Abstract: An illuminator for a display panel includes a slab of transparent material for propagating illuminating light between outer surfaces of the slab, an out-coupling grating supported by the slab for out-coupling portions of the illuminating light along one of the outer surfaces of the slab, and an amplitude and/or phase mask for forming an array of light spots from the out-coupled illuminating light portions downstream of the focusing element for illuminating pixels of the display panel. The array of light spots may be repeated at a distance from the mask due to Talbot effect. A beam redirecting element such as a tiltable reflector and/or a steering surface may be provided to shift the lateral location of the illuminating light spots.

Abstract: A display assembly includes a light source, a spatial light modulator (SLM) and a grating. The light source is configured to emit illumination light, the SLM is configured to receive the illumination light and reflect at least a portion of the illumination light. The grating is positioned to redirect the illumination light output from the light source toward the SLM, receive at least a portion of the reflected light from the SLM, redirect first light having a first polarization toward the light source, and transmit through the grating second light having a second polarization that is orthogonal to the first polarization. Also disclosed are operations performed by the display assembly.

Abstract: A waveguide display includes a substrate transparent to at least one of visible or near infrared light, and a grating on the substrate. The grating includes ridges formed using a birefringent material and is configured to selectively couple incident light in a first polarization state into or out of the substrate. The birefringent material in the ridges is characterized by an optic axis parallel to a plane that includes a grating vector of the grating.

Abstract: A display assembly includes a light source, a spatial light modulator (SLM) and a grating. The light source is configured to emit illumination light, the SLM is configured to receive the illumination light and reflect at least a portion of the illumination light. The grating is positioned to redirect the illumination light output from the light source toward the SLM, receive at least a portion of the reflected light from the SLM, redirect first light having a first polarization toward the light source, and transmit through the grating second light having a second polarization that is orthogonal to the first polarization. Also disclosed are operations performed by the display assembly.

Abstract: A waveguide display includes a substrate transparent to at least one of visible or near infrared light, and a grating on the substrate. The grating includes ridges formed using a birefringent material and is configured to selectively couple incident light in a first polarization state into or out of the substrate. The birefringent material in the ridges is characterized by an optic axis parallel to a plane that includes a grating vector of the grating.

Abstract: A display assembly includes a light source, a spatial light modulator (SLM) and a grating. The light source is configured to emit illumination light, the SLM is configured to receive the illumination light and reflect at least a portion of the illumination light. The grating is positioned to redirect the illumination light output from the light source toward the SLM, receive at least a portion of the reflected light from the SLM, redirect first light having a first polarization toward the light source, and transmit through the grating second light having a second polarization that is orthogonal to the first polarization. Also disclosed are operations performed by the display assembly.