Abstract: A system includes a surface relief grating configured to forwardly diffract an input beam as two linearly polarized beams. The system also includes a waveplate optically coupled with the surface relief grating and configured to convert the two linearly polarized beams into two circularly polarized beams having orthogonal circular polarizations. The two circularly polarized beams having orthogonal circular polarizations interfere with one another to generate a polarization interference pattern.

Abstract: A Head Mounted Display (HMD) includes a pixel array having multiple pixels configured in a two-dimensional surface, each pixel providing multiple light beams forming an image provided to a user. The HMD also includes a first optical element configured to provide a central portion of a field of view for the image through an eyebox that limits a volume including a pupil of the user, and a second optical element configured to provide a peripheral portion of the field of view for the image through the eyebox, wherein the peripheral portion of the field of view comprises at least one steradian of a user's field of view at a resolution of at least fifteen arcminutes.

Abstract: A wearable device for augmented reality applications including an image generation engine to generate multiple light rays forming an image, and an eyepiece including a display to project the image to a user for an augmented reality application, is provided. The eyepiece includes a planar waveguide configured to transmit the light rays from the image generation engine. The wearable device also includes at least one optical element configured to couple the light rays into, and to provide the light rays from, the planar waveguide and through an eyebox limiting a volume that includes a pupil of the user, and a user-functional portion of the eyepiece including the at least one optical element, the user-functional portion shaped according to a pre-selected format that is aesthetically appealing to an onlooker when the immersive reality device is worn by a user.

Abstract: A beam scanner includes a substrate, a tiltable reflector hingedly supported by the substrate, and a reflective polarizer. The reflective polarizer is supported over the tiltable reflector and configured to receive and redirect a light beam towards the tiltable reflector for scanning the light beam. A projector includes the beam scanner and a light source providing a light beam. The light beam may be modulated in brightness, color, or polarization synchronously with tilting the reflector, thereby forming an image in angular domain after propagating through a pupil-replicating waveguide. At least one folding mirror may be provided for directing the light beam from the light source around the pupil-replicating waveguide, resulting in a compact overall configuration.

Abstract: A headset for virtual reality imaging is provided. The headset includes a first display configured to generate multiple light beams from a central portion of a field of view in an image provided to a user, a first optical element configured to provide the light beams forming a central portion of the field of view through an eyebox of the headset that limits a volume including a pupil of the user, and a second display configured to provide a peripheral portion of the field of view for the image through the eyebox, wherein the second display includes multiple light emitting pixels arranged in a two-dimensional surface. A system and a method for using the above headset are also provided.

Abstract: A display device includes a display, an optical assembly, and a display-moving assembly connected to the display for moving the display between a first position and a second position. When in the first position, the display outputs image light in a first direction substantially parallel to an optical axis of the optical assembly. When in the second position, the display is positioned away from the optical axis of the optical assembly. The display device also includes a partial reflector and a partial reflector-moving assembly connected to the partial reflector for moving the partial reflector between a third position and a fourth position. When the partial reflector is in the third position, the display is in the first position and the display is disposed between the optical assembly and the partial reflector. When the partial reflector is in the fourth position, the display is in the second position.

Abstract: A Head Mounted Display (HMD) includes a pixel array having multiple pixels configured in a two-dimensional surface, each pixel providing multiple light beams forming an image provided to a user. The HMD also includes a first optical element configured to provide a central portion of a field of view for the image through an eyebox that limits a volume including a pupil of the user, and a second optical element configured to provide a peripheral portion of the field of view for the image through the eyebox, wherein the peripheral portion of the field of view comprises at least one steradian of a user's field of view at a resolution of at least fifteen arcminutes.

Abstract: A varifocal ocular lens is disclosed. The varifocal ocular lens is based on a pancake lens having a polarization-folded optical path formed by two reflectors, e.g. one polarization-selective reflector and one partial reflector. By placing at least one of the reflectors onto a flexible deformable membrane, the shape e.g. radius of curvature and/or cylindricity of the reflector(s) may be dynamically changed to vary focal length and/or astigmatism of the ocular lens. Viewer's visual prescription and eye vergence may be dynamically and/or statically accommodated by the varifocal lens.

Abstract: A head mounted display for virtual reality imaging includes a pixel array including multiple pixels configured in a two-dimensional surface, each pixel providing multiple light beams forming an image provided to a user. The head mounted display also includes a first optical element to provide a central portion of a field of view for the image through an eyebox that limits a volume including a pupil of the user, and a second optical element to provide a peripheral portion of the field of view for the image through the eyebox. The second optical element includes a lenslet array to provide a segmented view of the peripheral portion of the field of view that includes at least one of a free form lenslet, a liquid crystal lenslet, a Fresnel lenslet, or a pancake lenslet. A system and a method for using the above head mounted display are also provided.

Abstract: A headset for virtual reality imaging is provided. The headset includes a first display configured to generate multiple light beams from a central portion of a field of view in an image provided to a user, a first optical element configured to provide the light beams forming a central portion of the field of view through an eyebox of the headset that limits a volume including a pupil of the user, and a second display configured to provide a peripheral portion of the field of view for the image through the eyebox, wherein the second display includes multiple light emitting pixels arranged in a two-dimensional surface. A system and a method for using the above headset are also provided.

Abstract: A Head Mounted Display (HMD) includes a pixel array having multiple pixels configured in a two-dimensional surface, each pixel providing multiple light beams forming an image provided to a user. The HMD also includes a first optical element configured to provide a central portion of a field of view for the image through an eyebox that limits a volume including a pupil of the user, and a second optical element configured to provide a peripheral portion of the field of view for the image through the eyebox, wherein the peripheral portion of the field of view comprises at least one steradian of a user's field of view at a resolution of at least fifteen arcminutes.

Abstract: A display device includes a frame, a display, an optical assembly, and a display-moving assembly connected to the display and the frame. The display-moving assembly is configured to move the display between multiple different positions, including a first position and a second position. When the display is in the first position, the display is configured to output image light in a first direction. The first direction is substantially parallel to an optical axis of the optical assembly. When the display is in the second position, the display is positioned away from the optical axis of the optical assembly.

Abstract: A beam scanner includes a substrate, a tiltable reflector hingedly supported by the substrate, and a reflective polarizer. The reflective polarizer is supported over the tiltable reflector and configured to receive and redirect a light beam towards the tiltable reflector for scanning the light beam. A projector includes the beam scanner and a light source providing a light beam. The light beam may be modulated in brightness, color, or polarization synchronously with tilting the reflector, thereby forming an image in angular domain after propagating through a pupil-replicating waveguide. At least one folding mirror may be provided for directing the light beam from the light source around the pupil-replicating waveguide, resulting in a compact overall configuration.

Abstract: The disclosed systems for positioning head-mounted displays may include a first track along which a display apparatus of a head-mounted display is configured to move in a first direction and a second track along which the display apparatus is configured to move in a second, different direction. A first electromechanical actuator may move the display apparatus along the first track, and a second electromechanical actuator may move the display apparatus along the second track. Various other methods and systems are also disclosed.