Abstract: Image light is generated with a display light source. The image light is visible. An infrared light source emits infrared light. A scan directs the image light and the infrared light to an input coupler of a display waveguide and the display waveguide presents the image light to an eyebox region as a virtual image.

Abstract: An optical assembly a substrate having a first surface and a second surface that is opposite to and substantially parallel with the first surface. The first surface has a first curved profile and the second surface has a second curved profile. The optical assembly also includes a beam splitter on the first surface and a reflector on the second surface. The optical assembly is configured to transmit image light received at the first surface in an optical path that includes reflection at each of the reflector and the beam splitter before the image light is output from the second surface. The optical assembly is also configured to transmit ambient light received at the first surface such that the second light is output from the second surface without undergoing reflection at either the reflector or the beam splitter. A method of transmitting light through the optical assembly is also disclosed.

Abstract: A tunable lens including a pair of reflectors is disclosed. At least one of the reflectors may be curved for contributing to the focusing or defocusing power of the lens. At least one of the reflectors is translatable for tuning the focusing/defocusing power. The reflectors may be configured in a pancake lens configuration where one of the reflectors is a 50/50 reflector and the other is a polarization selective reflector. Refractive elements may be disposed between the reflectors for providing more optical power to the lens, and/or for balancing optical aberrations.

Abstract: An optical system includes an optical waveguide, and a first optical element configured to direct a first ray, having a first circular polarization and impinging on the first optical element at a first incidence angle, in a first direction so that the first ray propagates through the optical waveguide via total internal reflection toward a second optical element. The first optical element is configured to also direct a second ray, having a second circular polarization that is distinct from the first circular polarization and impinging on the first optical element at the first incidence angle, in a second direction that is distinct from the first direction so that the second ray propagates away from the second optical element. The second optical element is configured to direct the first ray propagating through the optical waveguide toward a detector.

Abstract: A system includes a diffractive optical element including at least one substrate and a grating structure. The grating structure is configured to diffract a first light having an incidence angle within a predetermined range, and the at least one substrate is configured to reflect a second light. The system also includes a polarization selective mechanism configured to generate images based on the first light and the second light, respectively.

Abstract: A system is provided. The system includes a first PVH layer configured to deflect a first polarized light having a first handedness. The system includes a second PVH layer coupled to the first PVH layer and configured to deflect a second polarized light having a second handedness opposite to the first handedness. The system includes an optical sensor configured to generate a first image based on the first polarized light deflected by the first PVH layer and generate a second image based on the second polarized light deflected by the second PVH layer.

Abstract: A display device includes an optical diffuser configured to, in response to receiving image light, output diffused image light having a same polarization as the image light. The optical diffuser is also configured to transmit ambient light. The display device also includes an optical assembly that includes a substrate, a reflector coupled to the substrate, and a beam splitter coupled to the substrate. The optical assembly is configured to transmit the diffused image light at a first optical power by reflecting the diffused image light at the reflector and at the beam splitter and to transmit the transmitted ambient light at a second optical power that is less than the first optical power without reflection at the reflector or the beam splitter. A method for transmitting light through the display device is also disclosed.

Abstract: A pupil-replicating lightguide includes a slab of transparent material, a switchable out-coupling grating for out-coupling portions of image light to propagate towards an eyebox, and a switchable tracking grating for redirecting tracking light carrying an eye image towards an eye tracking camera. One of the two gratings may be turned ON while the other is turned OFF, in a time-sequential manner, allowing the combined use of the pupil-replicating lightguide for carrying image light and eye tracking light.

Abstract: An optical device includes an optical waveguide and a plurality of reflective polarizers. The plurality of reflective polarizers include a first reflective polarizer and a second reflective polarizer disposed inside the optical waveguide so that the first reflective polarizer receives light propagating inside the optical waveguide, redirects a first portion of the light in a first direction, and transmits a second portion of the light in a second direction non-parallel to the first direction. The second reflective polarizer receives the second portion of the light from the first reflective polarizer, redirects a third portion of the light, and transmits a fourth portion of the light. A ratio between the first portion and the second portion of the light has a first value and a ratio between the third portion and the fourth portion of the light has a second value distinct from the first value.

Abstract: An optical element includes a waveguide body that is configured to guide light by total internal reflection from an input end to an output end, an input coupling structure located at the input end for coupling light into the waveguide body, and an output coupling structure located at the output end for coupling light out of the waveguide body, where the waveguide body includes a layer of an optically anisotropic organic solid crystal. Such an optical element may have low weight and exhibit good color uniformity while presenting a 2D diagonal field-of-view of at least approximately 10°.

Abstract: A near-eye display has an image projector coupled to a lightguide for receiving and propagating image light provided by the image projector, the image light carrying an image to be displayed to a viewer. Field of view of the near-eye display may be expanded by providing a beam redirector downstream of the lightguide for controllably redirecting the image light in coordination with displaying different field of view portions by the image projector. To compensate the redirection of external light by the beam redirector, a second beam redirector may be provided upstream of the first redirector and the lightguide.

Abstract: An optical assembly includes a first flexible membrane and a first optical element coupled with at least a first portion of the first flexible membrane. The optical assembly also includes a substrate having a curved surface. The first optical element is coupled to the curved surface of the substrate with the first flexible membrane. A method for making an optical assembly includes obtaining a first flexible membrane and a first optical element. The method includes coupling the first optical element with at least a first portion of the first flexible membrane and coupling, with the first flexible membrane, the first optical element to a curved surface of a substrate.

Abstract: A waveguide assembly is provided. The waveguide assembly includes a pair of pupil-replicating waveguides. The first pupil-replicating waveguide is configured for receiving an input beam of image light and providing an intermediate beam comprising multiple offset portions of the input beam. The second pupil-replicating waveguide is configured for receiving the intermediate beam from the first pupil-replicating waveguide and providing an output beam comprising multiple offset portions of the intermediate beam. The input beam may be expanded by the waveguide assembly in such a manner that pupil gaps are reduced or eliminated.

Abstract: An optical element includes a first birefringent medium layer with orientations of directors of first optically anisotropic molecules spatially varying with a first in-plane pitch and a first vertical pitch. The optical element also includes a second birefringent medium layer with orientations of directors of second optically anisotropic molecules spatially varying with a second in-plane pitch and a second vertical pitch. The second birefringent medium layer is optically coupled with the first birefringent medium layer and configured to reduce a diffraction of a light by the first birefringent medium layer. The first in-plane pitch is substantially the same as the second in-plane pitch, and the second vertical pitch is smaller than the first vertical pitch.

Abstract: An optical device includes an optical assembly having a first end and a second end, the optical assembly including a first optical component and a second optical component, the first optical component having at least a first optical surface, a second optical surface, and a third optical surface that are non-parallel to one another. The first optical surface is curved and extends between the first end and the second end. A first polarization selective redirector is located between the first optical component and the second optical component, and a first polarization rotating redirector is disposed at the second end.

Abstract: A multipass scanner usable e.g. in a near-eye display is disclosed. The multipass scanner scans a light beam angularly, forming an image in angular domain. The multipass scanner includes a light source, a tiltable reflector, and a multipass coupler that couples light emitted by the light source to the tiltable reflector, receives the reflected light and couples it back to the tiltable reflector to double the scanning angle. Then, the multipass coupler couples the light reflected at least twice from the tiltable reflector to an exit pupil of the scanner. A pupil-replicating waveguide disposed at the exit pupil of the scanner extends the image in angular domain. Multiple reflections of the light beam from the tiltable reflector enable one to increase the angular scanning range and associated field of view of the display without having to increase the angular scanning range of the tiltable reflector.

Abstract: A display device includes a light source, a spatial light modulator (SLM), and an optical assembly that includes a first reflective surface and a second reflective surface that is opposite to the first reflective surface. The light source is configured to provide illumination light. The optical assembly is configured to receive the illumination light. At least a first portion of the illumination light received by the optical assembly is transmitted through the first reflective surface toward the second reflective surface, is reflected by the second reflective surface toward the first reflective surface, is reflected by the first reflective surface toward the second reflective surface, and is transmitted through the second reflective surface. The SLM is configured to receive and modulate the portion of the illumination light transmitted through the optical assembly, and to output the modulated light. A method performed by the display device is also disclosed.

Abstract: An illuminator for a display panel includes a slab of transparent material for propagating illuminating light between outer surfaces of the slab, an out-coupler supported by the slab for out-coupling portions of the illuminating light along one of the outer surfaces of the slab, and a tunable microlens array for forming an array of light spots from the out-coupled illuminating light portions downstream of the focusing element for illuminating pixels of the display panel. The array of light spots may be repeated at a distance from the tunable microlens array due to Talbot effect. The display panel may be illuminated in a color-sequential manner, and the tunable microlens array may be used to adjust the focal plane position for each color channel individually.

Abstract: A field of view of an imaging or ranging device may be increased multiple times by providing a switchable diffraction grating structure upstream of an imaging camera or ranging light source. The switchable diffraction grating changes the angle of propagating of incoming light by a fixed step, enabling the device to switch between several portions of a compound field of view. The switchable diffraction grating structure may be supported by a lightguide that guides the image light or ranging light by a series of reflections from opposed surfaces of the lightguide.

Abstract: A lightguide for conveying image light to an eyebox of a display device includes a tunable grating, e.g. an out-coupling grating for out-coupling the image light from the lightguide. The tunable grating may be tuned or switched to effectively diffract light of a color channel of a color-sequential display. In augmented reality display systems, a lightguide combiner element may include a switchable grating to out-couple the image light only during short time intervals and to not out-couple the image light in between these time intervals. Effectively, the out-coupling grating is present only a portion of overall operation time of the display, which improves the transparency of the combiner element to the outside light and reduces rainbow effects.