Abstract: Improved techniques of aligning real and virtual images in an augmented reality head-mounted wearable device include rigidly coupling a world-facing radiation detector for processing real images to a projection system in a frame of the head-mounted wearable device for processing virtual images. In some implementations, the augmented reality head-mounted wearable device includes an input light direction rerouter configured to adjust an initial angle of incidence of the internally generated radiation at a surface of the waveguide to produce radiation directed at an adjusted angle of incidence at the incoupler such that the output direction is substantially parallel to the initial angle of incidence. In some implementations, the input light direction rerouter takes the form of a retroreflector that alters the input of the incident light from the projection system such that its direction is substantially a reciprocal of the output light vector.

Abstract: A wearable heads-up display (WHUD) device includes one or more electronic components that generate thermal energy when in operation, a support frame coupled to at least one of the electronic components, and at least one substantially transparent lens coupled to the support frame and made of materials with high thermal conductivity. The substantially transparent lens effectively conducts the thermal energy to the ambient environment, preventing overheating of the device. The support frame may be made of various materials and coupled to the substantially transparent lens via thermal interface materials.

Abstract: An illustrative method includes displacing an optical plate in accordance with an oscillating wobulation pattern along a single rotational axis, the optical plate being positioned in front of an array of pixels having a non-rectilinear pixel arrangement. The method also includes driving the array of pixels in connection with the oscillating wobulation pattern such that: the array of pixels displays a first image while the optical plate is in a first region of a period of the oscillating wobulation pattern, the array of pixels displays a second image while the optical plate is in a second region of the period of the oscillating wobulation pattern, and the array of pixels displays a third image while the optical plate is in a third region of the period of the oscillating wobulation pattern. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: A projector design for a microLED augmented reality (AR) display system. The AR display includes a light engine comprising a microLED panel and a set of plates that oscillate out of phase. The system also includes a waveguide with an input coupler (IC) having an entrance pupil. The entrance pupil of the IC is substantially coplanar with the exit pupil of the light engine. This configuration allows for coupling of light from the light engine into the waveguide, enabling the display of augmented reality content. A set of plates are configured to rotate either about a common axis or their individual axes. These rotations may be facilitated by actuators such as voice coils, piezo actuators, or others, each capable of linear or rotary movement. The plates may be either driven individually but synchronized for cohesive operation, or jointly propelled by a shared actuator for collective movement.

Abstract: Systems and methods of separating the input light path from the output light path of a scanning mirror in a laser projector system while keeping the overall footprint of the laser projector system to a minimum. The system includes a scanning mirror, an optical engine, and an input/output (I/O) separator disposed between the optical engine and the scanning mirror to direct light from the optical engine towards the scanning mirror along an input path and to direct light reflected from the scanning mirror along an output path. The I/O separator, disposed to intersect both the input and output paths, can be implemented as a prism or a combination of a polarizing beam splitter and a quarter wave plate.

Abstract: Lightguide integrity monitoring in a head mounted display is facilitated by monitoring an elongated conductor disposed proximal a lightguide in an optical combiner. When a sufficient change in one or more electrical characteristics of the elongated conductor is detected, a signal indicating that the lightguide has been damaged may be generated, which may alert the user to the damage or disable one or more light sources in the HMD to prevent eye discomfort. The monitored electrical characteristics of the elongated conductor may include connectivity, impedance, and gain, among others. A sufficient change in the one or more electrical characteristics may be detected based on a percentage change in an electrical characteristic, a change in more than one electrical characteristic, or a change in a ratio of two electrical characteristics, among others.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for accommodating multiple sets of laser light sources in an optical engine of a display system such as a laser projection system are described. Laser light beams may be combined via wavelength-, polarization-, and/or angular-separation-based techniques. First and second sets of laser light beams may be angularly separated such that different sets of partially overlapping pixels are projected by the system, thereby increasing the display pixel density and/or an expanding the field of view of the display. One or more laser die may be mounted to each submount of the optical engine. For embodiments with two laser dies on each submount, collimating lenses may introduce angular separation between laser light beams output by each pair of commonly mounted laser dies. A retroreflector prism may be disposed at a beam combiner to provide a compact extension of the optical path through the beam combiner.

Abstract: A rotational lens assembly reduces the size of a gap between a lens and a frame of an optical light engine projector assembly. The lens includes a thread structure arranged around the outside edge of the lens. The thread structure allows the lens to align and lock within the optical assembly via at least a partial rotation of the lens. In addition, the rotation of the lens during assembly results in a relatively small gap between the lens and the frame. The smaller gap, in turn allows the other components of the optical assembly to be manufactured with lower tolerances for variation, improving the overall performance of the optical assembly.

Abstract: According to an aspect, a system includes a first image source for a left eye and a second image source for a right eye. The system further includes at least one window in a first optical path for the first image source or a second optical path for the second image source, the at least one window configured to align first pixels from the first image source with second pixels from the second image source.

Abstract: According to an aspect, a method includes generating a first projection from a first image source, the first projection displayed on a surface of a device. The method further includes generating a second projection from a second image source, the second projection displayed on the surface of the device. The method also includes identifying at least one error in an alignment associated with the first image source based on the first projection and the second projection.

Abstract: According to an aspect, a method includes identifying a lens pitch associated with a wafer. The method further includes determining a projector pitch for a first projector and a second projector on the wafer based on the lens pitch. The method also includes selecting a portion of the wafer for a device based on the projector pitch.

Abstract: A near-eye display system employs a low-amplitude, low-frequency micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) mirror in series with a higher-amplitude, higher-frequency resonant MEMS mirror to rotate at a reduced amplitude and frequency with respect to the resonant MEMS mirror redistribute illumination pulses or pixels at the extents of a sinusoidal angular scan pattern of the resonant MEMS mirror.

Abstract: A head-mounted display (HMD) system includes a lens element supported by a support structure. The lens element includes a waveguide that includes an incoupler, an outcoupler, and an exit pupil expander. The incoupler is disposed within a first area of the waveguide. The outcoupler is disposed within a second area of the waveguide. The exit pupil expander is disposed within a third area of the waveguide. An anti-reflection coating is formed via fabrication used to form the incoupler, the outcoupler, and the exit pupil expander. The anti-reflection coating is disposed within a fourth area of the waveguide different than the first, second, and third areas of the waveguide.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for accommodating multiple sets of laser light sources in an optical engine of a display system such as a laser projection system are described. Laser light beams may be combined via wavelength-, polarization-, and/or angular-separation-based techniques. First and second sets of laser light beams may be angularly separated such that different sets of partially overlapping pixels are projected by the system, thereby increasing the display pixel density and/or an expanding the field of view of the display. One or more laser die may be mounted to each submount of the optical engine. For embodiments with two laser dies on each submount, collimating lenses may introduce angular separation between laser light beams output by each pair of commonly mounted laser dies. A retroreflector prism may be disposed at a beam combiner to provide a compact extension of the optical path through the beam combiner.

Abstract: Systems and methods to reduce diffraction-angle effects, such as instances of double-bounces and bounce separation spacing effects in a laser projection system including an optical engine with laser diodes configured to emit light beams of different wavelengths and a beam combiner having a reflective surfaces each configured to receive one of the light beams from one of the laser diodes and to reflect the received light beam such that an edge of the reflected light beam lies on a tangent common to the other light beams reflected from the other reflective surfaces. The laser projection system may be implemented in head-mounted display (HMD) including a waveguide having an incoupler to receive the combined light beam, where an edge of the incoupler corresponds to the tangent on which the edges of the plurality of light beams are aligned.

Abstract: An optical engine of a display system includes first and second sets of laser light sources, which may be independently controllable, with laser light from each set of laser light sources being respectively combined to form first and second elliptical laser light beams. The first and second elliptical laser light beams may propagate along parallel or angularly separated optical paths prior to incidence at a scan mirror of an optical scanner of the system. In some embodiments, the first and second elliptical laser light beams are incident on separate regions of the reflective surface of the scan mirror. In some embodiments, the first and second elliptical laser light beams are incident on partially overlapping regions of the reflective surface of the scan mirror.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes techniques and waveguides for efficiently incoupling light of different optical characteristics at multiple incouplers in a waveguide. The waveguide includes a first incoupler to incouple light with a first optical characteristic, a second incoupler to incouple light with a second optical characteristic, and a first structure at an interface of the second incoupler to reflect light with the first optical characteristic within the waveguide.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes techniques and arrangements for directing light from an optical engine to one of a plurality of incouplers in a multiple incoupler waveguide system. For example, the present disclosure describes a plurality of reflective and transmissive elements to selectively direct light based on a plurality of optical characteristics to a first incoupler or a second incoupler.

Abstract: A head-mounted display (HMD) system including a lens element supported by a support structure, the lens element having a waveguide with an incoupler configured to receive light from an optical scanner of the HMD. The incoupler is configured with multiple features varying in at least one of height, spacing, angle, or density. The features may be separated into discrete zones along the incoupler such that at least one of height, spacing, angle, or density of the plurality of features is varied over the incoupler and constant within a given zone or the features may be varied continuously across the incoupler.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes techniques for reflecting light incoupled into a waveguide in a direction away from the outcoupler back toward the outcoupler. The waveguide includes an incoupler to incouple light of a first polarization state, and a reflective structure to receive incoupled light of the first polarization state and reflect it with a second polarization state toward the outcoupler. The reflective structure is on an opposite side of the incoupler as the outcoupler. In some embodiments, a polarization beam splitter or other polarization-selective layer is included at an interface of the incoupler and a waveguide substrate of the waveguide to transmit light of the first polarization state and reflect light of the second polarization state.