Abstract: An augmented-reality (AR) eyewear display utilizes an optical waveguide having multi-layered optical gratings in a repeating arrangement. The optical gratings include varying depths, slope angles, lengths, and/or widths in order to tune the gratings to provide an improved AR eyewear display. By using the different configurations of two-dimensional or three-dimensional gratings disclosed herein in a waveguide of an AR eyewear display, optical characteristics of the waveguide are optimized to provide, e.g., high resolution and/or contrast, high display uniformity, high input coupling efficiency, and/or high output coupling efficiency. Accordingly, in some embodiments, aspects of the present disclosure enable lower-power AR eyewear displays to produce the same quality of display of a higher-power conventional AR eyewear display waveguide.

Abstract: A system comprising a waveguide including an in-coupler and an out-coupler, and a digital micromirror device (DMD) to receive the light from the waveguide via the out-coupler, and to direct modulated light through the waveguide, the modulated light passing through the waveguide before being directed toward a user's eye.

Abstract: A polarization mechanism for a head-mounted device includes a linear polarization film and a waveplate film configured to polarize ambient light before it is guided to the eye of a user by a waveguide. The waveplate film is further configured to receive a reflection of the polarized ambient light off the waveguide and polarize the reflection in a circular direction such that the reflection is polarized in a first linear direction. The linear polarization film then receives the reflection polarized in the first linear direction from the waveplate film and polarizes the reflection in a second linear direction perpendicular to the first linear direction.

Abstract: A head mounted display system to display an image, the head mounted display system comprising a display engine to generate light for a display, the system configured to color specific settings to one or more colors of the light. In one embodiment, the color specific settings comprises one or more of: colors having different resolutions, different focal distances, and different fields of view.

Abstract: To help reduce glints in head-worn device (HWD), a HWD includes a spatially selective tinting architecture. To this end, the HWD includes a frame to be worn by a user. Further, the HWD includes a first lens that has a first portion including a tint configured to block at least a portion of ambient light and a second portion including an aperture. Additionally, the HWD includes a waveguide having an outcoupler configured to provide light to the aperture of the first lens. The first lens and waveguide are aligned such that a portion of ambient light from outside the HWD is blocked before reaching the user while light from the waveguide passes through to the user unattenuated.

Abstract: An on-wafer testing mechanism includes multiple waveguides and test structures disposed on a wafer. Light sources are coupled to the wafer and provide beams of light to the structures disposed on the wafer by propagating the light through the wafer. In response to receiving at least a portion of a beam of light, a test structure is configured to guide the light to an exit location on the test structure. As light exits a test structure, a conoscope determines the diffraction efficiency of the test structure based on a measurement taken of the light exiting the test structure.

Abstract: A first waveguide of a stacked waveguide located closest to the eye of a user operates in a reflection mode such that the set of grating structures of the first waveguide are disposed on a surface of the first waveguide opposite the eye of the user and towards the interior of the stacked waveguide. Additionally, a second waveguide of the stacked waveguide located further from the eye of the user operates in a transmission mode such that the grating structures of the second waveguide are disposed on a surface of the second waveguide facing the eye of the user and facing the interior of the stacked waveguide.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides techniques to reduce the appearance of an illuminated area on the world-side of lens of a head mounted display (HMD) caused by display light that is outcoupled away from a user. A perimeter region is added to surround a primary region of an outcoupler, where the primary region includes a primary grating structure with one or more grating features to direct display light to the field of view (FOV) area of the user of the HMD. The perimeter region includes a perimeter grating structure with a perimeter grating feature that changes across the width of the perimeter region. In this manner, the perimeter region provides a perimeter grating structure gradient that gradually reduces the intensity of outcoupled display light across the width of the perimeter region, thereby having the effect of “softening” the edges of the outcoupler to reduce its appearance to observers.

Abstract: A system comprising a waveguide including an in-coupler and an out-coupler, and a digital micromirror device (DMD) to receive the light from the waveguide via the out-coupler, and to direct modulated light through the waveguide, the modulated light passing through the waveguide before being directed toward a user's eye.

Abstract: A system for displaying a virtual image to a user includes a light engine to generate a display light representing the virtual image; a diffractive waveguide to converge a first component light of the generated display light at a first focal distance from an eye of the user, and to converge one or more additional component lights of the generated display light at one or more distinct other focal distances from the eye of the user; and one or more processors communicatively coupled to the light engine and configured to modify the virtual image in order to compensate for a perceived distortion of at least one additional component light of the one or more additional component lights.

Abstract: A system for displaying a virtual image to a user includes a light engine to generate a display light representing the virtual image, a diffractive waveguide, and an incoupler and outcoupler that are each optically coupled to the diffractive waveguide. In operation, the incoupler receives the display light from the light engine and directs the received display light to the diffractive waveguide, and the outcoupler directs at least a portion of the display light from the diffractive waveguide to an eye of the user. The diffractive waveguide is configured to converge a first component light of the generated display light at a first focal distance from the eye of the user, and to converge one or more additional component lights of the generated display light at one or more distinct other focal distances from the eye of the user.

Abstract: A head mounted display system to display an image, the head mounted display system comprising a display engine to generate light for a display, the system configured to color specific settings to one or more colors of the light. In one embodiment, the color specific settings comprises one or more of: colors having different resolutions, different focal distances, and different fields of view.

Abstract: An illumination waveguide is described having a top surface and a bottom surface, and a plurality of reflective elements within the waveguide, the reflective elements at an angle to the top surface of the waveguide, the reflective elements providing one or more of: an in-coupler, an out-coupler, and an extender to the waveguide. The illumination waveguide is configured such that light from the waveguide is directed to a spatial light modulator, and the modulated light is directed through the waveguide to a user.

Abstract: A head mounted display system to display an image, the head mounted display system comprising a display engine to generate light for a display, the system configured to color specific settings to one or more colors of the light. In one embodiment, the color specific settings comprises one or more of: colors having different resolutions, different focal distances, and different fields of view.

Abstract: An eye-tracking system is provided. The system includes an at least partially transparent visible light waveguide having a visible light display region configured to emit visible light to impinge upon an eye of a user. A light source is configured to emit at least infrared (IR) light that travels along an IR light path to impinge on the eye. A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) scanning mirror positioned in the IR light path is configured to direct the IR light along the IR light path. A relay positioned in the IR light path downstream of the MEMS scanning mirror includes at least one mirror configured to reflect the IR light along the IR light path. At least one sensor is configured to receive the IR light after being reflected by the eye.

Abstract: An eye-tracking system includes an at least partially transparent visible light waveguide having a visible light display region configured to emit visible light to an eye of a user. A light source is configured to emit at least infrared (IR) light that travels along an IR light path to the eye of the user. A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) projector positioned in the IR light path directs the IR light. At least one diffractive input coupler on an input end of the IR light path downstream of the MEMS projector diffracts at least a portion of the IR light. At least one diffractive output coupler positioned in the IR light path downstream of the diffractive input coupler receives the IR light and directs the IR light toward the eye. At least one sensor is configured to receive the IR light after being reflected by the eye.

Abstract: A resonating optical waveguide that increases image intensity and uniformity is provided. The waveguide includes a first diffractive optical element that allows light from an exit pupil of a projector to enter the waveguide and travel in a first direction, and a second diffractive optical element that directs some of the entered light to exit the waveguide to form an expanded pupil. Rather than allow the remaining, non-directed, light to exit at an edge of the waveguide, the optical waveguide further includes a third diffractive optical element that redirects some the remaining light back through the second diffractive optical element in a second direction where it may exit the waveguide as part of the expanded pupil. An additional fourth diffractive optical element may be included to further redirect the light through the second diffractive optical element again.

Abstract: An eye-tracking system is provided. An at least partially transparent visible light waveguide has a visible light display region configured to emit visible light to an eye of a user. A light source is configured to emit at least infrared (IR) light that travels along an IR light path to the eye of the user. A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) projector positioned in the IR light path directs the IR light. At least one diffractive input coupler on an input end of the IR light path downstream of the MEMS projector diffracts at least a portion of the IR light. At least one diffractive output coupler positioned in the IR light path downstream of the diffractive input coupler receives the IR light and directs the IR light toward the eye. At least one sensor is configured to receive the IR light after being reflected by the eye.

Abstract: A waveguide increases the optical path of a portion of light received from a coherent light source. The waveguide includes a first element that allows light from an exit pupil of a coherent light source to enter the waveguide, and a second element that directs some of the entered light to exit the waveguide through a first set of pupils. The waveguide includes additional elements that cause the remaining light to make an additional path through the waveguide and the second element before exiting through a second set of pupils to increase the path of the exiting light. The pupils of the first set and the second set are staggered so that light exiting a pupil does not interfere with the light exiting via the neighboring pupils.

Abstract: An eye-tracking system is provided. The system includes an at least partially transparent visible light waveguide having a visible light display region configured to emit visible light to impinge upon an eye of a user. A light source is configured to emit at least infrared (IR) light that travels along an IR light path to impinge on the eye. A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) scanning mirror positioned in the IR light path is configured to direct the IR light along the IR light path. A relay positioned in the IR light path downstream of the MEMS scanning mirror includes at least one mirror configured to reflect the IR light along the IR light path. At least one sensor is configured to receive the IR light after being reflected by the eye.