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 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: An apparatus for use in replicating an image associated with an input-pupil to an output-pupil includes a planar optical waveguide including a bulk-substrate, and also including an input-coupler, an intermediate-component and an output-coupler. The input-coupler couples light corresponding to the image into the bulk-substrate and towards the intermediate-component. The intermediate-component performs horizontal or vertical pupil expansion and directs the light corresponding to the image towards the output-coupler. The output-coupler performs the other one of horizontal or vertical pupil expansion and couples light corresponding to the image, which travels from the input-coupler to the output-coupler, out of the waveguide. The apparatus further includes an adjacent planar optical component to provide a more uniform intensity distribution compared to if the adjacent planar optical component were absent.

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 display system comprises an optical waveguide, an actuator and a light engine. The light engine generates multiple input beams which form a virtual image. An incoupling grating of the optical waveguide couples each beam into an intermediate grating of the waveguide, in which that beam is guided onto multiple splitting regions. The intermediate grating splits that beam at the splitting regions to provide multiple substantially parallel versions of that beam. Those multiple versions are coupled into an exit grating of the waveguide, in which the multiple versions are guided onto multiple exit regions. The exit grating diffracts the multiple versions of that beam outwardly. The multiple input beams thus cause multiple exit beams to exit the waveguide which form a version of the virtual image. The actuator is coupled to the waveguide and is arranged to generate acoustic waves, which are incident on, and propagate through, the optical 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 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: In an optical system that includes a waveguide with multiple diffractive optical elements (DOEs) incorporating diffraction gratings, light exiting a trailing edge of an upstream DOE enters a leading edge of a downstream DOE. One or more of the DOEs may include a leading and/or a trailing edge that have a graded profile. At a graded trailing edge of an upstream DOE, grating height smoothly decreases from full height to shallow height as a function of the proximity to the trailing edge. At a graded leading edge of the downstream DOE grating height smoothly increases from shallow height to full height as a function of distance away from the leading edge. By reducing a sharp boundary at the interface between the upstream and downstream DOEs, the graded profiles of the DOE edges enable optical resolution to be maintained decreasing sensitivity to misalignment between the DOEs that may occur during manufacturing.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in replicating an image associated with an input-pupil to an output-pupil includes a planar optical waveguide including a bulk-substrate, and also including an input-coupler, an intermediate-component and an output-coupler. The input-coupler couples light corresponding to the image into the bulk-substrate and towards the intermediate-component. The intermediate-component performs horizontal or vertical pupil expansion and directs the light corresponding to the image towards the output-coupler. The output-coupler performs the other one of horizontal or vertical pupil expansion and couples light corresponding to the image, which travels from the input-coupler to the output-coupler, out of the waveguide.

Abstract: In a near-eye or heads-up display system including a display engine and an optical waveguide, a quarter-wave retarder (QWR) is positioned between a polarizing beam splitter (PBS) of the display engine and an input diffraction grating of the waveguide. Additionally, a linear polarizer can be positioned between the PBS and the QWR. Light corresponding to an image generated by a reflective microdisplay of the display engine is diffracted into the waveguide by the input diffraction grating, so it can travel by way of total internal reflection to an output coupler and viewed by a human eye. The QWR alone, or in combination with the linear polarizer, prevents a ghost image that may otherwise occur if a portion of the light corresponding to the image, that is diffracted into the waveguide by the input diffraction grating, is diffractively out-coupled by the input diffraction grating and thereafter reflects off the reflective microdisplay.

Abstract: In a near-eye or heads-up display system including a display engine and an optical waveguide, a quarter-wave retarder (QWR) is positioned between a polarizing beam splitter (PBS) of the display engine and an input diffraction grating of the waveguide. Additionally, a linear polarizer can be positioned between the PBS and the QWR. Light corresponding to an image generated by a reflective microdisplay of the display engine is diffracted into the waveguide by the input diffraction grating, so it can travel by way of total internal reflection to an output coupler and viewed by a human eye. The QWR alone, or in combination with the linear polarizer, prevents a ghost image that may otherwise occur if a portion of the light corresponding to the image, that is diffracted into the waveguide by the input diffraction grating, is diffractively out-coupled by the input diffraction grating and thereafter reflects off the reflective microdisplay.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in replicating an image associated with an input-pupil to an output-pupil includes a planar optical waveguide including a bulk-substrate, and also including an input-coupler, an intermediate-component and an output-coupler. The input-coupler couples light corresponding to the image into the bulk-substrate and towards the intermediate-component. The intermediate-component performs horizontal or vertical pupil expansion and directs the light corresponding to the image towards the output-coupler. The output-coupler performs the other one of horizontal or vertical pupil expansion and couples light corresponding to the image, which travels from the input-coupler to the output-coupler, out of the waveguide. The apparatus further includes an adjacent planar optical component to provide a more uniform intensity distribution compared to if the adjacent planar optical component were absent.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in replicating an image associated with an input-pupil to an output-pupil includes a planar optical waveguide including a bulk-substrate, and also including an input-coupler, an intermediate-component and an output-coupler. The input-coupler couples light corresponding to the image into the bulk-substrate and towards the intermediate-component. The intermediate-component performs horizontal or vertical pupil expansion and directs the light corresponding to the image towards the output-coupler. The output-coupler performs the other one of horizontal or vertical pupil expansion and couples light corresponding to the image, which travels from the input-coupler to the output-coupler, out of the waveguide.

Abstract: A display system comprises an optical waveguide, an actuator and a light engine. The light engine generates multiple input beams which form a virtual image. An incoupling grating of the optical waveguide couples each beam into an intermediate grating of the waveguide, in which that beam is guided onto multiple splitting regions. The intermediate grating splits that beam at the splitting regions to provide multiple substantially parallel versions of that beam. Those multiple versions are coupled into an exit grating of the waveguide, in which the multiple versions are guided onto multiple exit regions. The exit grating diffracts the multiple versions of that beam outwardly. The multiple input beams thus cause multiple exit beams to exit the waveguide which form a version of the virtual image. The actuator is coupled to the waveguide and is arranged to generate acoustic waves, which are incident on, and propagate through, the optical waveguide.

Abstract: In an optical system that includes a waveguide with multiple diffractive optical elements (DOEs) incorporating diffraction gratings, light exiting a trailing edge of an upstream DOE enters a leading edge of a downstream DOE. One or more of the DOEs may include a leading and/or a trailing edge that have a graded profile. At a graded trailing edge of an upstream DOE, grating height smoothly decreases from full height to shallow height as a function of the proximity to the trailing edge. At a graded leading edge of the downstream DOE grating height smoothly increases from shallow height to full height as a function of distance away from the leading edge. By reducing a sharp boundary at the interface between the upstream and downstream DOEs, the graded profiles of the DOE edges enable optical resolution to be maintained decreasing sensitivity to misalignment between the DOEs that may occur during manufacturing.

Abstract: A display system comprises an optical waveguide and a light engine. The light engine generates multiple input beams which form a virtual image. An incoupling grating of the waveguide couples each beam into an intermediate grating of the waveguide, in which that beam is guided onto multiple splitting regions. The intermediate grating, formed by modulations on a first surface of the waveguide, splits that beam at the splitting regions to provide multiple substantially parallel versions of that beam. Those multiple versions are coupled into an exit grating of the waveguide, in which the multiple versions are guided onto multiple exit regions. The exit grating diffracts the multiple versions of that beam outwardly. The multiple input beams thus cause multiple exit beams to exit the waveguide which form a version of the virtual image. A polarization state of each beam interacting with the modulations is controlled by a retarder film.

Abstract: A transparent waveguide for use in eye tracking includes an input-coupler and an output-coupler. The input-coupler comprises a plurality of curved grating lines having a radially varying pitch. When positioned in front of an eye illuminated with infrared light, infrared light beams reflected from the eye and incident on the input-coupler enter the waveguide at the input-coupler, propagate through the waveguide by way of total internal reflections, and exit the waveguide proximate the output-coupler.

Abstract: A diffraction grating modelling systems and methods are disclosed. A database comprises a plurality of records, each labelled by a diffraction parameter set that describes a diffraction scenario. A scattering map describes a field transformation induced in that scenario. Various techniques for maintaining and using the database are disclosed.

Abstract: A display system comprises an optical waveguide, an actuator and a light engine. The light engine generates multiple input beams which form a virtual image. An incoupling grating of the optical waveguide couples each beam into an intermediate grating of the waveguide, in which that beam is guided onto multiple splitting regions. The intermediate grating splits that beam at the splitting regions to provide multiple substantially parallel versions of that beam. Those multiple versions are coupled into an exit grating of the waveguide, in which the multiple versions are guided onto multiple exit regions. The exit grating diffracts the multiple versions of that beam outwardly. The multiple input beams thus cause multiple exit beams to exit the waveguide which form a version of the virtual image. The actuator is coupled to the waveguide and is arranged to generate acoustic waves, which are incident on, and propagate through, the optical waveguide.

Abstract: A wearable image display system comprises a headpiece, a light engine, and an optical component. The light engine is mounted on the headpiece and configured to generate beams, each of the beams being substantially collimated so that the beams form a virtual image. The optical component located to project an image onto an eye of a wearer and comprising an incoupling structure and an exit structure. The beams are directed from an exit aperture of the light engine to the in-coupling structure of the optical component. The exit structure is arranged to guide the beams onto the eye. The optical component is located between light engine and the eye. The optical component is angled relative to the light engine such that any outwardly reflected versions of the beams propagate clear of the exit aperture.