Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for providing waveguide display devices utilizing overlapping integrated dual action (IDA) waveguides. One embodiment includes a waveguide display device including: a first input image source providing first image light; a second input image source provide second image light; a first IDA waveguide; and a second IDA waveguide. The first IDA waveguide and the second IDA waveguide may include an overlapping region where a first two-dimensionally expanded first image light, a second two-dimensionally expanded first image light, a first two-dimensionally expanded second image light, and a second two-dimensionally expanded second image light is ejected towards an eyebox. Advantageously, resolution may be enhanced and field of view may be expanded through the use of overlapping IDA waveguides.

Abstract: An optical display comprises: a first waveguide comprising a first surface and a second surface, an input coupler, a fold grating, and an output grating. The input coupler receives collimated first wavelength light from an Input Image Node causes the light to travel within the first waveguide via total internal reflection between the first surface and the second surface to the fold grating. The fold grating provides pupil expansion in a first direction directs the light to the output grating via total internal reflection between the first surface and the second surface. The output grating provides pupil expansion in a second direction different than the first direction and causes the light to exit the first waveguide from the first surface or the second surface. At least one of the input coupler, fold grating and output grating is a rolled k-vector grating, and the fold grating is a dual interaction grating.

Abstract: Methods and systems for forming holographic gratings are described herein. The methods and systems may decrease the amount of haze produced during exposure of a holographic recording medium. In some embodiments, the methods and systems include a holographic recording medium; a master hologram containing a grating; and a light source and moveable deflector configured to diffract light through the master hologram into the holographic medium to form a holographic interference pattern. The moveable deflector is configured to move in a direction parallel to the extending direction of the grating. Advantageously, moving the light in this direction allows the holographic interference pattern to remain stationary while there is a spatio-temporal displacement and cancellation of unwanted intensity nonuniformities.

Abstract: There is provided an illumination device comprising: a laser; a waveguide comprising at least first and second transparent lamina; a first grating device for coupling light from the laser into a TIR path in the waveguide; a second grating device for coupling light from the TIR path out of the waveguide; and a third grating device for applying a variation of at least one of beam deflection, phase retardation or polarization rotation across the wavefronts of the TIR light. The first second and third grating devices are each sandwiched by transparent lamina.

Abstract: Systems and methods for fabricating optical elements in accordance with various embodiments of the invention are illustrated. One embodiment includes a method for fabricating an optical element, the method including providing a first optical substrate, depositing a first layer of a first optical recording material onto the first optical substrate, applying an optical exposure process to the first layer to form a first optical structure, temporarily erasing the first optical structure, depositing a second layer of a second optical recording material, and applying an optical exposure process to the second layer to form a second optical structure, wherein the optical exposure process includes using at least one light beam traversing the first layer.

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: Disclosed herein is a waveguide-based display comprising: a waveguide, a source of image modulated light projected over a field of view; an input coupler for coupling said light into a total internal reflection (TIR) path within the waveguide; and a grating structure for providing beam expansion of the TIR light in at least one direction and extracting the TIR light from the waveguide. The grating structure may include a plurality of grating elements having at least two different grating prescriptions and at least one surface relief grating formed by a phase separation process.

Abstract: A waveguide display is provided comprising: an input image generator providing image light projected over a field of view; a waveguide having first and second external surfaces; and at least one grating optically coupled to the waveguide for extracting light towards a viewer. The waveguide has a lateral refractive index variation between said external surfaces that prevents any ray propagated within the waveguide from optically interacting with at least one of the external surfaces.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for eye-glow suppression in waveguide systems is disclosed herein. Some embodiments of the methods and the apparatus include a source of image modulated light; a waveguide having an eye-facing surface and an external surface facing the outside world; an input coupler for coupling the light into a total reflection internal path in the waveguide; at least one grating for providing beam expansion and extracting light from the waveguide towards an eyebox; a polymer grating structure comprising a modulation depth and a grating pitch. The modulation depth is greater than the grating pitch across at least a portion of the polymer grating structure. Advantageously, the polymer grating structure is configured to diffract light entering the waveguide from the outside world or stray light generated within the waveguide away from optical paths that are refracted through the external surface into the outside world.

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: An optical display, including a first waveguide having a first set of surfaces, an input grating, a fold grating, and an output grating; an image input image node assembly; and a prismatic relay optics is provided. The prismatic relay optics may be configured to be optomechanically connected to the waveguide and the input image node assembly. The optical display is may also be configured to operate alone or as integrated with a headpiece to be used as a HUD. The HUD may have a first and a second configuration wherein the waveguide is decoupled or coupled.

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: Improvements to gratings for use in waveguides and methods of producing them are described herein. Deep surface relief gratings (SRGs) may offer many advantages over conventional SRGs and Bragg gratings, an important one being a higher S-diffraction efficiency. In one embodiment, deep SRGs can be implemented as polymer surface relief gratings or evacuated Bragg gratings (EBGs). EBGs can be formed by first recording a holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal (HPDLC) grating. Removing the liquid crystal from the cured grating provides a polymer surface relief grating. Polymer surface relief gratings have many applications including for use in waveguide-based displays.

Abstract: Many embodiments in accordance with the invention are directed towards waveguides implementing birefringence control. In some embodiments, the waveguide includes a birefringent grating layer and a birefringence control layer. In further embodiments, the birefringence control layer is compact and efficient. Such structures can be utilized for various applications, including but not limited to: compensating for polarization related losses in holographic waveguides; providing three-dimensional LC director alignment in waveguides based on Bragg gratings; and spatially varying angular/spectral bandwidth for homogenizing the output from a waveguide. In some embodiments, a polarization-maintaining, wide-angle, and high-reflection waveguide cladding with polarization compensation is implemented for grating birefringence. In several embodiments, a thin polarization control layer is implemented for providing either quarter wave or half wave retardation.

Abstract: One embodiment provides an apparatus for displaying an image comprising: a first optical substrate comprising at least one waveguide layer configured to propagate light in a first direction, wherein the at least one waveguide layer of the first optical substrate comprises at least one grating lamina configured to extract the light from the first substrate along the first direction; and a second optical substrate comprising at least one waveguide layer configured to propagate the light in a second direction, wherein the at least one waveguide layer of the second optical substrate comprises at least one grating lamina configured to extract light from the second substrate along the second direction; wherein the at least one grating lamina of at least one of the first and second optical substrates comprises an SBG in a passive mode.

Abstract: A waveguide apparatus comprises in combination: a light pipe with an optical axis for guiding light therethrough; a light coupling element in optical contact with an elongate portion of the reflecting surface of the light guide; and an optical waveguide in optical contact with the coupling element.

Abstract: There is provided an illumination device comprising: a laser; a waveguide comprising at least first and second transparent lamina; a first grating device for coupling light from the laser into a TIR path in the waveguide; a second grating device for coupling light from the TIR path out of the waveguide; and a third grating device for applying a variation of at least one of beam deflection, phase retardation or polarization rotation across the wavefronts of the TIR light. The first second and third grating devices are each sandwiched by transparent lamina.

Abstract: A near eye optical display includes a waveguide comprising a first surface and a second surface, an input coupler, a fold grating, and an output grating. The input coupler is configured to receive collimated light from a display source and to cause the light to travel within the waveguide via total internal reflection between the first surface and the second surface to the fold grating; the fold grating is configured to provide pupil expansion in a first direction and to direct the light to the output grating via total internal reflection between the first surface and the second surface; and the output grating is configured to provide pupil expansion in a second direction different than the first direction and to cause the light to exit the waveguide from the first surface or the second surface.

Abstract: Multiplexed reflection and transmission gratings, and methods of their manufacture, are provided that improve uniformity with laser light, that is, reduced banding and other illumination artifacts occurring in waveguides. The mechanism for this can be the multiple reflections between the waveguide reflecting surfaces and the reflection hologram, which promote illumination averaging as beam propagation processes within a waveguide. In some gratings, a beam splitter layer overlapping the multiplexed gratings can be provided for the purposes of reducing banding in a laser-illuminated waveguide. The beam splitter can be provided by one or more dielectric layers. The beamsplitter can have sensitivity to one polarization. The beamsplitter can be sensitive to S-polarization. The beam splitter can be an anti-reflection coating optimized for normal incidence that becomes reflective at high TIR angles when immersed in glass or plastic.

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.