Abstract: A head-mounted display (HMD) presented herein comprises an electronic display, an optical assembly with a dynamic optical axis component (DOAC), an eye tracker and a controller. The electronic display is configured to emit image light. The eye tracker is configured to determine a gaze vector of a user wearing the HMD. The DOAC is positioned in front of the electronic display and refracts the image light received from the electronic display. The controller provides emission instructions to the DOAC to dynamically move an optical axis of the DOAC to align the optical axis with the determined gaze vector. The optical assembly directs the image light refracted by the DOAC to an eye box of the HMD corresponding to a location of an eye of the user. An optical error associated with the refracted image light directed to the eye box is reduced.

Abstract: A waveguide display is used for presenting media to a user. The waveguide display includes light source assembly, an output waveguide, and a controller. The light source assembly includes one or more projectors projecting an image light at least along one dimension. The output waveguide includes a waveguide body with two opposite surfaces. The output waveguide includes a first grating receiving an image light propagating along an input wave vector, a second grating, and a third grating positioned opposite to the second grating and outputting an expanded image light with wave vectors matching the input wave vector. The controller controls the scanning of the one or more source assemblies to form a two-dimensional image.

Abstract: A wearable display device and a calibration method for the wearable display device are provided. The wearable display device or its component(s) may exhibit optical throughput dependent on beam angle or beam coordinate at the eyebox. The linear or angular dependencies of throughput may be accounted for when generating an image to be displayed, to lessen or offset these dependencies during operation of the wearable display.

Abstract: A multilayer grating is a diffraction grating that includes a plurality of layers. The plurality of layers arranged to form a 2-dimensional grating, the layers including at least a first patterned layer and a second patterned layer. The first patterned layer includes a plurality of different materials that are arranged in a first pattern such that the first patterned layer has a first index profile. The second patterned layer includes a plurality of different materials that are arranged in a second pattern such that the second patterned layer has a second index profile that is inverted relative to the first index profile. Ambient light incident on the first patterned layer and the second patterned layer creates a first diffracted ray and a second diffracted ray, respectively, and the first diffracted ray and the second diffracted ray destructively interfere with each other based in part on the inverted index profile.

Abstract: A near-eye display (NED) has an orientation detection device and a display block. The orientation detection device collects orientation data that describe an orientation of the NED. The display block has a display assembly, a focusing assembly, and a controller. The controller determines an orientation vector of the NED based in part on the orientation data and computes an angular difference between the orientation vector of the NED and a gravity vector. After comparing the angular difference to a threshold value, the controller generates multifocal instructions that adjusts the optical element to display an augmented scene at the selected image plane corresponding to the multifocal instructions.

Abstract: A varifocal block includes liquid crystal (LC) lens and a liquid lens structure in optical series. The LC lens has a plurality of optical states, including an additive state that adds optical power to the LC lens and a subtractive state that removes optical power from the LC lens. The liquid lens structure comprises a transparent substrate layer, a deformable membrane, and a volume of liquid enclosed between the transparent substrate layer and the deformable membrane. The deformable membrane has an adjustable range of optical power dependent on an adjustable curvature of the deformable membrane. The plurality of optical states of the LC lens and the adjustable range of optical power of the liquid lens structure together provide a continuous range of optical power for the varifocal block.

Abstract: A near-eye display (NED) includes a source assembly that emits image light, a waveguide-based display assembly, and a controller coupled to the waveguide-based display assembly, and an optical assembly. The waveguide-based display assembly includes a liquid crystal (LC) waveguide, an input area, and an output area. The LC waveguide comprising a first glass layer, a second glass layer, and a LC layer between the first and second glass layers. The LC waveguide propagates the image light in-coupled via the input area in accordance with emission instructions toward the output area that out-couples the image light to a user's eye. The controller generates the emission instructions and provides the emission instructions to the LC waveguide for generating the image light of substantially uniform brightness.

Abstract: A waveguide display is used for presenting media to a user. The waveguide assembly includes a light source, a source waveguide, an output waveguide, and a controller. The light source emits image light based on scanning instructions from the controller. The source waveguide receives the image light from the light source, expands the image light in at least one dimension, and outputs an expanded image light to the output waveguide at an input area. The output waveguide outputs the expanded image light from a portion of an output area based on a direction of the expanded light from the source waveguide.

Abstract: A waveguide display includes light sources, a source waveguide, an output waveguide, and a controller. Light from each of the light sources is coupled into the source waveguide. The source waveguide includes gratings with a constant period determined based on the conditions for total internal reflection and first order diffraction of the received image light. The emitted image light is coupled into the output waveguide at several entrance locations. The output waveguide outputs expanded image lights at a location offset from the entrance location, and the location/direction of the emitted expanded image light is based in part on the orientation of the light sources. Each of the expanded image light is associated with a field of view of the expanded image light emitted by the output waveguide.

Abstract: A waveguide display includes a source assembly, an output waveguide, and a controller. The source assembly includes a light source and an optics system. The light source includes source elements arranged in a 1D or 2D array that emit image light. The optics system includes a scanning mirror assembly that scans the image light to particular locations based on scanning instructions. The output waveguide receives the scanned image light from the scanning mirror assembly and outputs an expanded image light. In some embodiments, the waveguide display includes a source waveguide and the 1D array of source elements. The source waveguide receives a conditioned image light from the source assembly. The controller generates the scanning instructions and provides the scanning instructions to the scanning mirror assembly. In some embodiments, the controller provides the scanning instructions to an actuator assembly of the source waveguide.

Abstract: A waveguide display includes a light source assembly, an output waveguide, and a controller. The light source assembly emits an image light that propagates along an input wave vector. The output waveguide includes a waveguide body with two opposite surfaces. The output waveguide includes a first grating receiving an image light propagating along the input wave vector, a second grating, and a third grating positioned opposite to the second grating and outputting an expanded image light with wave vectors matching the input wave vector. The controller controls the illumination of the light source assembly to form a two-dimensional image.

Abstract: A holographic Bragg grating is used as an output element for a waveguide in a lens used for artificial reality. By using a Bragg grating, a number of waveguides can be reduced. The output element has a first super grating and a second super grating written in a single grating layer of the waveguide. The first super grating has a grating vector that is skew to a grating vector of the second super grating to provide both deflection and out coupling for two-dimensional output coupling.

Abstract: An optical system includes an optical waveguide, and a first optical element configured to direct a first ray, having a first circular polarization and impinging on the first optical element at a first incidence angle, in a first direction so that the first ray propagates through the optical waveguide via total internal reflection toward a second optical element. The first optical element is configured to also direct a second ray, having a second circular polarization that is distinct from the first circular polarization and impinging on the first optical element at the first incidence angle, in a second direction that is distinct from the first direction so that the second ray propagates away from the second optical element. The second optical element is configured to direct the first ray propagating through the optical waveguide toward a detector.

Abstract: A near-eye display includes a light source assembly, a first waveguide, an output waveguide, and a controller. The light source assembly emits image light including light within a first band and a second band. The first waveguide receives the image light, expands the received image light in at least one dimension, and outputs an image light. The output waveguide includes an output area and a plurality of input areas. Each input area receives the image light from the first waveguide. The output waveguide includes a holographic Bragg grating and the output waveguide expands the image light at least along two dimensions to form an expanded image light, and outputs the expanded image light toward an eyebox. The controller controls the scanning of the light source assembly and the first waveguide.

Abstract: A holographic Bragg grating is used as an output element for a waveguide in a lens used for artificial reality. By using a Bragg grating, a number of waveguides can be reduced. The output element has a first super grating and a second super grating written in a single grating layer of the waveguide. The first super grating has a grating vector that is skew to a grating vector of the second super grating to provide both deflection and out coupling for two-dimensional output coupling.

Abstract: A Pancharatnam Berry Phase (PBP) liquid crystal structure for adjusting or focusing light of a plurality of color channels emitted by a display of a head-mounted display (HMD) comprises a plurality of PBP active elements. Each PBP active element of the structure is configured to act as a half waveplate for light of a corresponding color channel, such that light of the corresponding color channel is adjusted by a predetermined amount. In addition, each PBP active element acts as a one waveplate for light of the remaining color channels, such that light of the remaining color channels passes through the PBP active element substantially unaffected. As such, the PBP structure is able to adjust incident light of the plurality of color channels uniformly in an apochromatic fashion.

Abstract: A waveguide display includes a light source assembly, an output waveguide, and a controller. The light source assembly emits an image light that propagates along an input wave vector. The output waveguide includes a waveguide body with two opposite surfaces. The output waveguide includes a first grating receiving an image light propagating along the input wave vector, a second grating, and a third grating positioned opposite to the second grating and outputting an expanded image light with wave vectors matching the input wave vector. The controller controls the illumination of the light source assembly to form a two-dimensional image.

Abstract: A waveguide display includes light sources, a source waveguide, an output waveguide, and a controller. Light from each of the light sources is coupled into the source waveguide. The source waveguide includes gratings with a constant period determined based on the conditions for total internal reflection and first order diffraction of the received image light. The emitted image light is coupled into the output waveguide at several entrance locations. The output waveguide outputs expanded image lights at a location offset from the entrance location, and the location/direction of the emitted expanded image light is based in part on the orientation of the light sources. Each of the expanded image light is associated with a field of view of the expanded image light emitted by the output waveguide.

Abstract: A wearable image display system includes a headpiece, a first and a second light engine, and a first and a second optical component. The first and second light engines generate a first and a second set of beams respectively, each beam substantially collimated so that the first and second set form a first and a second virtual image respectively. Each optical component is located to project an image onto a first and a second eye of a wearer respectively. The first and second sets of beams are directed to incoupling structures of the first and second optical components respectively. Exit structures of the first and second optical components guide the first and second sets of beams onto the first and second eyes respectively. The optical components are located between the light engines and the eyes. Both of the light engines are mounted to a central portion of the headpiece.

Abstract: A waveguide display includes a source assembly, an output waveguide, and a controller. The source assembly includes a light source and an optics system. The light source includes source elements arranged in a 1D or 2D array that emit image light. The optics system includes a scanning mirror assembly that scans the image light to particular locations based on scanning instructions. The output waveguide receives the scanned image light from the scanning mirror assembly and outputs an expanded image light. In some embodiments, the waveguide display includes a source waveguide and the 1D array of source elements. The source waveguide receives a conditioned image light from the source assembly. The controller generates the scanning instructions and provides the scanning instructions to the scanning mirror assembly. In some embodiments, the controller provides the scanning instructions to an actuator assembly of the source waveguide.