Abstract: A transparent wearable data display having a source of collimated light, a deflector for deflecting the collimated light into a scanned beam, and a first of switchable grating elements sandwiched between first and second parallel transparent substrates, which together functioning as a first light guide. A first coupling is provided for directing the scanned beam into a first total internal reflection (TIR) light path of the first light guide along the first array column. The grating elements having diffracting and non-diffracting states, in their diffracting state deflecting light out of said light guide. The grating elements are switchable into their diffracting states one group of elements at a time.

Abstract: Mastering systems and methods of fabricating waveguides and waveguide devices using such mastering systems are described. Mastering systems for fabricating holographic waveguides can include using a master to control the application of energy (e.g. a laser, light, or magnetic beam) onto a liquid crystal substrate to fabricate a holographic waveguide into the liquid crystal substrate. Mastering systems for fabricating holographic waveguides in accordance with embodiments of the invention can include a variety of features. These features include, but are not limited to: chirp for single input beam copy (near i.e. hybrid contact copy), dual chirped gratings (for input and output), zero order grating for transmittance control, alignment reference gratings, 3:1 construction, position adjustment tooling to enable rapid alignment, optimization of lens and window thickness for multiple RKVs simultaneously, and avoidance of other orders and crossover of the diffraction beam.

Abstract: Photopolymerizable materials and in particular holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal materials and processes for fabricating holographic waveguide devices from such materials are provided. Materials and formulations of photopolymerizable materials are sufficiently low haze to allow for the omission of adhesives from within the cell of the holographic waveguide devices. The photopolymerizable materials are used in association with methods of manufacturing holographic waveguides such that photopolymerizable materials may be used as an adhesive material.

Abstract: A projection display device comprising a light source and an SBG device having a multiplicity of separate SBG elements sandwiched between transparent substrates to which transparent electrodes have been applied. The substrates function as a light guide. A least one transparent electrode comprises a plurality of independently switchable transparent electrode elements, each electrode element substantially overlaying a unique SBG element. Each SBG element encodes image information to be projected on an image surface. Light coupled into the light guide undergoes total internal reflection until diffracted out to the light guide by an activated SBG element. The SBG diffracts light out of the light guide to form an image region on an image surface when subjected to an applied voltage via said transparent electrodes.

Abstract: Photopolymerizable materials and in particular holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal materials and processes for fabricating holographic waveguide devices from such materials are provided. Materials and formulations of photopolymerizable materials incorporate a mixture of LCs and monomer (and other components including: photoinitiator dye, coinitiators, surfactant), which under holographic exposure undergo phase separation to provide a grating in which at least one of the LCs and at least one of the monomers forms a first HPDLC morphology that provides a P polarization response and at least one of the LCs and at least one of the monomers forms a second HPDLC morphology that provides a S polarization response.

Abstract: HPDLC material systems can be formulated in many different ways depending on the application. The HPDLC formulation can include a reactive monomer liquid crystal mixture (“RMLCM”). An RMLCM can include monomer acrylates, multi-functional acrylates, a cross-linking agent, a photo-initiator, and a liquid crystal (“LC”). The mixture (often referred to as syrup) frequently also includes a surfactant. One embodiment includes a reactive monomer liquid crystal mixture material including at least one liquid crystal, a photoinitiator dye, a coinitiators, and photopolymerizable monomers including at least one mono-functional monomer and at least one bi-functional monomer. In some embodiment, the bi-functional monomers accounts for at least 10 weight percent of the reactive monomer liquid crystal mixture material and the at least one mono-functional monomer accounts for at least 30 percent of the reactive monomer liquid crystal mixture material.

Abstract: Systems for the manufacturing of waveguide cells in accordance with various embodiments can be configured and implemented in many different ways. In many embodiments, various deposition mechanisms are used to deposit layer(s) of optical recording material onto a transparent substrate. A second transparent substrate can be provided, and the three layers can be laminated to form a waveguide cell. Suitable optical recording material can vary widely depending on the given application. In some embodiments, the optical recording material deposited has a similar composition throughout the layer. In a number of embodiments, the optical recording material spatially varies in composition, allowing for the formation of optical elements with varying characteristics. Regardless of the composition of the optical recording material, any method of placing or depositing the optical recording material onto a substrate can be utilized.

Abstract: Holographic volume gratings in waveguide cells can be recorded using many different methods and systems in accordance with various embodiments of the invention. One embodiment includes a holographic recording system including at least one laser source configured to emit recording beams and a movable platform configured to move between a first position and a second position, wherein when the movable platform is in the first position, the at least one laser source is configured to emit a first set of one or more recording beams toward a first set of one or more stations and when the movable platform is in the second position, the at least one laser source is configured to emit a second set of one or more recording beams toward a second set of one or more stations.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating head-up displays (HUDs) using waveguides incorporating Bragg gratings in accordance with various embodiments of the invention are provided. The term HUD is typically utilized to describe a class of displays that incorporates a transparent display that presents data without requiring users to look away from their usual viewpoints. HUDs can be incorporated in any of a variety of applications including (but not limited to) vehicular and near-eye applications, such as googles, eyewear, etc. HUDs that utilize planar waveguides that incorporate Bragg gratings in accordance with various embodiments of the invention can achieve significantly larger fields of view and have lower volumetric requirements than HUDs implemented using conventional optical components.

Abstract: An eye tracker having a first waveguide for propagating illumination light along a first waveguide path and propagating image light reflected from at least one surface of an eye along a second waveguide path. At least one grating lamina for deflecting the illumination light out of the first waveguide path towards the eye and deflecting the image light into the second waveguide path towards a detector is disposed adjacent an optical surface of the waveguide.

Abstract: A device for reducing laser speckle using a micro scanner and a holographic diffuser. The micro scanner includes a first transparent optical substrate with an input surface and an output surface and a second transparent optical substrate with an input surface and an output surface and a variable refractive index medium sandwiched between the output surface of the first substrate and the input surface of the second substrate. Transparent electrodes are applied to the output surface of the first substrate and the input surface of the second substrate. The electrodes are coupled to a voltage generator. The input surface of the first substrate is optically coupled to a laser source. The input surface of the second substrate is configured as an array of prismatic elements. At least one of the input surface of the first substrate or the output surfaces of the second substrate is planar.

Abstract: A waveguide apparatus, comprises: disposed in at least one layer: an input coupler; a first fold grating; a second fold grating; an output coupler; and a source of light optically coupled to the waveguide providing at least first and second polarizations of the light and at least one wavelength. The input coupler is configured to cause the first polarization light to travel along a first total internal reflection (TIR) path and the second polarization light to travel along a second TIR path.

Abstract: Systems integrating display resolution-multiplication solutions can be implemented in a variety of different ways. In many embodiments, the system includes an image projector for projecting image light, an image processor for computing a native image and at least one image shifted in a predefined direction, and at least one switchable grating capable of being switched between diffracting and non-diffracting states. In some embodiments, the switchable grating is optically coupled to the image projector. In a number of embodiments, the switchable gratings have a first configuration for propagating the native image light and at least one other configuration for propagating shifted image light having an angular displacement corresponding to the image shift in a predefined direction. By displaying the native and shifted images sequentially within a human eye integration period, the display resolution can be multiplied.

Abstract: A light projection apparatus is provided comprising: a source of light; a switchable grating on a first substrate; and a diffractive optical element. Light is diffracted at least once by the switchable grating and is diffracted at least once by the DOE.

Abstract: An image generation device having: a spatial light modulator; a source of light; a beam deflector; an illumination waveguide and an image transport waveguide, each waveguide containing at least one switchable grating; and a coupler for directing scanned light into a first set of TIR paths in said illumination waveguide. A switchable grating in the illumination waveguide diffracts light onto the SLM, a switchable grating in the image transport waveguide diffracting image-modulated from the SLM into a waveguide path.

Abstract: An apparatus for recording a holographic device comprises: a master hologram comprising a multiplicity of holographic elements each characterized by one of a predefined set of grating prescriptions; a transparent substrate supporting a layer of holographic material; and a light source. Each holographic element diffracts source light onto a predefined region of the layer. Each prescription modulates at least one of phase, amplitude, and angle of the light. There is further provided a method of recording a holographic device, comprising the steps of: providing said apparatus; exposing the master to illumination from the source; and diffracting light from each holographic element onto a predefined region of the layer.

Abstract: An optical waveguide comprises at least two TIR surface and contains a grating. Input TIR light with a first angular range along a first propagation direction undergoes at least two diffractions at the grating. Each diffraction directs light into a unique TIR angular range along a second propagation direction.

Abstract: Typical waveguides rely on total internal reflection between the outer surfaces of substrates, which can make them highly susceptible to beam misalignment caused by nonplanarity of the substrates. In the manufacturing of the glass sheets commonly used for substrates, ripples can occur during the stretching and drawing of glass as it emerges from a furnace. Although glass manufacturers try to minimize ripples using predictions from mathematical models, it is difficult to totally eradicate the problem from the glass manufacturing process. Typically, these beam misalignments manifest themselves as image distortions and non-uniformities in the output illumination from the waveguide. Many embodiments of the invention are directed toward optically efficient, low cost solutions to the problem of controlling output image quality in waveguides manufactured using commercially available substrate glass and to the problem of compensating the image distortions and non-uniformity of curved waveguides.

Abstract: A contact image sensor comprises: a light source providing a collimated beam; a detector and a switchable grating array comprising first and second transparent substrates sandwiching an array of switchable grating elements with transparent electrodes applied to said substrates, said substrates together providing a total internal reflection light guide. A first transmission grating layer overlays said first substrate. A second transmission grating layer overlays said second substrate. A quarter wavelength retarder layer overlays said second transmission grating layer. A platen overlays said quarter wavelength retarder layer; a polarization-rotating reflecting layer overlaying said first transmission grating layer. An input coupler for directing light from said light source into said light guide and an output coupler for extracting light out of said light guide towards said detector are also provided.

Abstract: An eye tracker having a first waveguide for propagating illumination light along a first waveguide path and propagating image light reflected from at least one surface of an eye along a second waveguide path. At least one grating lamina for deflecting the illumination light out of the first waveguide path towards the eye and deflecting the image light into the second waveguide path towards a detector is disposed adjacent an optical surface of the waveguide.