Abstract: This document relates to an optical device that uses adaptive optics as part of an optical system. The adaptive optics can be used to correct light rays that correspond to a portion of an eye box based on information received from an eye-tracking unit, and can also correct for aberrations in the optics in the optical device. The adaptive optics include corrective elements that can be modified using modifying elements to correct the angle of light rays, such that rays associated with a specific pupil position and gaze direction of a user's eye can be made parallel and ensure a high quality image is viewed by the user.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes near-eye display systems including an array of projectors and a one-dimensional exit pupil expander. The array of projectors can be arranged along a first dimension and can output image light towards an input coupler within a waveguide that provides one-dimensional exit pupil expansion. In some implementations, arrays of monochromatic projectors are implemented and arranged in offset columns. The input coupler in-couples the image light from the array of projectors into a TIR path within the waveguide. Different optical elements, including diffractive and reflective optics, may be implemented as the input coupler. The image light travels within the waveguide until it interacts with an output coupler. Upon interaction with the output coupler, the image light is expanded in a second dimension transverse to the first dimension and is coupled out of the waveguide.

Abstract: A device includes a frame configured to be supported in front of a user eye. The frame has a first side facing the user eye and a second side opposite the first side and facing an environment. A light emitting diode is supported by the frame to emit light. The light emitting diode is obscured by an opaque material from an observer in front of the user in the environment. A light deflector is supported by the frame to direct the emitted light from the light emitting diode towards the user eye.

Abstract: Examples are disclosed that relate to using an array of hot mirrors in an eye-imaging system. One example provides a head-mounted display system, comprising a frame, an eye-imaging camera supported on the frame, a switchable hot mirror array comprising a plurality of switchable hot mirrors configured to direct light reflecting from an eye toward the eye-imaging camera, and a controller configured to control switching of a reflectivity of each of the plurality of switchable hot mirrors.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure are directed towards safely projecting a diffracted light pattern, such as in an infrared laser-based projection/illumination system. Non-diffracted (zero-order) light is refracted once to diffuse (defocus) the non-diffracted light to an eye safe level. Diffracted (non-zero-order) light is aberrated twice, e.g., once as part of diffraction by a diffracting optical element encoded with a Fresnel lens (which does not aberrate the non-diffracted light), and another time to cancel out the other aberration; the two aberrations may occur in either order. Various alternatives include upstream and downstream positioning of the diffracting optical element relative to a refractive optical element, and/or refraction via positive and negative lenses.

Abstract: An illumination system for non-emissive polarization-sensitive microdisplays such as LCoS is implemented in a waveguide that guides illumination light from an unpolarized source to the microdisplay while simultaneously recycling light of the wrong polarization for the microdisplay to improve illumination efficiency. Polarization recycling may be performed at one or more of an input coupler that in-couples illumination light to the waveguide, the waveguide itself, or an output coupler that out-couples the illumination light from the waveguide to the microdisplay.

Abstract: Examples are disclosed that relate to using an array of hot mirrors in an eye-imaging system. One example provides a head-mounted display system, comprising a frame, an eye-imaging camera supported on the frame, a switchable hot mirror array comprising a plurality of switchable hot mirrors configured to direct light reflecting from an eye toward the eye-imaging camera, and a controller configured to control switching of a reflectivity of each of the plurality of switchable hot mirrors.

Abstract: Slanted surface relief gratings for use in an optical display system in an HMD device are replicated in a manufacturing process that utilizes non-contact optical proximity recording into a specialized photo-sensitive resin that is disposed over a waveguide substrate. The recording process comprises selective resin exposure to ultraviolet light through a mask to spatially record grating structures by interferential exposure and polymerization. Subsequent resin development evacuates unexposed resin down to the waveguide substrate to remove flat surfaces, referred to as a bias layer, that remain in the grating trenches after exposure. The resin development reduces Fresnel reflections that could otherwise be induced at the media interface between the bias layer and the waveguide substrate. Fresnel reflections may cause a loss of diffraction efficiency and thereby reduce the field of view that may be guided by the SRGs in the optical display system.

Abstract: One disclosed example provides a near-eye display device. The near-eye display device comprises an eye tracking system configured to determine a position of an eye of a user relative to the near-eye display device, and a waveguide including at least an input coupler and an output coupler, the output coupler including a plurality of zones, each zone activatable via a dynamically controllable output coupling element of the zone. The near-eye display device further comprises an image source configured to output image light to the input coupler, and a controller configured to selectively activate one or more zones of the output coupler based at least on the position of the eye.

Abstract: Examples are disclosed that relate to a compact optical systems comprising SLMs. One example provides a projection system comprising an illumination stage including a light emitting diode (LED) array. The LED array comprises a plurality of red LEDs, a plurality of green LEDs, and a plurality of blue LEDs. The illumination stage further comprises an illumination stage optical system configured to control an angular extent of light emitted by the LED array and homogenize the light emitted by the LED array. The projection system further comprises an image forming stage configured to form an image from light output by the illumination stage, the image forming stage comprising a spatial light modulator (SLM) configured to spatially modulate the light output by the illumination stage to form an image, and one or more projection optics configured to project the image formed by the spatial light modulator.

Abstract: This document relates to an optical device that uses adaptive optics as part of an optical system. The adaptive optics can be used to correct light rays that correspond to a portion of an eye box based on information received from an eye-tracking unit, and can also correct for aberrations in the optics in the optical device. The adaptive optics include corrective elements that can be modified using modifying elements to correct the angle of light rays, such that rays associated with a specific pupil position and gaze direction of a user's eye can be made parallel and ensure a high quality image is viewed by the user.

Abstract: Examples are provided related to using multiplexed diffractive elements to improve eye tracking systems. One example provides a head-mounted display device comprising a see-through display system comprising a transparent combiner having an array of diffractive elements, and an eye tracking system comprising one or more light sources configured to direct light toward an eyebox of the see-through display system, and also comprising an eye tracking camera. The array of diffractive elements comprises a plurality of multiplexed diffractive elements configured to direct images of a respective plurality of different perspectives of the eyebox toward the eye tracking camera.

Abstract: This document relates to an optical device that uses adaptive optics as part of an optical system. The adaptive optics can be used to correct light rays that correspond to a portion of an eye box based on information received from an eye-tracking unit, and can also correct for aberrations in the optics in the optical device. The adaptive optics include corrective elements that can be modified using modifying elements to correct the angle of light rays, such that rays associated with a specific pupil position and gaze direction of a user's eye can be made parallel and ensure a high quality image is viewed by the user.

Abstract: An image forming system includes a spatial light modulator (SLM) including a plurality of pixels. Each pixel is configured to diffract incident light and cause the diffracted light to exit the SLM, where a first diffraction order of light exiting the SLM passes through a first exit pupil and higher diffraction orders of light exiting the SLM pass through additional exit pupils having different positions from the first exit pupil. Control logic operatively coupled to the plurality of pixels is configured to control each pixel to control its modulation of the light incident on the pixel and cause the plurality of pixels to collectively form an image at each exit pupil. A light source is configured to emit incident light toward the SLM. A resampling layer is configured to subsample each pixel electrode with two or more samples per pixel to increase a spacing between each exit pupil.

Abstract: This document relates to head mounted display devices. One example can include a layer of individually controllable pixels that can be energized to emit light and a layer of lenses that are physically aligned over the pixels. The example can also include a layer of shutters interposed between the pixels and the lenses and configured to be independently transitioned between a transmissive state and an opaque state to limit paths of the emitted light that reach the layer of lenses.

Abstract: A device includes a frame configured to be supported in front of a user eye. The frame has a first side facing the user eye and a second side opposite the first side and facing an environment. A light emitting diode is supported by the frame to emit light. The light emitting diode is obscured by an opaque material from an observer in front of the user in the environment. A light deflector is supported by the frame to direct the emitted light from the light emitting diode towards the user eye.

Abstract: This document relates to head mounted display devices. In one example the head mounted display device includes a light engine including an array of individually controllable pixels that can be energized to emit light. The example also includes an optical assembly physically aligned with the light engine and including a set of focusing elements facing toward the light engine and a different set of focusing elements facing away from the light engine.

Abstract: This document relates to head mounted display devices. One example can include a layer of individually controllable pixels that can be energized to emit light and a layer of lenses that are physically aligned over the pixels. The example can also include a layer of shutters interposed between the pixels and the lenses and configured to be independently transitioned between a transmissive state and an opaque state to limit paths of the emitted light that reach the layer of lenses.

Abstract: An image forming system includes a spatial light modulator (SLM) including a plurality of pixels. Each pixel is configured to diffract incident light and cause the diffracted light to exit the SLM, where a first diffraction order of light exiting the SLM passes through a first exit pupil and higher diffraction orders of light exiting the SLM pass through additional exit pupils having different positions from the first exit pupil. Control logic operatively coupled to the plurality of pixels is configured to control each pixel to control its modulation of the light incident on the pixel and cause the plurality of pixels to collectively form an image at each exit pupil. A light source is configured to emit incident light toward the SLM. A resampling layer is configured to subsample each pixel electrode with two or more samples per pixel to increase a spacing between each exit pupil.

Abstract: A head-mounted, near-eye display device includes a central display and a peripheral display. The central display creates a central image of a first resolution in a central eyebox. The peripheral display creates a peripheral image of a second resolution, lower than the first resolution, in a peripheral eyebox, different than the central eyebox.