Abstract: A display device includes a display having optically anisotropic molecules disposed between a front surface and a back surface. The display is configurable to either receive image light and diffuse the image light to output diffused image light from the front surface, or to transmit ambient light from the back surface to the front surface. The display device also includes an optical assembly that has a substrate, a reflector, and a beam splitter. The optical assembly is configurable to transmit a portion of the diffused image light at a first optical power via an optical path including reflections at the reflector and at the beam splitter and to transmit a portion of the ambient light output from the front surface of the display at a second optical power without reflection at the reflector. The second optical power is less than the first optical power.

Abstract: A display provides display light to an eyebox area. A reflective layer receives the display light from the display and redirects the display light to the eyebox area. The reflective layer receives scene light from an external environment of the device and redirects the scene light to a camera for capturing scene images. The camera is positioned a first distance from the reflective layer that is approximately the same as a second distance between the reflective layer and the eyebox area.

Abstract: An optical assembly for projecting light from a display includes a first optical waveguide, a reflective optical element configured, and a first in-coupler. The reflective optical element is configured to receive first light having first polarization from the display and to reflect the first light as second light having second polarization distinct from the first polarization. The first in-coupler is coupled with the first optical waveguide. The first in-coupler is configured to receive and transmit the first light. The first in-coupler is further configured to receive the second light and redirect a first portion of the second light so that the first portion of the second light undergoes total internal reflection inside the first optical waveguide.

Abstract: An image generator is configured to generate display light. A first waveguide is configured to generate wide-field image light from a first portion of the display light. A first outcoupling element of the first waveguide extends to a boundary of the frame to provide the wide-field display to substantially all of the augmented FOV of the user. A second waveguide is configured to generate inset image light from a second portion of the display light received from the image generator.

Abstract: A beam scanner includes a substrate, a tiltable reflector hingedly supported by the substrate, and a reflective polarizer. The reflective polarizer is supported over the tiltable reflector and configured to receive and redirect a light beam towards the tiltable reflector for scanning the light beam. A projector includes the beam scanner and a light source providing a light beam. The light beam may be modulated in brightness, color, or polarization synchronously with tilting the reflector, thereby forming an image in angular domain after propagating through a pupil-replicating waveguide. At least one folding mirror may be provided for directing the light beam from the light source around the pupil-replicating waveguide, resulting in a compact overall configuration.

Abstract: Folding optics are used in conjunction with a lens system to reduce a back focal length of a head-mounted display. The lens system provides optical power to focus light from an optical display. The folding optics reflects light to fold upon itself to reduce a distance between the lens system and the optical display.

Abstract: An optical assembly includes a substrate that has a first surface and a second surface that is opposite to and substantially parallel with the first surface, a reflector, and a volume Bragg grating (VBG). The VBG is configured to transmit light incident upon the VBG at an incident angle that is within a first predetermined angular range and to reflect light that is incident upon the VBG at an incident angle that is within a second predetermined angular range distinct from the first angular range. The optical assembly is configured to transmit first light received at the first surface in an optical path that includes reflection at the reflector and at the VBG. The optical assembly is also configured to transmit second 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 VBG.

Abstract: A backlight device includes a first surface and a second surface that is opposite to the first surface. The backlight device is configured to emit light in a first optical band through the second surface toward a display panel of a head-mounted display (HMD). The display panel is configured to convert the light from the backlight device to image light. The backlight device is transparent to light in a second optical band that is different than the first optical band. An eye tracking system illuminates an eyebox with light in the second optical band. A camera assembly positioned adjacent to the first surface of the backlight device. The camera assembly is configured to capture images of the eye in the second optical band through the backlight device, the display panel. The eye tracking system determines eye tracking information based at least in part on the captured images.

Abstract: A near-eye display based on a polarization-selective diffusive combiner includes a polarizer for polarizing impinging ambient light to have a first polarization state, and a polarization-selective scatterer downstream of the polarizer, for passing through the ambient light having the first polarization state substantially without scattering, while scattering impinging display light having a second polarization state orthogonal to the first polarization state. The display light at the second polarization state may be provided by a projector, the polarization-selective scatterer playing the role of a projector screen. A polarization-selective ocular lens may be disposed downstream of the polarization-selective scatterer for viewing images generated by the projector while propagating through orthogonally polarized light from outside environment.

Abstract: An optical assembly includes a substrate having a first surface and a second surface that is opposite to and substantially parallel with the first surface. The substrate also includes a reflector and a beam splitter, each of which is coupled to the substrate. 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: Eye-tracking systems of the present disclosure may include at least one light source configured to emit modulated radiation toward an intended location for a user's eye. The modulated radiation may be modulated in a manner that enables the light source to be identified by detection and analysis of the modulated radiation. At least one optical sensor including at least one sensing element may be configured to detect at least a portion of the modulated radiation. A processor may be configured to identify, based on the modulated radiation detected by the optical sensor, the light source that emitted the modulated radiation. Various other methods, systems, and devices are also disclosed.

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 scanning projector for a display apparatus includes a first scanning reflector configured to steer a light beam in a first plane, a second scanning reflector configured to steer the light beam received from the first scanning reflector in a second plane, and beam relay optics configured to relay a first pupil defined at the first scanning reflector to a second pupil defined at the second scanning reflector, and to relay the second pupil to an output pupil of the scanning projector. The beam relay optics may include a concave reflector and a polarization beam splitter coupled to a scanning reflector in a triple pass configuration.

Abstract: A beam scanner for a near-eye display includes a beam-folded pupil relay configured for receiving a light beam reflected from a tiltable reflector and relaying the light beam to an exit pupil while preserving the beam angle of the reflected beam. The beam-folding pupil relay includes a beamsplitter, e.g. a polarization beam splitter configured to redirect the beam to a curved reflector, which sends the beam towards the exit pupil. Polarization of the light beam reflected from the curved reflector may be changed to an orthogonal polarization by a waveplate disposed in an optical path of the light beam between the polarization beam splitter and the curved reflector, enabling the reflected light beam to propagate through the polarization beam splitter towards the exit pupil. A pupil-replicating waveguide may be disposed proximate the exit pupil. A 2D tiltable reflector or a pair of 1D tiltable reflectors may be used.

Abstract: An optical assembly includes a first optical waveguide, a first in-coupler coupled with the first optical waveguide and a projector configured to project image light toward a first side of the first optical waveguide. The optical assembly also includes a first scanning reflector optically coupled with the projector and disposed on a second side of the first optical waveguide that is opposite to the first side. The projector is configured to project image light. The first scanning reflector is configured to receive the image light and to redirect the image light across a first range of directions. The first in-coupler is configured to redirect a first portion of the image light so that the first portion of the image light undergoes total internal reflection inside the first optical waveguide.

Abstract: An optical assembly for projecting light from a display includes a first optical waveguide, a reflective optical element configured, and a first in-coupler. The reflective optical element is configured to receive first light having first polarization from the display and to reflect the first light as second light having second polarization distinct from the first polarization. The first in-coupler is coupled with the first optical waveguide. The first in-coupler is configured to receive and transmit the first light. The first in-coupler is further configured to receive the second light and redirect a first portion of the second light so that the first portion of the second light undergoes total internal reflection inside the first optical waveguide.

Abstract: A display device includes a first display, a second display and one or more optical elements. The first display is configured to provide a first light that corresponds to a first image, the second display is configured to provide a second light that corresponds to a second image, and the one or more optical elements are configured to project a display image using the first light and the second light. The display image includes the first image and the second image. The display device is configured to project the first image with a first magnification and project the second image with a second magnification that is distinct from the first magnification. Also disclosed is a method performed by the display device.

Abstract: A device includes a first light source device configured to transmit a first light in a first direction and a second light source device configured to transmit a second light in a second direction. The device also includes a first set of one or more lenses configured for directing the first light from the first light source device and the second light from the second light source device toward a first eye of a user. Also disclosed is a method that includes transmitting a first light and a second light through a first set of one or more lenses and directing the first light and the second light toward a first eye of a user. Further disclosed is a method for adjusting a distance between an eye and a lens of the first set of one or more lenses.

Abstract: A display device is configurable to be operable in a first mode and a second mode. The display device includes an emission surface configured to output image light, a first optical assembly, and a second optical assembly. The first optical assembly is configured to receive image light from the emission surface and to direct the image light toward the eyes of a user at a first optical power. The second optical assembly includes a first region configured to receive image light from the emission surface and to direct the image light toward the eyes of a user at a second optical power. The second optical assembly also includes a second region configured to receive ambient light and to transmit at least a portion of the received ambient light at a third optical power distinct from and less than the first optical power and the second optical power.

Abstract: An optical assembly includes at least one switchable waveplate and a reflective polarizer layer. The reflective polarizer layer is configured to pass a first polarization orientation of display light and reflect a second polarization orientation orthogonal to the first polarization orientation. The optical assembly provides a first effective focal length when the switchable waveplate is switched to a first retardance value and the optical assembly provides a second effective focal length when the switchable waveplate is switched to a second retardance value.