Abstract: A holographic interaction device is described. In one or more implementations, an input device includes an input portion comprising a plurality of controls that are configured to generate signals to be processed as inputs by a computing device that is communicatively coupled to the controls. The input device also includes a holographic recording mechanism disposed over a surface of the input portion, the holographic recording mechanism is configured to output a hologram in response to receipt of light, from a light source, that is viewable by a user over the input portion.

Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed for configurations of optical components in a display device. An example display device includes a transparent outer layer including a first transparent panel and a second transparent panel, a display layer comprising a first display panel and a second display panel, and a gap positioned between the first display panel and the second display panel. The example display device also includes a first redirecting optical element positioned between the first transparent panel and the first display panel and a second redirecting optical element positioned between the second transparent panel.

Abstract: This document describes techniques and apparatuses for implementing a hybrid concentrator for a backlight. The backlight includes a light guide and multiple light sources positioned along an input end of the light guide. The backlight further includes multiple hybrid concentrators that each include a lens in a central region of the concentrator and one or more total-internal-reflection (TIR) zones. Each hybrid concentrator is positioned between a corresponding light source and the light guide, and is configured to concentrate light into the light guide. The light guide then projects the concentrated light to illuminate a modulating display panel to form images for viewing.

Abstract: This document describes various techniques for implementing a variable-depth stereoscopic display. A first distance at which a viewer is disposed relative to a stereoscopic display is received. Once received, a second distance by which to change a front focal distance of a lens structure of the stereoscopic display is determined based on the first distance. The front focal distance of the lens structure is then caused to change by the second distance effective to display a stereoscopic image at the first distance.

Abstract: Embodiments that relate to determining gaze locations are disclosed. In one embodiment a method includes shining light along an outbound light path to the eyes of the user wearing glasses. Upon detecting the glasses, the light is dynamically polarized in a polarization pattern that switches between a random polarization phase and a single polarization phase, wherein the random polarization phase includes a first polarization along an outbound light path and a second polarization orthogonal to the first polarization along a reflected light path. The single polarization phase has a single polarization. During the random polarization phases, glares reflected from the glasses are filtered out and pupil images are captured. Glint images are captured during the single polarization phase. Based on pupil characteristics and glint characteristics, gaze locations are repeatedly detected.

Abstract: This document describes techniques and apparatuses for implementing a hybrid concentrator for a backlight. The backlight includes a light guide and multiple light sources positioned along an input end of the light guide. The backlight further includes multiple hybrid concentrators that each include a lens in a central region of the concentrator and one or more total-internal-reflection (TIR) zones. Each hybrid concentrator is positioned between a corresponding light source and the light guide, and is configured to concentrate light into the light guide. The light guide then projects the concentrated light to illuminate a modulating display panel to form images for viewing.

Abstract: This document describes techniques and apparatuses for implementing an object-detecting backlight unit for a display device. An object-detecting backlight unit includes two or more light sources configured to provide light to a display to form an image, and a light sensor configured to receive reflected light when an object is near the display and determine that the reflected light originated from a region of the display. The reflected light is caused by light from the image reflecting off of the object back towards the display. The backlight unit is configured to detect a position of the object based on the region of the display from which the reflected light originated.

Abstract: This document describes techniques and apparatuses for implementing a virtual image display device. A virtual image display device may include a display and a microlens array positioned between the display and a viewing surface of the virtual image display device. The virtual image display device is controlled to generate a virtual image behind the viewing surface of the virtual image display device. In some embodiments, the virtual image display device includes a pupil tracker that locates positions of pupils of a viewer. The virtual image display device is controlled to render the virtual image based on the positions of the pupils of the viewer.

Abstract: An optical waveguide includes a waveguide body and a spatially-varying volume hologram. The volume hologram increases, in a coordinate direction along the volume hologram, an angle of incidence by which light propagating in the waveguide body via total internal reflection is released from the waveguide body. The optical waveguide may form part of an optical system that includes one or more light sources and/or optical sensors.

Abstract: Embodiments that relate to determining gaze locations are disclosed. In one embodiment a method includes shining light along an outbound light path to the eyes of the user wearing glasses. Upon detecting the glasses, the light is dynamically polarized in a polarization pattern that switches between a random polarization phase and a single polarization phase, wherein the random polarization phase includes a first polarization along an outbound light path and a second polarization orthogonal to the first polarization along a reflected light path. The single polarization phase has a single polarization. During the random polarization phases, glares reflected from the glasses are filtered out and pupil images are captured. Glint images are captured during the single polarization phase. Based on pupil characteristics and glint characteristics, gaze locations are repeatedly detected.

Abstract: A display system comprises a head-mounted projector including an exit aperture and a projection engine to project image light through the exit aperture. The image light is projected onto a retro-reflective display that reflects image light in a first dimension at above 90% efficiency within a 25 degree exit angular spread and reflects image light in the first dimension below 10% efficiency outside of a 35 degree exit angular spread.

Abstract: A 3D silhouette sensing system is described which comprises a stereo camera and a light source. In an embodiment, a 3D sensing module triggers the capture of pairs of images by the stereo camera at the same time that the light source illuminates the scene. A series of pairs of images may be captured at a predefined frame rate. Each pair of images is then analyzed to track both a retroreflector in the scene, which can be moved relative to the stereo camera, and an object which is between the retroreflector and the stereo camera and therefore partially occludes the retroreflector. In processing the image pairs, silhouettes are extracted for each of the retroreflector and the object and these are used to generate a 3D contour for each of the retroreflector and object.

Abstract: A holographic interaction device is described. In one or more implementations, an input device includes an input portion comprising a plurality of controls that are configured to generate signals to be processed as inputs by a computing device that is communicatively coupled to the controls. The input device also includes a holographic recording mechanism disposed over a surface of the input portion, the holographic recording mechanism is configured to output a hologram in response to receipt of light, from a light source, that is viewable by a user over the input portion.

Abstract: This document describes techniques and apparatuses for implementing a hybrid concentrator for a backlight. The backlight includes a light guide and multiple light sources positioned along an input end of the light guide. The backlight further includes multiple hybrid concentrators that each include a lens in a central region of the concentrator and one or more total-internal-reflection (TIR) zones. Each hybrid concentrator is positioned between a corresponding light source and the light guide, and is configured to concentrate light into the light guide. The light guide then projects the concentrated light to illuminate a modulating display panel to form images for viewing.

Abstract: This document describes techniques and apparatuses for implementing an object-detecting backlight unit for a display device. An object-detecting backlight unit includes two or more light sources configured to provide light to a display to form an image, and a light sensor configured to receive reflected light when an object is near the display and determine that the reflected light originated from a region of the display. The reflected light is caused by light from the image reflecting off of the object back towards the display. The backlight unit is configured to detect a position of the object based on the region of the display from which the reflected light originated.

Abstract: This document describes techniques and apparatuses for implementing a prism illumination-optic for a vision-based interactive-display device. A vision-based interactive-display device includes a display to form images for viewing on a display surface of the device. The device further includes an illumination-optic having an upper face positioned towards the display surface and a lower face positioned towards the display. In accordance with various embodiments, the illumination-optic is configured with prisms on the lower face that reflect light out of the upper face of the illumination-optic to illuminate the display surface.

Abstract: A video-conferencing system includes a display panel configured to form a display image for viewing by a local video conferencer, a camera configured to acquire a facial image of the local video conferencer and having an aperture oriented toward the display panel, and an array of partly reflective facets aligned in parallel against a plane disposed parallel to and forward of the display panel, each facet positioned to transmit a portion of the display image from the display panel through that facet to the local video conferencer, and to reflect a portion of the facial image of the local video conferencer to the aperture.

Abstract: This document describes embodiments of a low-latency touch-input device. The low-latency touch-input device receives writing as input to the device and temporarily displays the writing on a physical layer that overlays a touchscreen display of the device. The writing is displayed instantaneously on the physical layer before the touch-input device processes the input. The low-latency touch-input device then processes the input to generate a digital representation of the writing and renders the digital representation of the writing on the touchscreen display to replace the writing displayed on the physical layer.

Abstract: A light guide of the tapered-waveguide type includes an input slab for expanding a projected image between an input end and an output end; and a tapered output slab arranged to receive rays from the said output end of the input slab, and to emit them at a point on its face that corresponds to the angle at which the ray is received. The taper is calculated so that all rays injected into the input end undergo the same number of reflections before leaving the output face. The thickness of the input slab light guide is greater in the transverse direction away from the center line, so that light travelling at the critical angle from the input face of the slab waveguide towards the output waveguide bounces the same number of times in the input slab, regardless of its fan-out angle, in order to further reduce image distortion.

Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed herein related to the avoidance of undesirable optical effects in a liquid crystal display used with a touch-sensitive display input device. For example, one embodiment provides a user interface comprising a body, a light source disposed within the body, and a liquid crystal display configured to create an image displayable on one or more display surfaces coupled to the body. The user interface device further includes a light delivery system positioned optically between the light source and the liquid crystal display to deliver light produced by the light source to the liquid crystal display. The light delivery system comprises a light exit surface spaced from the liquid crystal display to form a gap positioned between the light exit surface of the light delivery system and the liquid crystal display.