Abstract: Disclosed is an improved diffraction structure for 3D display systems. The improved diffraction structure includes an intermediate layer that resides between a waveguide substrate and a top grating surface. The top grating surface comprises a first material that corresponds to a first refractive index value, the underlayer comprises a second material that corresponds to a second refractive index value, and the substrate comprises a third material that corresponds to a third refractive index value. According to additional embodiments, improved approaches are provided to implement deposition of imprint materials onto a substrate, which allow for very precise distribution and deposition of different imprint patterns onto any number of substrate surfaces.

Abstract: A wearable augmented reality head-mounted display system can be configured to pass light from the world forward a wearer wearing the head-mounted system into an eye of the wearer. The head-mounted display system can include an optical display that is configured to output light to form an image. The system may include one or more waveguides that are disposed to receiving the light from the display. A variable power reflector can be disposed on the forward side of the one or more waveguides. The reflector can be configured to have an optical power that is adjustable upon application of an electrical signal.

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 and system for increasing dynamic digitized wavefront resolution, i.e., the density of output beamlets, can include receiving a single collimated source light beam and producing multiple output beamlets spatially offset when out-coupled from a waveguide. The multiple output beamlets can be obtained by offsetting and replicating a collimated source light beam. Alternatively, the multiple output beamlets can be obtained by using a collimated incoming source light beam having multiple input beams with different wavelengths in the vicinity of the nominal wavelength of a particular color. The collimated incoming source light beam can be in-coupled into the eyepiece designed for the nominal wavelength. The input beams with multiple wavelengths take different paths when they undergo total internal reflection in the waveguide, which produces multiple output beamlets.

Abstract: Configurations are disclosed for a health system to be used in various healthcare applications, e.g., for patient diagnostics, monitoring, and/or therapy. The health system may comprise a light generation module to transmit light or an image to a user, one or more sensors to detect a physiological parameter of the user's body, including their eyes, and processing circuitry to analyze an input received in response to the presented images to determine one or more health conditions or defects.

Abstract: A semiconductor substrate includes a first semiconductor layer, a first dielectric layer coupled to the first semiconductor layer, and a second semiconductor layer coupled to the first dielectric layer. The second semiconductor layer includes a base portion substantially aligned with the first dielectric layer and a cantilever portion protruding from an end of the first dielectric layer. The cantilever portion includes a tapered surface tapering from a bottom surface of the second semiconductor layer toward a top surface of the second semiconductor layer.

Abstract: Methods of manufacturing a liquid crystal device including depositing a layer of liquid crystal material on a substrate and imprinting a pattern on the layer of liquid crystal material using an imprint template are disclosed. The liquid crystal material can be jet deposited. The imprint template can include surface relief features, Pancharatnam-Berry Phase Effect (PBPE) structures or diffractive structures. The liquid crystal device manufactured by the methods described herein can be used to manipulate light, such as for beam steering, wavefront shaping, separating wavelengths and/or polarizations, and combining different wavelengths and/or polarizations.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved diffraction structure for 3D display systems. The improved diffraction structure includes an intermediate layer that resides between a waveguide substrate and a top grating surface. The top grating surface comprises a first material that corresponds to a first refractive index value, the underlayer comprises a second material that corresponds to a second refractive index value, and the substrate comprises a third material that corresponds to a third refractive index value. According to additional embodiments, improved approaches are provided to implement deposition of imprint materials onto a substrate, which allow for very precise distribution and deposition of different imprint patterns onto any number of substrate surfaces.

Abstract: A method for displaying virtual content to a user, the method includes determining an accommodation of the user's eyes. The method also includes delivering, through a first waveguide of a stack of waveguides, light rays having a first wavefront curvature based at least in part on the determined accommodation, wherein the first wavefront curvature corresponds to a focal distance of the determined accommodation. The method further includes delivering, through a second waveguide of the stack of waveguides, light rays having a second wavefront curvature, the second wavefront curvature associated with a predetermined margin of the focal distance of the determined accommodation.

Abstract: A virtual image generation system comprises a planar optical waveguide having opposing first and second faces, an in-coupling (IC) element configured for optically coupling a collimated light beam from an image projection assembly into the planar optical waveguide as an in-coupled light beam, a first orthogonal pupil expansion (OPE) element associated with the first face of the planar optical waveguide for splitting the in-coupled light beam into a first set of orthogonal light beamlets, a second orthogonal pupil expansion (OPE) element associated with the second face of the planar optical waveguide for splitting the in-coupled light beam into a second set of orthogonal light beamlets, and an exit pupil expansion (EPE) element associated with the planar optical waveguide for splitting the first and second sets of orthogonal light beamlets into an array of out-coupled light beamlets that exit the planar optical waveguide.

Abstract: A method and system for increasing dynamic digitized wavefront resolution, i.e., the density of output beamlets, can include receiving a single collimated source light beam and producing multiple output beamlets spatially offset when out-coupled from a waveguide. The multiple output beamlets can be obtained by offsetting and replicating a collimated source light beam. Alternatively, the multiple output beamlets can be obtained by using a collimated incoming source light beam having multiple input beams with different wavelengths in the vicinity of the nominal wavelength of a particular color. The collimated incoming source light beam can be in-coupled into the eyepiece designed for the nominal wavelength. The input beams with multiple wavelengths take different paths when they undergo total internal reflection in the waveguide, which produces multiple output beamlets.

Abstract: An augmented reality display system is configured to direct a plurality of parallactically-disparate intra-pupil images into a viewer's eye. The parallactically-disparate intra-pupil images provide different parallax views of a virtual object, and impinge on the pupil from different angles. In the aggregate, the wavefronts of light forming the images approximate a continuous divergent wavefront and provide selectable accommodation cues for the user, depending on the amount of parallax disparity between the intra-pupil images. The amount of parallax disparity is selected using a light source that outputs light for different images from different locations, with spatial differences in the locations of the light output providing differences in the paths that the light takes to the eye, which in turn provide different amounts of parallax disparity.

Abstract: A method of forming a tapered tip of a polarization-maintaining (PM) fiber includes inserting a tip of the PM fiber into a first etchant solution characterized by a first etching rate for the core of the PM fiber and a second etching rate for the stress members of the PM fiber, the second etching rate being lower than the first etching rate, withdrawing the tip of the PM fiber from the first etchant solution at a withdrawal rate, immersing the tip of the PM fiber in a second etchant solution for a time duration. The second etchant solution is characterized by a third etching rate for the core and a fourth etching rate for the stress members, the fourth etching rate being greater than the third etching rate. The method further includes withdrawing the tip of the PM fiber from the second etchant solution.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a cantilever having a device surface, a tapered surface, and an end region includes providing a semiconductor substrate having a first side and a second side opposite to the first side and etching a predetermined portion of the second side to form a plurality of recesses in the second side. Each of the plurality of recesses comprises an etch termination surface. The method also includes anisotropically etching the etch termination surface to form the tapered surface of the cantilever and etching a predetermined portion of the device surface to release the end region of the cantilever.

Abstract: A visual perception device has a look-up table stored in a laser driver chip. The look-up table includes relational gain data to compensate for brighter areas of a laser pattern wherein pixels are located more closely than areas where the pixels are further apart and to compensate for differences in intensity of individual pixels when the intensities of pixels are altered due to design characteristics of an eye piece.

Abstract: A waveguide apparatus includes a planar waveguide and at least one optical diffraction element (DOE) that provides a plurality of optical paths between an exterior and interior of the planar waveguide. A phase profile of the DOE may combine a linear diffraction grating with a circular lens, to shape a wave front and produce beams with desired focus. Waveguide apparati may be assembled to create multiple focal planes. The DOE may have a low diffraction efficiency, and planar waveguides may be transparent when viewed normally, allowing passage of light from an ambient environment (e.g., real world) useful in AR systems. Light may be returned for temporally sequentially passes through the planar waveguide. The DOE(s) may be fixed or may have dynamically adjustable characteristics. An optical coupler system may couple images to the waveguide apparatus from a projector, for instance a biaxially scanning cantilevered optical fiber tip.

Abstract: A virtual image generation system comprises a planar optical waveguide having opposing first and second faces, an in-coupling (IC) element configured for optically coupling a collimated light beam from an image projection assembly into the planar optical waveguide as an in-coupled light beam, a first orthogonal pupil expansion (OPE) element associated with the first face of the planar optical waveguide for splitting the in-coupled light beam into a first set of orthogonal light beamlets, a second orthogonal pupil expansion (OPE) element associated with the second face of the planar optical waveguide for splitting the in-coupled light beam into a second set of orthogonal light beamlets, and an exit pupil expansion (EPE) element associated with the planar optical waveguide for splitting the first and second sets of orthogonal light beamlets into an array of out-coupled light beamlets that exit the planar optical waveguide.

Abstract: Augmented reality and virtual reality display systems and devices are configured for efficient use of projected light. In some aspects, a display system includes a light projection system and a head-mounted display configured to project light into an eye of the user to display virtual image content. The head-mounted display includes at least one waveguide comprising a plurality of in-coupling regions each configured to receive, from the light projection system, light corresponding to a portion of the user's field of view and to in-couple the light into the waveguide; and a plurality of out-coupling regions configured to out-couple the light out of the waveguide to display the virtual content, wherein each of the out-coupling regions are configured to receive light from different ones of the in-coupling regions. In some implementations, each in-coupling region has a one-to-one correspondence with a unique corresponding out-coupling region.

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 augmented reality display system includes a pair of variable focus lens elements that sandwich a waveguide stack. One of the lens elements is positioned between the waveguide stack and a user's eye to correct for refractive errors in the focusing of light projected from the waveguide stack to that eye. The lens elements may also be configured to provide appropriate optical power to place displayed virtual content on a desired depth plane. The other lens element is between the ambient environment and the waveguide stack, and is configured to provide optical power to compensate for aberrations in the transmission of ambient light through the waveguide stack and the lens element closest to the eye. In addition, an eye-tracking system monitors the vergence of the user's eyes and automatically and continuously adjusts the optical powers of the pair of lens elements based on the determined vergence of those eyes.