Abstract: A waveguide display system may include an eyepiece waveguide that can have a first surface and a second surface, the waveguide including an incoupling diffractive optical element (DOE) and an outcoupling DOE. The waveguide display system may include a light source and a scanning mirror, and may include reflective and collimating optical elements. The incoupling DOE can be configured to selectively propagate incident light beams to the outcoupling DOE in the waveguide through total internal reflection (TIR).

Abstract: An optical scanner is described and includes an optical beam assembly and a transducer. The optical beam assembly includes a pivoting portion having a cantilevered beam; a stationary portion; a first torsional flexure coupling a first side of the pivoting portion to the stationary portion; and a second torsional flexure coupling a second side of the pivoting portion to the stationary portion. The transducer includes a first magnetic element disposed on the pivoting portion and a second magnetic element disposed on the stationary portion. The first and second magnetic elements are configured to generate magnetic fields that interact to rotate the pivoting portion relative to the stationary portion about an axis defined by the first and second torsional flexures.

Abstract: Embodiments of optical scanners, optical projection systems, and methods of scanning optical waveguides and projecting images are described. The disclosed devices, systems and methods advantageously provide an improvement to the compactness, robustness, simplicity, and reliability of optical scanners and optical projection systems by implementing a thermally driven actuator for inducing oscillations of a cantilever within the optical scanners and optical projection systems. The stability and accuracy of optical scanners and optical projection systems are further enhanced using capacitive sensing, feedback, and phase correction techniques described herein.

Abstract: A method of operating a multi-axis fiber scanner having a base including a base plane includes providing a source of electromagnetic radiation, directing the electromagnetic radiation through a fiber link that passes through the base plane of the base along a longitudinal axis orthogonal to the base plane, and supporting a retention collar positioned a distance from the base plane. The method also includes actuating a first piezoelectric actuator among a plurality of piezoelectric actuators to decrease the distance between a first side of the base and the retention collar, actuating a second piezoelectric actuator among the plurality of piezoelectric actuators to increase the distance between a second side of the base and the retention collar, and scanning the fiber link in a scanning plane.

Abstract: An optical scanner includes a cantilevered optical member protruding from the base portion and a transducer assembly comprising one or more piezoelectric actuators coupled to the cantilevered optical member and configured to induce motion of the cantilevered optical member in a scan pattern. In some cases, the cantilevered optical member has a tapered shape with a distal end narrower than a proximal end adjacent to the base portion of the optical scanner. In some cases, the cantilevered optical member has an elongated width along a first plane and includes a plurality of waveguides. The transducer assembly is configured to induce motion of the cantilevered optical member in a second plane orthogonal to the first plane.

Abstract: An eye tracking system includes a pair of glasses including two frames; a light scanning projector coupled to the pair of glasses and operable to scan a beam of light to project an image frame including a plurality of pixels; an eyepiece mounted in one of the two frames and optically coupled to the light scanning projector; one or more photodetectors coupled to one of the two frames and operable to detect time-varying reflected signals; and a processor coupled to the light scanning projector and the photodetectors. The eyepiece includes an exit pupil expander operable to direct a portion of the beam of light towards an eye of a user. Each of the time-varying reflected signals is associated with the plurality of pixels. The processor is operable to correlate the time-varying reflected signals with the plurality of pixels and determine a first eye orientation.

Abstract: A fiber scanning projector includes a piezoelectric element and a scanning fiber mechanically coupled to the piezoelectric element. The fiber scanning projector also includes an optical assembly section operable to receive light from the scanning fiber. The optical assembly section includes a prism element, a collimating element coupled to the prism element at an interface, a quarter wave plate, and a polarizing beam splitter disposed at the interface.

Abstract: A projector includes a cantilever position detection system. The projector also includes a chassis, an actuator mounted to the chassis, and a cantilever light source having a longitudinal axis and mechanically coupled to the actuator. The projector also includes a position measurement region including an aperture, wherein the cantilever light source extends through the aperture, and a plurality of optical source/photodetector pairs disposed in a lateral plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A projector including a cantilever position detection system includes a chassis and an actuator mounted to the chassis. The projector also includes a cantilever light source having a longitudinal axis and mechanically coupled to the actuator. The cantilever light source is operable to transmit display light and characterization light. The projector further includes an optical assembly section operable to receive the display light and the characterization light. The optical assembly section includes a dichroic mirror operable to reflect at least a portion of the display light and transmit at least a portion of the characterization light. Moreover, the projector includes a position measurement device operable to receive the transmitted portion of the characterization light.

Abstract: A fiber optic element of a fiber scanning system includes a motion actuator having longitudinal side members, an internal orifice, a first support region, a central region, and a second support region. The fiber optic element also includes a first fiber optic cable passing through the internal orifice and having a first fiber joint as well as a second fiber optic cable passing through the internal orifice. The second fiber optic cable has a second fiber joint disposed in the central region and spliced to the first fiber joint, a second coupling region, a light delivery region, and a light emission tip. The light delivery region is characterized by a first diameter and the light emission tip is characterized by a second diameter less than the first diameter.

Abstract: A waveguide display disposed in glasses includes a first pupil expander assembly operable to project a first image defined by a first field of view, and a second pupil expander assembly disposed adjacent the first pupil expander assembly and operable to project a second image defined by a second field of view different from the first field of view. The first pupil expander assembly is operable to emit light at a first non-zero angle with respect to a first emission plane associated with the first pupil expander assembly. The second pupil expander assembly is operable to emit light at a second non-zero angle with respect to a second emission plane associated with the second pupil expander assembly. The first non-zero angle is opposite to the second non-zero angle.

Abstract: This disclosure includes a description of a pair of virtual or augmented reality glasses that includes an optical scanning system that protrudes at least partially through an opening in an eyepiece of the glasses. The optical scanning system includes an optical fiber or cantilevered beam that extends through the opening and a transducer that drives the optical fiber or cantilevered beam to move in a spiral pattern.

Abstract: Embodiments of optical scanners, optical projection systems, and methods of scanning optical waveguides and projecting images are described. The disclosed devices, systems and methods advantageously provide an improvement to the compactness, robustness, simplicity, and reliability of optical scanners and optical projection systems by implementing a thermally driven actuator for inducing oscillations of a cantilever within the optical scanners and optical projection systems. The stability and accuracy of optical scanners and optical projection systems are further enhanced using capacitive sensing, feedback, and phase correction techniques described herein.

Abstract: A method of operating a multi-axis fiber scanner having a base including a base plane includes providing a source of electromagnetic radiation, directing the electromagnetic radiation through a fiber link that passes through the base plane of the base along a longitudinal axis orthogonal to the base plane, and supporting a retention collar positioned a distance from the base plane. The method also includes actuating a first piezoelectric actuator among a plurality of piezoelectric actuators to decrease the distance between a first side of the base and the retention collar, actuating a second piezoelectric actuator among the plurality of piezoelectric actuators to increase the distance between a second side of the base and the retention collar, and scanning the fiber link in a scanning plane.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a variable diameter fiber includes providing a fiber optic cable comprising a cladding region, a fiber core, and a plurality of sacrificial regions disposed in the cladding region and focusing a laser beam at a series of predetermined locations inside the fiber optic cable. The method also includes creating a series of damage sites associated with the series of predetermined locations, wherein the series of damage sites define a variable diameter profile and a latticework in the cladding region of the fiber optic cable. The method further includes exposing the fiber optic cable to an etchant solution, preferentially etching the series of damage sites, and separating peripheral portions of the fiber optic cable to release the variable diameter fiber.

Abstract: A fiber optic element of a fiber scanning system includes a motion actuator having longitudinal side members, an internal orifice, a first support region, a central region, and a second support region. The fiber optic element also includes a first fiber optic cable passing through the internal orifice and having a first fiber joint as well as a second fiber optic cable passing through the internal orifice. The second fiber optic cable has a second fiber joint disposed in the central region and spliced to the first fiber joint, a second coupling region, a light delivery region, and a light emission tip. The light delivery region is characterized by a first diameter and the light emission tip is characterized by a second diameter less than the first diameter.

Abstract: An eye tracking system includes a pair of glasses including two frames; a light scanning projector coupled to the pair of glasses and operable to scan a beam of light to project an image frame including a plurality of pixels; an eyepiece mounted in one of the two frames and optically coupled to the light scanning projector; one or more photodetectors coupled to one of the two frames and operable to detect time-varying reflected signals; and a processor coupled to the light scanning projector and the photodetectors. The eyepiece includes an exit pupil expander operable to direct a portion of the beam of light towards an eye of a user. Each of the time-varying reflected signals is associated with the plurality of pixels. The processor is operable to correlate the time-varying reflected signals with the plurality of pixels and determine a first eye orientation.

Abstract: A waveguide display includes a first diffractive input waveguide operable to receive input data from a first projector and diffract image data associated with the first projector at a first angular offset and a second diffractive input waveguide operable to receive input data from a second projector and diffract image data associated with the second projector at a second angular offset. The waveguide display also includes a diffractive output waveguide optically coupled to the first diffractive input waveguide and the second diffractive input waveguide. The diffractive output waveguide receives the image data associated with the first projector and image data associated with the second projector and is operable to direct image data associated with the first projector toward a first field of view and direct image data associated with the second projector toward a second field of view.

Abstract: Described herein are embodiments of fiber scanning systems and methods of scanning optical fibers. The disclosed systems and methods advantageously provide an improvement to the scanning range, the oscillation amplitude, and/or the maximum pointing angle for an optical fiber in a fiber scanning system by inducing a buckling of a portion of the optical fiber.

Abstract: A multi-element fiber scanner for scanning electromagnetic imaging radiation includes a base having a base plane and a longitudinal axis orthogonal to the base plane and a fiber link passing through the base in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis. The fiber link is operatively coupled to at least one electromagnetic radiation source. The multi-element fiber scanner also includes a retention collar disposed a predetermined distance along the longitudinal axis from the base and a first set and a second set of piezoelectric tubes. First and second piezoelectric tubes of the first set are joined to the base and extends from the base and first and second piezoelectric tubes of the second set are joined to the retention collar and extend from the retention collar.