical waveguide (20), also including partially reflecting surfaces (45) at an oblique angle, is optically coupled with the first optical waveguide (10). An image coupled into the first optical waveguide with an initial direction of propagation at an oblique coupling angle advances by four-fold internal reflection along the first optical waveguide, with a proportion of intensity of the image reflected at the partially reflecting surfaces so as to be coupled into the second optical waveguide, and then propagates through two-fold reflection within the second optical waveguide, with a proportion of intensity of the image reflected at the partially reflecting surfaces so as to be directed outwards from one of the parallel faces as a visible image.
G02B 6/10 - Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings of the optical waveguide type
22.
COMPACT HEAD-MOUNTED DISPLAY SYSTEM HAVING UNIFORM IMAGE
There is disclosed an optical device, including a light-transmitting substrate having an input aperture, an output aperture, at least two major surfaces and edges, an optical element for coupling light waves into the substrate by total internal reflection, at least one partially reflecting surface located between the two major surfaces of the light-transmitting substrate for partially reflecting light waves out of the substrate, a first transparent plate, having at least two major surfaces, one of the major surfaces of the transparent plate being optically attached to a major surface of the light-transmitting substrate defining an interface plane, and a beam-splitting coating applied at the interface plane between the substrate and the transparent plate, wherein light waves coupled inside the light- transmitting substrate are partially reflected from the interface plane and partially pass therethrough.
There is disclosed an optical device, including a light-transmitting substrate having an input aperture, an output aperture, at least two major surfaces and edges, an optical element for coupling light waves into the substrate by total internal reflection, at least one partially reflecting surface located between the two major surfaces of the light-transmitting substrate for partially reflecting light waves out of the substrate, a first transparent plate, having at least two major surfaces, one of the major surfaces of the transparent plate being optically attached to a major surface of the light- transmitting substrate defining an interface plane, and a beam-splitting coating applied at the interface plane between the substrate and the transparent plate, wherein light waves coupled inside the light-transmitting substrate are partially reflected from the interface plane and partially pass therethrough.
An optical system includes a light-transmitting substrate having at least two external major surfaces and edges and an optical element for coupling light waves into the substrate, by total internal reflection. At least one partially reflecting surface is located in the substrate for coupling light waves out of the substrate, and at least one transparent layer, having a refractive index substantially lower than the refractive index of the light transmitting substrate is optically attached to at least one of the major surfaces of the substrate, defining an interface plane. The light waves coupled inside the substrate are substantially totally reflected from the interface plane between the major surface of the substrate and the transparent layer.
A method is described for fabricating an optical device that includes a light waves-transmitting substrate having at least two major surfaces and edges and a plurality of partially reflecting surfaces carried by the substrate, wherein the partially reflecting surfaces are parallel to each other and not parallel to any of the edges of the substrate. The method includes providing at least one transparent flat plate and plates having partially reflecting surfaces and optically attaching together the flat plates so as to create a stacked, staggered form. From the stacked, staggered form, at least one segment is sliced off by cutting across several plates and the segment is ground and polished to produce the light waves-transmitting substrate. The plates are optically attached to each other by an optically adhesive-free process.
There is provided an optical system, including a light-transmitting substrate (20) having at least two external major surfaces and edges, an optical element for coupling light waves into the substrate (20) by internal reflection, at least one partially reflecting surface located in the substrate (20), for coupling light waves out of the substrate (20), at least one transparent air gap film (110) including a base (112) and a hyperfine structure (111) defining a relief formation, constructed on the base, wherein the air gap film is attached to one of the major surfaces of the substrate (20), with the relief formation facing the substrate (20) defining an interface plane (58), so that the light waves coupled inside the substrate (20) are substantially totally reflected from the interface plane (58).
There is provided an optical system, including a light-transmitting substrate (20) having at least two major surfaces (26) and edges, an optical prism (54) having at least a first (58), a second (56) and a third (60) surface, for coupling light waves having a given field- of-view into the substrate by total internal reflection, at least one partially reflecting surface located in the substrate, the partially reflecting surface being orientated non-parallelly with respect to the major surfaces of the substrate, for coupling light waves out of the substrate, at least one of the edges (50) of the substrate is slanted at an oblique angle with respect to the major surfaces, the second surface of the prism is located adjacent to the slanted edge of the substrate, and a part of the substrate located next to the slanted edge is substantially transparent, wherein the light waves enter the prism through the first surface of the prism, traverse the prism without any reflection and enter the substrate through the slanted edge.
A head-mounted display (HMD) system for mounting on the head of a viewer and providing an augmented reality display to at least one eye of the viewer is provided. The system comprises a light-transmitting substrate having a plurality of surfaces, a coupling-out arrangement comprising a plurality of planar partially-reflective surfaces deployed within the substrate, an image projector comprising a display source and collimating optics projecting a collimated image having a central image ray defining an image light output direction, and a support structure for supporting the substrate.
There is provided an optical system, including a light-transmitting substrate having at least two major surfaces parallel to each other and edges, and an optical device for coupling light into the substrate by total internal reflection. The device includes a polarization sensitive reflecting surface.
G02B 6/00 - Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
G02B 6/10 - Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings of the optical waveguide type
G02B 27/00 - Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups ,
G02B 27/28 - Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups , for polarising
There is provided an optical device, having a light-transmitting substrate having at least two major surfaces (26) parallel to each other and edges; optical means (16) for coupling light waves located in a field-of-view into the substrate by internal reflection, and at least one partially reflecting surface (22) located in the substrate which is non-parallel to the major surfaces of the substrate, characterized in that at least one of the major surfaces is coated with a dichroic coating.
There is provided an optical device, having a light-transmitting substrate (20) having at least two major surfaces parallel to each other and edges; a display light source; optical means for coupling light from the light source into the substrate (20) by internal reflection, and at least one partially reflecting surface (22) located in the substrate (20) which is non-parallel to the major surfaces of the substrate wherein the source emits light waves located in a given field-of-view, that the light waves are collimated, that an angular resolution is defined for the optical device, and wherein the angular deviation between any two different rays located in one of the collimated light waves, is smaller than the angular resolution.
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