Abstract: An optoelectronic device (20, 50) includes a planar substrate (30), an optical bus (40, 82, 84, 96, 140, 150, 180, 182, 224) disposed on the substrate and configured to convey coherent radiation through the bus, and an array (32, 72) of sensing cells (34, 74, 90, 160, 170, 200, 212, 380) disposed on the substrate. Each sensing cell includes at least one tap (92, 94, 144, 146, 226, 228) coupled to extract a portion of the coherent radiation propagating through the optical bus, an optical transducer (36, 108, 162, 172, 202, 204, 214) configured to couple optical radiation between the sensing cell and a target external to the substrate, and a receiver (114, 174, 178, 216, 218), which is coupled to mix the coherent radiation extracted by the tap with the optical radiation received by the optical transducer and to output an electrical signal responsively to the mixed radiation.

Abstract: An optoelectronic device (20, 50) includes a planar substrate (30), an optical bus (40, 82, 84, 96, 140, 150, 180, 182, 224) disposed on the substrate and configured to convey coherent radiation through the bus, and an array (32, 72) of sensing cells (34, 74, 90, 160, 170, 200, 212, 380) disposed on the substrate. Each sensing cell includes at least one tap (92, 94, 144, 146, 226, 228) coupled to extract a portion of the coherent radiation propagating through the optical bus, an optical transducer (36, 108, 162, 172, 202, 204, 214) configured to couple optical radiation between the sensing cell and a target external to the substrate, and a receiver (114, 174, 178, 216, 218), which is coupled to mix the coherent radiation extracted by the tap with the optical radiation received by the optical transducer and to output an electrical signal responsively to the mixed radiation.

Abstract: A direct retinal projector system that provides dynamic focusing for virtual reality (VR) and/or augmented reality (AR) is described. A direct retinal projector system scans images, pixel by pixel, directly onto the subject's retinas. This allows individual pixels to be optically affected dynamically as the images are scanned to the subject's retinas. Dynamic focusing components and techniques are described that may be used in a direct retinal projector system to dynamically and correctly focus each pixel in VR images as the images are being scanned to a subject's eyes. This allows objects, surfaces, etc. that are intended to appear at different distances in a scene to be projected to the subject's eyes at the correct depths.

Abstract: Optical apparatus includes a beam source, which is configured to generate an optical beam having a pattern imposed thereon. A projection lens is configured to receive and project the optical beam so as to cast the pattern onto a first area in space having a first angular extent. A field multiplier is interposed between the projection lens and the first area and is configured to expand the projected optical beam so as to cast the pattern onto a second area in space having a second angular extent that is at least 50% greater than the first angular extent.

Abstract: Image projection apparatus includes an image generating assembly, which is configured to project a sequence of line images extending in a first direction. A scanning mirror is positioned to receive and to reflect the line images while rotating about a mirror axis parallel to the first direction. A pupil expander has an edge positioned to receive the line images reflected by the scanning mirror and a face extending in a second direction non-parallel to the first direction and to the edge, and which is configured to direct simultaneously through the face multiple, parallel replicas of the expanded line images arrayed along the second direction.

Abstract: An optoelectronic device includes a display configured to emit first optical radiation in a first wavelength band through a front surface of the display. A planar optical waveguide, which is transparent in the first wavelength band, is overlaid on the display and is configured to guide second optical radiation in a second wavelength band along a direction transverse to the front surface. One or more diffractive structures are formed in the planar optical waveguide so as to couple the guided second optical radiation between the planar optical waveguide and a region in front of or behind the display.

Abstract: An augmented reality headset may include a reflective holographic combiner to direct light from a light engine into a user's eye while also transmitting light from the environment. The combiner and engine may be arranged to project light fields with different fields of view and resolution to match the visual acuity of the eye. The combiner may be recorded with a series of point to point holograms; one projection point interacts with multiple holograms to project light onto multiple eye box points. The engine may include a laser diode array, a distribution waveguide, scanning mirrors, and layered waveguides that perform pupil expansion and that emit wide beams of light through foveal projection points and narrower beams of light through peripheral projection points. The light engine may include focusing elements to focus the beams such that, once reflected by the holographic combiner, the light is substantially collimated.

Abstract: A beam generating device includes a semiconductor substrate, having an optical passband. A first array of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) is formed on a first face of the semiconductor substrate and are configured to emit respective laser beams through the substrate at a wavelength within the passband. A second array of microlenses is formed on a second face of the semiconductor substrate in respective alignment with the VCSELs so as to transmit the laser beams generated by the VCSELs. The VCSELs are configured to be driven to emit the laser beams in predefined groups in order to change a characteristic of the laser beams.

Abstract: An optical device includes a transmitter, which emits a beam of optical radiation, and a receiver, which includes a detector configured to output a signal in response to the optical radiation. An active area of the detector has a first dimension along a first axis and a second dimension, which is less than the first dimension, along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. An anamorphic lens, which collects and focuses the optical radiation onto the active area of the detector, has a first focal length in a first plane containing the first axis and a second focal length, greater than the first focal length, in a second plane containing the second axis. A scanner scans the beam across a target scene in a scan direction that is aligned with the first axis, and directs the optical radiation that is reflected from the target scene toward the receiver.

Abstract: An optoelectronic device includes a substrate and at least three emitters, which are disposed on the substrate and are configured to emit respective beams of light. A plurality of waveguides are disposed on the substrate and have respective input ends coupled to receive the beams of light from respective ones of the emitters, and curve adiabatically from the input ends to respective output ends of the waveguides, which are arranged on the substrate in an array having a predefined pitch. Control circuitry is configured to apply a temporal modulation independently to each of the beams of light.

Abstract: An optical transmission device includes a waveguide including a transparent medium having mutually-parallel first and second surfaces arranged so that light propagates within the waveguide by internal reflection between the first and second surfaces. At least one light source is configured to inject coherent light into the waveguide. A first array of diffractive structures is applied to the waveguide and configured to couple respective beams of the coherent light out through the first surface of the waveguide. The device includes a second array of tunable optical phase modulators, which are overlaid on respective ones of the diffractive structures in the first array and are configured to apply different respective phase shifts to the respective beams, thereby modulating a far-field light pattern formed by interference between the beams.

Abstract: An optical system includes a transparent display, which has a first side configured to be positioned in proximity to an eye of an observer and a second side opposite the first side, and which is configured to project an image into the eye. An image generator is configured to generate a sequence of images during respective display intervals, which are interleaved with blanking intervals, and to transmit the images to the transparent display for projection into the eye. A shutter is positioned on the second side of the display and having a first state in which the shutter blocks optical radiation and a second state in which the shutter transmits optical radiation. A controller drives the image generator and the shutter so that the shutter operates in the first state during the display intervals and in the second state during the blanking intervals.

Abstract: Methods and systems for a virtual and/or augmented reality device may include a light emitting device that includes one or more light emitting elements configured to generate collimated light beams. A scanning mirror may include one or more microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) mirrors. Each MEMS mirror of the scanning mirror may be configured to dynamically tilt in at least one of two orthogonal degrees of freedom to raster scan the light beams over multiple angles corresponding to a field of view of an image. A curved mirror may include curves in two orthogonal directions configured to reflect the collimated light beams from the scanning mirror into a subject's eye in proximity to the curved mirror to form a virtual image. The curved mirror may allow external light to pass through, thus allowing the virtual image to be combined with a real image to provide an augmented reality.

Abstract: An augmented reality headset may include a reflective holographic combiner to direct light from a light engine into a user's eye while also transmitting light from the environment. The combiner and engine may be arranged to project light fields with different fields of view and resolution to match the visual acuity of the eye. The combiner may be recorded with a series of point to point holograms; one projection point interacts with multiple holograms to project light onto multiple eye box points. The engine may include a laser diode array, a distribution waveguide, scanning mirrors, and layered waveguides that perform pupil expansion and that emit wide beams of light through foveal projection points and narrower beams of light through peripheral projection points. The light engine may include focusing elements to focus the beams such that, once reflected by the holographic combiner, the light is substantially collimated.

Abstract: A method for depth mapping includes projecting a pattern of optical radiation into a volume of interest containing an object while varying an aspect of the pattern over the volume of interest. The optical radiation reflected from the object responsively to the pattern is sensed, and a depth map of the object is generated based on the sensed optical radiation.

Abstract: Methods and systems for a virtual and/or augmented reality device may include a light emitting device that includes one or more light emitting elements configured to generate collimated light beams. A scanning mirror may include one or more microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) mirrors. Each MEMS mirror of the scanning mirror may be configured to dynamically tilt in at least one of two orthogonal degrees of freedom to raster scan the light beams over multiple angles corresponding to a field of view of an image. A curved mirror may include curves in two orthogonal directions configured to reflect the collimated light beams from the scanning mirror into a subject's eye in proximity to the curved mirror to form a virtual image. The curved mirror may allow external light to pass through, thus allowing the virtual image to be combined with a real image to provide an augmented reality.

Abstract: An augmented reality headset may include a reflective holographic combiner to direct light from a light engine into a user's eye while also transmitting light from the environment. The combiner and engine may be arranged to project light fields with different fields of view and resolution to match the visual acuity of the eye. The combiner may be recorded with a series of point to point holograms; one projection point interacts with multiple holograms to project light onto multiple eye box points. The engine may include a laser diode array, a distribution waveguide, scanning mirrors, and layered waveguides that perform pupil expansion and that emit wide beams of light through foveal projection points and narrower beams of light through peripheral projection points. The light engine may include focusing elements to focus the beams such that, once reflected by the holographic combiner, the light is substantially collimated.

Abstract: A direct retinal projector system that provides dynamic focusing for virtual reality (VR) and/or augmented reality (AR) is described. A direct retinal projector system scans images, pixel by pixel, directly onto the subject's retinas. This allows individual pixels to be optically affected dynamically as the images are scanned to the subject's retinas. Dynamic focusing components and techniques are described that may be used in a direct retinal projector system to dynamically and correctly focus each pixel in VR images as the images are being scanned to a subject's eyes. This allows objects, surfaces, etc. that are intended to appear at different distances in a scene to be projected to the subject's eyes at the correct depths.

Abstract: A direct retinal projector may include a gaze tracking system that tracks position of a subject's pupil and automatically adjusts projection of a scanned light field so that the light field enters the pupil. A control loop adjusts a scanning mirror to substantially center an IR beam on a position sensing detector (PSD). In so doing, the scanning mirror is correctly positioned so that the scanned light field from the projector enters the subject's pupil. In addition, a direct retinal projector may include an adjustable focusing element that adjusts focus of a combined light beam generated by a projector as the light beam is scanned to an ellipsoid mirror that reflects the light beam to the subject's pupil. The focusing of the scanned beam may be adjusted as the beam is scanned across the azimuth angle of the curved ellipsoid mirror.

Abstract: Optical apparatus includes a beam source, which is configured to generate an optical beam having a pattern imposed thereon. A projection lens is configured to receive and project the optical beam so as to cast the pattern onto a first area in space having a first angular extent. A field multiplier is interposed between the projection lens and the first area and is configured to expand the projected optical beam so as to cast the pattern onto a second area in space having a second angular extent that is at least 50% greater than the first angular extent.