Abstract: A method of operating an eyepiece waveguide includes directing light from a projector to impinge on an incoupling grating (ICG). The method also includes diffracting a first fraction of the light from the projector into a first portion of the eyepiece waveguide, propagating the first fraction of the light into a second portion of the eyepiece waveguide, and diffracting the first fraction of the light out of the eyepiece waveguide. The method further includes diffracting a second fraction of the light from the projector into the second portion of the eyepiece waveguide, propagating the second fraction of the light into the first portion of the eyepiece waveguide, and diffracting the second fraction out of the eyepiece waveguide.

Abstract: An eyepiece waveguide for an augmented reality display system. The eyepiece waveguide can include an optically transmissive substrate with an input coupling grating (ICG) region. The ICG region can receive a beam of light and couple the beam into the substrate in a guided propagation mode. The eyepiece waveguide can also include a combined pupil expander-extractor (CPE) grating region that receives the beam of light from the ICG region and alters the propagation direction of the beam with a first interaction and out-couples the beam with a second interaction. The diffractive features of the CPE grating region can be arranged in rows and columns of alternating higher and lower quadrilateral surfaces or the diffractive features can comprise diamond shaped raised ridges. The eyepiece waveguide can also include one or more recycler grating regions.

Abstract: A method of operating an eyepiece waveguide having a first region and a second region includes directing light from a first projector to impinge on a first incoupling grating (ICG) and light from a second projector to impinge on a second ICG. Light from the first projector is diffracted into a first portion and a second portion of the first region of the eyepiece waveguide and out of the eyepiece waveguide. Light from the second projector is diffracted into a first portion and a second portion of the second region of the eyepiece waveguide and out of the eyepiece waveguide.

Abstract: A method of operating an eyepiece waveguide having a first region and a second region includes directing light from a first projector to impinge on a first incoupling grating (ICG) and light from a second projector to impinge on a second ICG. Light from the first projector is diffracted into a first portion and a second portion of the first region of the eyepiece waveguide and out of the eyepiece waveguide. Light from the second projector is diffracted into a first portion and a second portion of the second region of the eyepiece waveguide and out of the eyepiece waveguide.

Abstract: An eyepiece waveguide for an augmented reality display system includes a substrate having a first surface and a second surface and a diffractive input coupling element formed on or in the first surface or the second surface of the substrate. The diffractive input coupling element is configured to receive an input beam of light and to couple the input beam into the substrate as a guided beam. The eyepiece waveguide also includes a diffractive combined pupil expander-extractor (CPE) element formed on or in the first surface or the second surface of the substrate. The diffractive CPE element includes a first portion and a second portion divided by an axis. A first set of diffractive optical elements is disposed in the first portion and oriented at a positive angle with respect to the axis and a second set of diffractive optical elements is disposed in the second portion and oriented at a negative angle with respect to the axis.

Abstract: An eyepiece waveguide for an augmented reality display system includes a substrate having a first surface and a second surface and a diffractive input coupling element formed on or in the first surface or the second surface of the substrate. The diffractive input coupling element is configured to receive an input beam of light and to couple the input beam into the substrate as a guided beam. The eyepiece waveguide also includes a diffractive combined pupil expander-extractor (CPE) element formed on or in the first surface or the second surface of the substrate. The diffractive CPE element includes a first portion and a second portion divided by an axis. A first set of diffractive optical elements is disposed in the first portion and oriented at a positive angle with respect to the axis and a second set of diffractive optical elements is disposed in the second portion and oriented at a negative angle with respect to the axis.