Abstract: Display devices include waveguides with in-coupling optical elements that mitigate re-bounce of in-coupled light to improve in-coupling efficiency and/or uniformity. A waveguide receives light from a light source and includes an in-coupling optical element that in-couples the received light to propagate by total internal reflection within the waveguide. The in-coupled light may undergo re-bounce, in which the light reflects off a waveguide surface and, after the reflection, strikes the in-coupling optical element. Upon striking the in-coupling optical element, the light may be partially absorbed and/or out-coupled by the optical element, thereby reducing the amount of in-coupled light propagating through the waveguide.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for displays, such as for a head wearable device. An example display can include an infrared illumination layer, the infrared illumination layer including a substrate, one or more LEDs disposed on a first surface of the substrate, and a first encapsulation layer disposed on the first surface of the substrate, where the encapsulation layer can include a nano-patterned surface. In some examples, the nano-patterned surface can be configured to improve a visible light transmittance of the illumination layer. In one or more examples, embodiments disclosed herein may provide a robust illumination layer that can reduce the haze associated with an illumination layer.

Abstract: A waveguide stack having color-selective regions on one or more waveguides. The color-selective regions are configured to absorb incident light of a first wavelength range in such a way as to reduce or prevent the incident light of the first wavelength range from coupling into a waveguide configured to transmit a light of a second wavelength range.

Abstract: The disclosure describes an improved drop-on-demand, controlled volume technique for dispensing resist onto a substrate, which is then imprinted to create a patterned optical device suitable for use in optical applications such as augmented reality and/or mixed reality systems. The technique enables the dispensation of drops of resist at precise locations on the substrate, with precisely controlled drop volume corresponding to an imprint template having different zones associated with different total resist volumes. Controlled drop size and placement also provides for substantially less variation in residual layer thickness across the surface of the substrate after imprinting, compared to previously available techniques. The technique employs resist having a refractive index closer to that of the substrate index, reducing optical artifacts in the device.

Abstract: An eyepiece includes an optical waveguide, a transmissive input coupler at a first end of the optical waveguide, an output coupler at a second end of the optical waveguide, and a polymeric color absorbing region along a portion of the optical waveguide between the transmissive input coupler and the output coupler. The transmissive input coupler is configured to couple incident visible light to the optical waveguide, and the color-absorbing region is configured to absorb a component of the visible light as the visible light propagates through the optical waveguide.

Abstract: An augmented reality device includes a projector, projector optics optically coupled to the projector, and a substrate structure including a substrate having an incident surface and an opposing exit surface and a first variable thickness film coupled to the incident surface. The substrate structure can also include a first combined pupil expander coupled to the first variable thickness film, a second variable thickness film coupled to the opposing exit surface, an incoupling grating coupled to the opposing exit surface, and a second combined pupil expander coupled to the opposing exit surface.

Abstract: Diffraction gratings provide optical elements, e.g., in a head-mountable display system, that can affect light, for example by incoupling light into a waveguide, outcoupling light out of a waveguide, and/or multiplying light propagating in a waveguide. The diffraction gratings may be configured to have reduced polarization sensitivity such that light of different polarization states, or polarized and unpolarized light, is incoupled, outcoupled, multiplied, or otherwise affected with a similar level of efficiency. The reduced polarization sensitivity may be achieved through provision of a transmissive layer and a metallic layer on one or more gratings. A diffraction grating may comprise a blazed grating or other suitable configuration.

Abstract: Fabricating a high refractive index photonic device includes disposing a polymerizable composition on a first surface of a first substrate and contacting the polymerizable composition with a first surface of a second substrate, thereby spreading the polymerizable composition on the first surface of the first substrate. The polymerizable composition is cured to yield a polymeric structure having a first surface in contact with the first surface of the first substrate, a second surface opposite the first surface of the polymeric structure and in contact with the first surface of the second substrate, and a selected residual layer thickness between the first surface of the polymeric structure and the second surface of the polymeric structure in the range of 10 ?m to 1 cm. The polymeric structure is separated from the first substrate and the second substrate to yield a monolithic photonic device having a refractive index of at least 1.6.

Abstract: Display devices include waveguides with in-coupling optical elements that mitigate re-bounce of in-coupled light to improve overall in-coupling efficiency and/or uniformity. A waveguide receives light from a light source and/or projection optics and includes an in-coupling optical element that in-couples the received light to propagate by total internal reflection in a propagation direction within the waveguide. Once in-coupled into the waveguide the light may undergo re-bounce, in which the light reflects off a waveguide surface and, after the reflection, strikes the in-coupling optical element. Upon striking the in-coupling optical element, the light may be partially absorbed and/or out-coupled by the optical element, thereby effectively reducing the amount of in-coupled light propagating through the waveguide.

Abstract: The disclosure describes an improved drop-on-demand, controlled volume technique for dispensing resist onto a substrate, which is then imprinted to create a patterned optical device suitable for use in optical applications such as augmented reality and/or mixed reality systems. The technique enables the dispensation of drops of resist at precise locations on the substrate, with precisely controlled drop volume corresponding to an imprint template having different zones associated with different total resist volumes. Controlled drop size and placement also provides for substantially less variation in residual layer thickness across the surface of the substrate after imprinting, compared to previously available techniques. The technique employs resist having a refractive index closer to that of the substrate index, reducing optical artifacts in the device.

Abstract: Diffraction gratings provide optical elements in head-mounted display systems to, e.g., incouple light into or outcouple light out of a waveguide. These diffraction gratings may be configured to have reduced polarization sensitivity. Such gratings may, for example, incouple or outcouple light of different polarizations, or polarized and unpolarized light, with a similar level of efficiency. The diffraction gratings and waveguides may include a transmissive layer and a metal layer. The diffraction grating may comprise a blazed grating.

Abstract: Blazed diffraction gratings provide optical elements in head-mounted display systems to, e.g., incouple light into or out-couple light out of a waveguide. These blazed diffraction gratings may be configured to have reduced polarization sensitivity. Such gratings may, for example, incouple or outcouple light of different polarizations with similar level of efficiency. The blazed diffraction gratings and waveguides may be formed in a high refractive index substrate such as lithium niobate. In some implementations, the blazed diffraction gratings may include diffractive features having a feature height of 40 nm to 120 nm, for example, 80 nm. The diffractive features may be etched into the high index substrate, e.g., lithium niobate.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for fabricating molds for forming waveguides with integrated spacers for forming eyepieces. The molds are formed by etching features (e.g., 1 ?m to 1000 ?m deep) into a substrate comprising single crystalline material using an anisotropic wet etch. The etch masks for defining the large features may comprise a plurality of holes, wherein the size and shape of each hole at least partially determine the depth of the corresponding large feature. The holes may be aligned along a crystal axis of the substrate and the etching may automatically stop due to the crystal structure of the substrate. The patterned substrate may be utilized as a mold onto which a flowable polymer may be introduced and allowed to harden. Hardened polymer in the holes may form a waveguide with integrated spacers. The mold may be also used to fabricate a platform comprising a plurality of vertically extending microstructures of precise heights, to test the curvature or flatness of a sample, e.g.

Abstract: An imprint lithography method of configuring an optical layer includes selecting one or more parameters of a nanolayer to be applied to a substrate for changing an effective refractive index of the substrate and imprinting the nanolayer on the substrate to change the effective refractive index of the substrate such that a relative amount of light transmittable through the substrate is changed by a selected amount.

Abstract: Recesses are formed on a front side and a rear side of a waveguide. A solid porogen material is spun onto the front side and the rear side and fills the recesses. First front and rear cap layers are then formed on raised formations of the waveguide and on the solid porogen material. The entire structure is then heated and the solid porogen material decomposes to a porogen gas. The first front and rear cap layers are porous to allow the porogen gas to escape and air to enter into the recesses. The air maximizes a difference in refractive indices between the high-index transparent material of the waveguide and the air to promote reflection in the waveguide from interfaces between the waveguide and the air.

Abstract: An optical device, such as an eyepiece, including multiple layers of waveguides. The optical device can include an edge sealant for reducing light contamination, a lamination dam to restrict the wicking of the edge sealant between layers of the optical device, and venting gap(s) in the sealant and dam to allow air flow between the exterior and interior of the eyepiece. The gap(s) allow outgassing from the interior of the eyepiece of unreacted polymer and/or accumulated moisture, to prevent defect accumulation caused by chemical reaction of outgassed chemicals with the (e.g., ionic, acidic, etc.) surface of the eyepiece layers. The gap(s) also prevent pressure differences which may physically deform the eyepiece over time.

Abstract: Blazed diffraction gratings provide optical elements in head-mounted display systems to, e.g., incouple light into or out-couple light out of a waveguide. These blazed diffraction gratings may be configured to have reduced polarization sensitivity. Such gratings may, for example, incouple or outcouple light of different polarizations with similar level of efficiency. The blazed diffraction gratings and waveguides may be formed in a high refractive index substrate such as lithium niobate. In some implementations, the blazed diffraction gratings may include diffractive features having a feature height of 40 nm to 120 nm, for example, 80 nm. The diffractive features may be etched into the high index substrate, e.g., lithium niobate.

Abstract: Waveguides comprising materials with refractive index greater than or equal to 1.8 and methods of patterning waveguides are disclosed. Patterned waveguides comprising materials with refractive index greater than or equal to 1.8 can be incorporated in display devices, such as, for example wearable display devices to project virtual images to a viewer. A waveguide may be transparent and may comprise a substrate comprising a first material having a first refractive index greater than about 2.0. Diffractive features may be formed, on the substrate, of a second material having a second refractive index that is lower than the first refractive index. A third material may be disposed over the diffractive features and may have a third refractive index that is higher than the second refractive index.

Abstract: Recesses are formed on a front side and a rear side of a waveguide. A solid porogen material is spun onto the front side and the rear side and fills the recesses. First front and rear cap layers are then formed on raised formations of the waveguide and on the solid porogen material. The entire structure is then heated and the solid porogen material decomposes to a porogen gas. The first front and rear cap layers are porous to allow the porogen gas to escape and air to enter into the recesses. The air maximizes a difference in refractive indices between the high-index transparent material of the waveguide and the air to promote reflection in the waveguide from interfaces between the waveguide and the air.

Abstract: An imprint lithography method of configuring an optical layer includes selecting one or more parameters of a nanolayer to be applied to a substrate for changing an effective refractive index of the substrate and imprinting the nanolayer on the substrate to change the effective refractive index of the substrate such that a relative amount of light transmittable through the substrate is changed by a selected amount.