Abstract: In a see-through waveguide-based HMD device configured to display holographic virtual images within a field of view (FOV) of a device user, a glint-based eye tracker illumination system provides infrared (IR) point sources at known locations having a predetermined angular distribution using optical components—including input and output couplers and diffusers—on a waveguide that is located in front of the user's eyes. An input coupler couples light from an IR source into the illumination system waveguide which is propagated to one or more output couplers. Separate diffuser elements aligned with the output couplers distribute the out-coupled IR light into a deterministic range of divergent angles to function as point sources for eye tracker glints. Various illustrative illumination system waveguide architectures are disclosed in which the optical components can be disposed on the same or opposite sides of the waveguide in dual-layered and dual-sided arrangements.

Abstract: A display system includes a waveguide plate comprising an in-coupling grating, an expansion grating, and a sampling grating. The display system includes a projection system configured to direct input light toward the in-coupling grating. The in-coupling grating is configured to diffract the input light to propagate within the waveguide plate. The in-coupling grating is configured to (i) cause a display portion of the input light to propagate toward the expansion grating in a manner that avoids diffraction by the expansion grating and (ii) cause a sampling portion of the input light to propagate toward the sampling grating. The expansion grating is configured to (i) diffract the display portion of the input light to cause the display portion of the input light to continue to propagate within the waveguide plate. The sampling grating is configured to diffract the sampling portion of the input light outward from the waveguide plate.

Abstract: Examples are disclosed that relate to head-mounted display (HMD) devices and methods for detecting light reflected by a user's eye. In one example, an HMD device comprises a frame, a transparent cover substrate supported by the frame, and a display substrate supported by the frame. An eye-tracking light source is affixed to the frame. The eye-tracking light source is configured to emit eye-tracking light. At least one input optical element is configured to receive the eye-tracking light. A plurality of transparent delivery waveguides are integrated with the transparent cover substrate. Each of the transparent delivery waveguides comprises an output optical element configured to output the eye-tracking light towards a user's eye. In addition, each of the transparent delivery waveguides comprises a curved portion. The HMD device further comprises a camera configured to detect the eye-tracking light reflected by the user's eye.

Abstract: In a see-through waveguide-based HMD device configured to display holographic virtual images within a field of view (FOV) of a device user, a glint-based eye tracker illumination system provides infrared (IR) point sources at known locations having a predetermined angular distribution using optical components—including input and output couplers and diffusers—on a waveguide that is located in front of the user's eyes. An input coupler couples light from an IR source into the illumination system waveguide which is propagated to one or more output couplers. Separate diffuser elements aligned with the output couplers distribute the out-coupled IR light into a deterministic range of divergent angles to function as point sources for eye tracker glints. Various illustrative illumination system waveguide architectures are disclosed in which the optical components can be disposed on the same or opposite sides of the waveguide in dual-layered and dual-sided arrangements.

Abstract: In a see-through waveguide-based HMD device configured to display holographic virtual images within a field of view (FOV) of a device user, a glint-based eye tracker illumination system provides infrared (IR) point sources at known locations having a predetermined angular distribution using optical components—including input and output couplers and diffusers—on a waveguide that is located in front of the user's eyes. An input coupler couples light from an IR source into the illumination system waveguide which is propagated to one or more output couplers. Separate diffuser elements aligned with the output couplers distribute the out-coupled IR light into a deterministic range of divergent angles to function as point sources for eye tracker glints. Various illustrative illumination system waveguide architectures are disclosed in which the optical components can be disposed on the same or opposite sides of the waveguide in dual-layered and dual-sided arrangements.

Abstract: The description relate to devices, such as augmented reality and/or virtual reality devices that employ optical waveguides. On example includes a first optical waveguide configured to receive light at an incidence angle and a second optical waveguide positioned in a non-parallel relation to the first optical waveguide. The second optical waveguide can be configured to receive the light through the first optical waveguide at a first location at the incidence angle, transmit the light within the second optical waveguide, and output the light from a second location back toward the first optical waveguide at the incidence angle.

Abstract: An optical waveguide comprises one or more upstream diffraction gratings in addition to overlapping first and second downstream diffraction gratings. The one or more upstream diffraction gratings include a first upstream diffraction grating configured to receive display light and to release the display light expanded along a first axis. The first and second downstream diffraction gratings are configured to receive the display light expanded along the first axis and to cooperatively release the display light further expanded along a second axis. The first downstream diffraction grating is arranged on a planar face of the optical waveguide and is further configured to further expand along the first axis the display light expanded along the first axis.

Abstract: The description relate to devices, such as augmented reality and/or virtual reality devices that employ optical waveguides. On example includes a first optical waveguide configured to receive light at an incidence angle and a second optical waveguide positioned in a non-parallel relation to the first optical waveguide. The second optical waveguide can be configured to receive the light through the first optical waveguide at a first location at the incidence angle, transmit the light within the second optical waveguide, and output the light from a second location back toward the first optical waveguide at the incidence angle.

Abstract: An optical waveguide comprises one or more upstream diffraction gratings in addition to overlapping first and second downstream diffraction gratings. The one or more upstream diffraction gratings include a first upstream diffraction grating configured to receive display light and to release the display light expanded along a first axis. The first and second downstream diffraction gratings are configured to receive the display light expanded along the first axis and to cooperatively release the display light further expanded along a second axis. The first downstream diffraction grating is arranged on a planar face of the optical waveguide and is further configured to further expand along the first axis the display light expanded along the first axis.

Abstract: A near eye display system includes a waveguide display that presents to the eyes of a viewer mixed-reality or virtual-reality images. The waveguide display includes two or more waveguide plates that are stacked over one another with an air gap between them. The waveguide plates are tilted so that they are not parallel to one another. In this way the spacing or air gap between the waveguide plates varies across the area of the plates.

Abstract: An optical waveguide that performs both in-coupling and out-coupling of projected light is provided. The out-coupling region of the waveguide comprises a single-sided or double-sided diffraction grating with at least one of the grating structures conformally coated with a high refractive index material. To reduce the unwanted reflection of light on the waveguide surfaces coated with the high refractive index material, additional antireflective coatings are applied to the diffraction grating areas with the high refractive index coating. The additional antireflective coatings may be very thin to avoid in-coupling, and therefore avoid interference in one or more light rays propagating in the optical waveguide. Alternatively, the antireflective coatings may be very thick to promote in-coupling such that the resulting interference becomes consistent across all light rays propagating in the optical waveguide.

Abstract: The invention relates to protection of an optical transmission connection. From the transmitting end of the connection, the same optical signal is transmitted along a first path and a second path to the receiving end, where the power level of the signal received from each path is monitored, and one of the paths is selected as the working path and the signal arriving from the said path is connected to the receiver, whereby the other path remains as a redundancy path. For the transmission connection to preserve an optimum performance also when the power level difference between the paths is varying, that path is at each time selected as the working path, where the received signal is considered at the moment in question to have the higher power level. The selection is always carried out when the power level difference between the signals reaches a predetermined threshold value, irrespective of the power level of the signal received at that time from the working path.