Abstract: A near-eye display (NED) includes an image replicator and an image combiner. The image replicator is configured for receiving a beam of image light from a source such as an image projector, and splitting the beam into a plurality of second beams of image light. The combiner is configured to relay the plurality of second beams to an eyebox of the NED such that the second beams at the eyebox are laterally offset from one another. The etendue of the NED may be increased by replicating and relaying the image beams.

Abstract: An optical device with reduced see-through diffraction artifacts for Augmented Reality (AR) applications is provided. The device includes a projector configured to generate an image light and a waveguide optically coupled with the projector and configured to guide the image light to an eye-box. The waveguide includes an in-coupling element configured to couple the image light into the waveguide, and an out-coupling element configured to decouple the image light out of the waveguide. The waveguide includes at least one switchable grating configured to: during a virtual-world subframe of a display frame, decouple the image light out of the waveguide via diffraction, and during a real-world subframe of the display frame, transmit a light from a real-world environment to the eye-box with a diffraction efficiency less than a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A liquid crystal (LC) mixture for a pitch variable optical element is provided. The LC mixture includes a host LC and one or more LC dimers dissolved as a guest in the host LC. The host LC and the one or more LC dimers have respective dielectric anisotropies of opposite signs in nematic phase. A net dielectric anisotropy of the LC mixture is substantially neutral.

Abstract: An astigmatism compensation optical assembly includes a first astigmatism compensation optical module including a first plurality of optical elements including Pancharatnam-Berry phase (PBP) lenses, PBP gratings, polarization sensitive hologram (PSH) lenses, PSH gratings, metamaterials, or combinations thereof. The first plurality of optical elements are configured to compensate for astigmatism in a first axis and include a property associated with Zernike polynomial Z2?2. The astigmatism compensation optical assembly also includes a second astigmatism compensation optical module including a second plurality of optical elements including PBP lenses, PBP gratings, PSH lenses, PSH gratings, metamaterials, or combinations thereof. The second plurality of optical elements are configured to compensate for astigmatism in a second axis and include a property associated with Zernike polynomial Z22.

Abstract: A system for making a holographic medium includes a light source configured to provide light and a beam splitter configured to separate the light into a first portion of the light and a second portion of the light that is spatially separated from the first portion of the light. The system also includes a first set of optical elements configured to transmit the first portion of the light for providing a first wide-field beam onto an optically recordable medium, a second set of optical elements configured to transmit the second portion of the light through for providing a second wide-field beam, and a plurality of lenses optically coupled with the second set of optical elements configured to receive the second wide-field beam and project a plurality of separate light patterns onto the optically recordable medium for forming the holographic medium.

Abstract: A pupil-replicating waveguide suitable for operation with a coherent light source is disclosed. A waveguide body has opposed surfaces for guiding a beam of image light. An out-coupling element is disposed in an optical path of the beam for out-coupling portions of the beam at a plurality of spaced apart locations along the optical path. Electrodes are coupled to at least a portion of the waveguide body for modulating an optical path length of the optical path of the beam to create time-varying phase delays between the portions of the beam out-coupled by the out-coupling element.

Abstract: A method includes providing light from a light source and separating the light into a first portion of the light and a second portion of the light that is spatially separated from the first portion of the light. The method also includes transmitting the first portion of the light through a first set of optical elements to provide a first wide-field beam, transmitting the second portion of the light through a second set of optical elements to provide a second wide-field beam that is spatially separated from the first wide-field beam, and transmitting the second wide-field beam through a third set of optical elements to provide a plurality of separate light patterns. The method further includes concurrently projecting the first wide-field beam and the plurality of separate light patterns onto an optically recordable medium to form a holographic medium.

Abstract: A system for making a holographic medium for use in generating light patterns for eye tracking includes a light source configured to provide light and a beam splitter configured to separate the light into a first portion of the light and a second portion of the light that is spatially separated from the first portion of the light. The system also includes a first set of optical elements configured to transmit the first portion of the light for providing a first wide-field beam onto an optically recordable medium and one or more diffractive optical elements configured to receive the second portion of the light and project a plurality of separate light patterns onto the optically recordable medium for forming the holographic medium.

Abstract: An optical device with reduced see-through diffraction artifacts for Augmented Reality (AR) applications is provided. The device includes a projector configured to generate an image light and a waveguide optically coupled with the projector and configured to guide the image light to an eye-box. The waveguide includes an in-coupling element configured to couple the image light into the waveguide, and an out-coupling element configured to decouple the image light out of the waveguide. The waveguide includes at least one switchable grating configured to: during a virtual-world subframe of a display frame, decouple the image light out of the waveguide via diffraction, and during a real-world subframe of the display frame, transmit a light from a real-world environment to the eye-box with a diffraction efficiency less than a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: An optical device is provided. The optical device includes an optical grating. The optical grating includes two electrodes arranged opposite to each other and a liquid crystal (LC) composition sandwiched between the electrodes. The two electrodes provide a driving voltage to the optical grating. The LC mixture includes a host LC and one or more LC dimers dissolved as a guest in the host LC. The host LC and the one or more LC dimers have respective dielectric anisotropies of opposite signs in nematic phase. A net dielectric anisotropy of the LC mixture is substantially neutral at a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: An example device may include an electronic display configured to generate an augmented reality image element and an optical combiner configured to receive the augmented reality image element along with ambient light from outside the device. The optical combiner may be configured to provide an augmented reality image having the augmented reality image element located within a portion of an ambient image formed from the ambient light. The device may also include a dimmer element configured to selectively dim the portion of the ambient image in which the augmented reality image element is located.

Abstract: Examples are disclosed that relate to holographic near-eye display systems. One example provides a near-eye display device, comprising a diverging light source, an image producing dynamic digital hologram panel configured to receive light from the diverging light source and form an image. The near-eye display device also includes and a combiner comprising a holographic optical element positioned to receive light from the dynamic digital hologram panel and to redirect the light toward an eyebox, the holographic optical element being positioned between the eyebox and a view of an external environment to combine a view of the image formed by the dynamic digital hologram panel and the view of the external environment.

Abstract: An example device may include an electronic display configured to generate an augmented reality image element and an optical combiner configured to receive the augmented reality image element along with ambient light from outside the device. The optical combiner may be configured to provide an augmented reality image having the augmented reality image element located within a portion of an ambient image formed from the ambient light. The device may also include a dimmer element configured to selectively dim the portion of the ambient image in which the augmented reality image element is located.

Abstract: A system for making a holographic medium includes a light source configured to provide light, and a beam splitter configured to separate the light into a first portion of the light and a second portion of the light that is spatially separated from the first portion of the light. The system also includes a first set of optical elements configured to transmit the first portion of the light for providing a first wide-field beam onto an optically recordable medium, a second set of optical elements configured to transmit the second portion of the light for providing a second wide-field beam, and a plurality of prisms optically coupled with the second set of optical elements and configured to receive the second wide-field beam and project a plurality of separate light patterns onto the optically recordable medium for forming the holographic medium.

Abstract: An eye-tracking system includes a holographic illuminator and a detector. The holographic illuminator includes a light source configured to provide light and a holographic medium optically coupled with the light source. The holographic medium is configured to receive the light provided from the light source and concurrently project a plurality of separate light patterns toward an eye. The detector is configured to detect a reflection of at least a subset of the plurality of separate light patterns, reflected off the eye, for determining a location of a pupil of the eye. Also disclosed is a method for determining a location of a pupil of an eye with the eye-tracking system that includes the holographic illuminator.

Abstract: An image is rendered to a display of a head mounted display. A swift-eye movement is identified. A compensatory image is rendered to a secondary display in response to identifying the swift-eye movement.

Abstract: A pupil-replicating waveguide suitable for operation with a coherent light source is disclosed. A waveguide body has opposed surfaces for guiding a beam of image light. An out-coupling element is disposed in an optical path of the beam for out-coupling portions of the beam at a plurality of spaced apart locations along the optical path. Electrodes are coupled to at least a portion of the waveguide body for modulating an optical path length of the optical path of the beam to create time-varying phase delays between the portions of the beam out-coupled by the out-coupling element.

Abstract: An image is rendered to a steerable display of a head mounted display. If a swift-eye movement event of an eye of a user of the head mounted display is identified, a compensatory image is rendered to a secondary display.

Abstract: A pupil-replicating waveguide suitable for operation with a coherent light source is disclosed. A waveguide body has opposed surfaces for guiding a beam of image light. An out-coupling element is disposed in an optical path of the beam for out-coupling portions of the beam at a plurality of spaced apart locations along the optical path. Electrodes are coupled to at least a portion of the waveguide body for modulating an optical path length of the optical path of the beam to create time-varying phase delays between the portions of the beam out-coupled by the out-coupling element.

Abstract: A system for making a holographic medium includes a light source configured to provide light and a beam splitter configured to separate the light into a first portion of the light and a second portion of the light that is spatially separated from the first portion of the light. The system also includes a first set of optical elements configured to transmit the first portion of the light for providing a first wide-field beam onto an optically recordable medium, a second set of optical elements configured to transmit the second portion of the light through for providing a second wide-field beam, and a plurality of lenses optically coupled with the second set of optical elements configured to receive the second wide-field beam and project a plurality of separate light patterns onto the optically recordable medium for forming the holographic medium.