Abstract: Methods are disclosed for fabricating molds for forming eyepieces having waveguides with integrated spacers. The molds are formed by etching deep holes (e.g., 5 ?m to 1000 ?m deep) into a substrate using a wet etch or dry etch. The etch masks for defining the holes may be formed with a thick metal layer and/or multiple layers of different metals. A resist layer may be disposed over the etch mask. The resist layer may be patterned to form a pattern of holes, the pattern may be transferred to the etch mask, and the etch mask may be used to transfer the pattern into the underlying substrate. The patterned substrate may be utilized as a mold onto which a flowable polymer may be introduced and allowed to harden. Hardened polymer in the holes may form integrated spacers. The hardened polymer may be removed from the mold to form a waveguide with integrated spacers.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a near-eye, near-eye display system comprises a stack of waveguides having pillars in a central, active portion of the waveguides. The active portion may include light outcoupling optical elements configured to outcouple image light from the waveguides towards the eye of a viewer. The pillars extend between and separate neighboring ones of the waveguides. The light outcoupling optical elements may include diffractive optical elements that are formed simultaneously with the pillars, for example, by imprinting or casting. The pillars are disposed on one or more major surfaces of each of the waveguides. The pillars may define a distance between two adjacent waveguides of the stack of waveguides. The pillars may be bonded to adjacent waveguides may be using one or more of the systems, methods, or devices herein. The bonding provides a high level of thermal stability to the waveguide stack, to resist deformation as temperatures change.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for fabricating molds for forming eyepieces having waveguides with integrated spacers. The molds are formed by etching deep holes (e.g., 5 ?m to 1000 ?m deep) into a substrate using a wet etch or dry etch. The etch masks for defining the holes may be formed with a thick metal layer and/or multiple layers of different metals. A resist layer may be disposed over the etch mask. The resist layer may be patterned to form a pattern of holes, the pattern may be transferred to the etch mask, and the etch mask may be used to transfer the pattern into the underlying substrate. The patterned substrate may be utilized as a mold onto which a flowable polymer may be introduced and allowed to harden. Hardened polymer in the holes may form integrated spacers. The hardened polymer may be removed from the mold to form a waveguide with integrated spacers.

Abstract: A head-mounted, near-eye display system comprises a stack of waveguides having integral spacers separating the waveguides. The waveguides may each include diffractive optical elements that are formed simultaneously with the spacers by imprinting or casting. The spacers are disposed on one or more major surfaces of the waveguides and define a distance between immediately adjacent waveguides. Adjacent waveguides may be bonded using adhesives on the spacers. The spacers may fit within indentations of overlying waveguides. In some cases, the spacers may form one or more walls of material substantially around a perimeter of an associated waveguide. Vent holes may be provided in the walls to allow gas flow into and out from an interior volume defined by the spacers. Debris trapping structures may be provided between two walls of spacers to trap and prevent debris from entering into the interior volume.

Abstract: A head-mounted, near-eye display system comprises a stack of waveguides having integral spacers separating the waveguides. The waveguides may each include diffractive optical elements that are formed simultaneously with the spacers by imprinting or casting. The spacers are disposed on one or more major surfaces of the waveguides and define a distance between immediately adjacent waveguides. Adjacent waveguides may be bonded using adhesives on the spacers. The spacers may fit within indentations of overlying waveguides. In some cases, the spacers may form one or more walls of material substantially around a perimeter of an associated waveguide. Vent holes may be provided in the walls to allow gas flow into and out from an interior volume defined by the spacers. Debris trapping structures may be provided between two walls of spacers to trap and prevent debris from entering into the interior volume.

Abstract: A diffractive waveguide stack includes first, second, and third diffractive waveguides for guiding light in first, second, and third visible wavelength ranges, respectively. The first diffractive waveguide includes a first material having first refractive index at a selected wavelength and a first target refractive index at a midpoint of the first visible wavelength range. The second diffractive waveguide includes a second material having a second refractive index at the selected wavelength and a second target refractive index at a midpoint of the second visible wavelength range. The third diffractive waveguide includes a third material having a third refractive index at the selected wavelength and a third target refractive index at a midpoint of the third visible wavelength range. A difference between any two of the first target refractive index, the second target refractive index, and the third target refractive index is less than 0.005 at the selected wavelength.

Abstract: A diffractive waveguide stack includes first, second, and third diffractive waveguides for guiding light in first, second, and third visible wavelength ranges, respectively. The first diffractive waveguide includes a first material having first refractive index at a selected wavelength and a first target refractive index at a midpoint of the first visible wavelength range. The second diffractive waveguide includes a second material having a second refractive index at the selected wavelength and a second target refractive index at a midpoint of the second visible wavelength range. The third diffractive waveguide includes a third material having a third refractive index at the selected wavelength and a third target refractive index at a midpoint of the third visible wavelength range. A difference between any two of the first target refractive index, the second target refractive index, and the third target refractive index is less than 0.005 at the selected wavelength.

Abstract: A diffractive waveguide stack includes first, second, and third diffractive waveguides for guiding light in first, second, and third visible wavelength ranges, respectively. The first diffractive waveguide includes a first material having first refractive index at a selected wavelength and a first target refractive index at a midpoint of the first visible wavelength range. The second diffractive waveguide includes a second material having a second refractive index at the selected wavelength and a second target refractive index at a midpoint of the second visible wavelength range. The third diffractive waveguide includes a third material having a third refractive index at the selected wavelength and a third target refractive index at a midpoint of the third visible wavelength range. A difference between any two of the first target refractive index, the second target refractive index, and the third target refractive index is less than 0.005 at the selected wavelength.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for fabricating molds for forming eyepieces having waveguides with integrated spacers. The molds are formed by etching deep holes (e.g., 5 ?m to 1000 ?m deep) into a substrate using a wet etch or dry etch. The etch masks for defining the holes may be formed with a thick metal layer and/or multiple layers of different metals. A resist layer may be disposed over the etch mask. The resist layer may be patterned to form a pattern of holes, the pattern may be transferred to the etch mask, and the etch mask may be used to transfer the pattern into the underlying substrate. The patterned substrate may be utilized as a mold onto which a flowable polymer may be introduced and allowed to harden. Hardened polymer in the holes may form integrated spacers. The hardened polymer may be removed from the mold to form a waveguide with integrated spacers.

Abstract: A diffractive waveguide stack includes first, second, and third diffractive waveguides for guiding light in first, second, and third visible wavelength ranges, respectively. The first diffractive waveguide includes a first material having first refractive index at a selected wavelength and a first target refractive index at a midpoint of the first visible wavelength range. The second diffractive waveguide includes a second material having a second refractive index at the selected wavelength and a second target refractive index at a midpoint of the second visible wavelength range. The third diffractive waveguide includes a third material having a third refractive index at the selected wavelength and a third target refractive index at a midpoint of the third visible wavelength range. A difference between any two of the first target refractive index, the second target refractive index, and the third target refractive index is less than 0.005 at the selected wavelength.

Abstract: A head-mounted, near-eye display system comprises a stack of waveguides having integral spacers separating the waveguides. The waveguides may each include diffractive optical elements that are formed simultaneously with the spacers by imprinting or casting. The spacers are disposed on one or more major surfaces of the waveguides and define a distance between immediately adjacent waveguides. Adjacent waveguides may be bonded using adhesives on the spacers. The spacers may fit within indentations of overlying waveguides. In some cases, the spacers may form one or more walls of material substantially around a perimeter of an associated waveguide. Vent holes may be provided in the walls to allow gas flow into and out from an interior volume defined by the spacers. Debris trapping structures may be provided between two walls of spacers to trap and prevent debris from entering into the interior volume.

Abstract: A method of aligning a stencil to an eyepiece wafer includes providing the stencil, positioning the stencil with respect to a first light source, and determining locations of at least two stencil apertures. The method also includes providing the eyepiece wafer. The eyepiece wafer includes at least two eyepiece waveguides, each eyepiece waveguide including an incoupling grating and a corresponding diffraction pattern. The method further includes directing light from one or more second light sources to impinge on each of the corresponding diffraction patterns, imaging light diffracted from each incoupling grating, determining at least two incoupling grating locations, determining offsets between corresponding stencil aperture locations and incoupling grating locations, and aligning the stencil to the eyepiece wafer based on the determined offsets.

Abstract: A diffractive waveguide stack includes first, second, and third diffractive waveguides for guiding light in first, second, and third visible wavelength ranges, respectively. The first diffractive waveguide includes a first material having first refractive index at a selected wavelength and a first target refractive index at a midpoint of the first visible wavelength range. The second diffractive waveguide includes a second material having a second refractive index at the selected wavelength and a second target refractive index at a midpoint of the second visible wavelength range. The third diffractive waveguide includes a third material having a third refractive index at the selected wavelength and a third target refractive index at a midpoint of the third visible wavelength range. A difference between any two of the first target refractive index, the second target refractive index, and the third target refractive index is less than 0.005 at the selected wavelength.