Abstract: An electronic eyewear device including a spatial dimming pixel panel within an optical assembly that delivers improved backlighting conditions for displayed images. The spatial dimming pixel panel is spatially dimmed where an image is positioned on a display, and the unoccupied area of the display is not dimmed (undimmed), thereby unaltering the real-world view through that portion of the display. The spatial dimming pixel panel is made of multiple liquid crystal cells arranged in a gridded orientation with a dye-doped or guest-host liquid crystal system having a phase change mode with homeotropic alignment. The spatial dimming pixel panel absorbs nonpolarized light when a voltage is applied across the cells and passes nonpolarized light in the absence of a voltage across the cells.

Abstract: A compact projector for eyewear including a refractive lens to achromatize an image and to reduce the size of the projector. The compact projector includes two total internal reflection (TIR) prisms, a polarizing beamsplitter, a quarter-wave plate, and the refractive lens combining refractive and reflective power, referred to as catadioptric. In one example, a light source generates light that is directed through a collector, into a first TIR prism, to the polarizing beamsplitter, and to a display panel. The display panel modulates the light and creates an image. The image is directed through the beamsplitter, into a second TIR prism, through a quarter-wave plate, and then to the refractive lens. The refractive lens reflects the image back into the second TIR prism, and which image then exits to a waveguide. In a second example, the display generates an illuminated image which is then processed as in the first example.

Abstract: A compact projector for eyewear including a refractive lens to achromatize an image and to reduce the size of the projector. The compact projector includes two total internal reflection (TIR) prisms, a polarizing beamsplitter, a quarter-wave plate, and the refractive lens combining refractive and reflective power, referred to as catadioptric. In one example, a light source generates light that is directed through a collector, into a first TIR prism, to the polarizing beamsplitter, and to a display panel. The display panel modulates the light and creates an image. The image is directed through the beamsplitter, into a second TIR prism, through a quarter-wave plate, and then to the refractive lens. The refractive lens reflects the image back into the second TIR prism, and which image then exits to a waveguide. In a second example, the display generates an illuminated image which is then processed as in the first example.

Abstract: Eyewear having a stereoscopic display including a lens system, and a non-uniform push-pull lens set wherein the lenses have an increasing optical power from top to bottom to pull virtual imagery closer to the top-back form of the blur and binocular horopters. The center of the optical power is slanted towards the nasal region from top to bottom to mimic the blur horopter's rotation. This provides an increase in user comfort for viewing virtual images on the stereoscopic display. One or both lenses of the push-pull set may have an area of electrically switchable optical power.

Abstract: Eyewear having a stereoscopic display including a lens system, and a push-pull lens set including prisms to produce a binocular overlap of two images that coincides with an accommodation plane. The overlap of two virtual images generated by a respective display as seen by the user's two eyes provides user comfort. The stereoscopic display may have a single accommodation plane, where the binocular overlap of the two virtual images depends on the location of the accommodation plane and the depth of the content formed by disparity in the two images. By providing the content at or near the location where the virtual images are at least substantially overlapped, the user viewing comfort is improved. The binocular overlap is controlled by tilting or steering the virtual images inward, such that the overlap occurs at the accommodation plane.

Abstract: A compact projector for eyewear including a refractive lens to achromatize an image and to reduce the size of the projector. The compact projector includes two total internal reflection (TIR) prisms, a polarizing beamsplitter, a quarter-wave plate, and the refractive lens combining refractive and reflective power, referred to as catadioptric. In one example, a light source generates light that is directed through a collector, into a first TIR prism, to the polarizing beamsplitter, and to a display panel. The display panel modulates the light and creates an image. The image is directed through the beamsplitter, into a second TIR prism, through a quarter-wave plate, and then to the refractive lens. The refractive lens reflects the image back into the second TIR prism, and which image then exits to a waveguide. In a second example, the display generates an illuminated image which is then processed as in the first example.

Abstract: A compact projector for eyewear including a refractive lens to achromatize an image and to reduce the size of the projector. The compact projector includes two total internal reflection (TIR) prisms, a polarizing beamsplitter, a quarter-wave plate, and the refractive lens combining refractive and reflective power, referred to as catadioptric. In one example, a light source generates light that is directed through a collector, into a first TIR prism, to the polarizing beamsplitter, and to a display panel. The display panel modulates the light and creates an image. The image is directed through the beamsplitter, into a second TIR prism, through a quarter-wave plate, and then to the refractive lens. The refractive lens reflects the image back into the second TIR prism, and which image then exits to a waveguide. In a second example, the display generates an illuminated image which is then processed as in the first example.

Abstract: Eyewear having a stereoscopic display including a lens system, and a push-pull lens set including prisms to produce a binocular overlap of two images that coincides with an accommodation plane. The overlap of two virtual images generated by a respective display as seen by the user's two eyes provides user comfort. The stereoscopic display may have a single accommodation plane, where the binocular overlap of the two virtual images depends on the location of the accommodation plane and the depth of the content formed by disparity in the two images. By providing the content at or near the location where the virtual images are at least substantially overlapped, the user viewing comfort is improved. The binocular overlap is controlled by tilting or steering the virtual images inward, such that the overlap occurs at the accommodation plane.

Abstract: Eyewear having a stereoscopic display including a lens system, and a push-pull lens set including prisms to produce a binocular overlap of two images that coincides with an accommodation plane. The overlap of two virtual images generated by a respective display as seen by the user's two eyes provides user comfort. The stereoscopic display may have a single accommodation plane, where the binocular overlap of the two virtual images depends on the location of the accommodation plane and the depth of the content formed by disparity in the two images. By providing the content at or near the location where the virtual images are at least substantially overlapped, the user viewing comfort is improved. The binocular overlap is controlled by tilting or steering the virtual images inward, such that the overlap occurs at the accommodation plane.

Abstract: An artifact mitigation system includes a projector assembly and a set of imaging optics optically coupled to the projector assembly. The artifact mitigation system also includes an eyepiece optically coupled to the set of imaging optics. The eyepiece includes a diffractive incoupling interface. The artifact mitigation system further includes an artifact prevention element disposed between the set of imaging optics and the eyepiece. The artifact prevention element includes a linear polarizer, a first quarter waveplate disposed adjacent the linear polarizer, and a color select component disposed adjacent the first quarter waveplate.

Abstract: Eyewear having a stereoscopic display including a lens system, and a push-pull lens set including prisms to produce a binocular overlap of two images that coincides with an accommodation plane. The overlap of two virtual images generated by a respective display as seen by the user's two eyes provides user comfort. The stereoscopic display may have a single accommodation plane, where the binocular overlap of the two virtual images depends on the location of the accommodation plane and the depth of the content formed by disparity in the two images. By providing the content at or near the location where the virtual images are at least substantially overlapped, the user viewing comfort is improved. The binocular overlap is controlled by tilting or steering the virtual images inward, such that the overlap occurs at the accommodation plane.

Abstract: An artifact mitigation system includes a projector assembly and a set of imaging optics optically coupled to the projector assembly. The artifact mitigation system also includes an eyepiece optically coupled to the set of imaging optics. The eyepiece includes a diffractive incoupling interface. The artifact mitigation system further includes an artifact prevention element disposed between the set of imaging optics and the eyepiece. The artifact prevention element includes a linear polarizer, a first quarter waveplate disposed adjacent the linear polarizer, and a color select component disposed adjacent the first quarter waveplate.

Abstract: An artifact mitigation system includes a projector assembly, a set of imaging optics optically coupled to the projector assembly, and an eyepiece optically coupled to the set of imaging optics. The eyepiece includes an incoupling interface. The artifact mitigation system also includes an artifact prevention element disposed between the set of imaging optics and the eyepiece. The artifact prevention element includes a linear polarizer, a first quarter waveplate disposed adjacent the linear polarizer, and a color select component disposed adjacent the first quarter waveplate.

Abstract: An artifact mitigation system includes a projector assembly, a set of imaging optics optically coupled to the projector assembly, and an eyepiece optically coupled to the set of imaging optics. The eyepiece includes an incoupling interface. The artifact mitigation system also includes an artifact prevention element disposed between the set of imaging optics and the eyepiece. The artifact prevention element includes a linear polarizer, a first quarter waveplate disposed adjacent the linear polarizer, and a color select component disposed adjacent the first quarter waveplate.

Abstract: Described are methods, systems and apparatuses that provide light sources to illuminate an LCD panel for a visual display. A light source includes a light emitting diode (LED) and a spectral filter. The spectral filter is operable to transmit a first set of spectral bands and block a second set of spectral bands from the LED. The spectral filter may be based on retarder stack technology or dichroic filter technology. Polarization and light recirculation techniques are disclosed and implementations into display systems described. These approaches are deemed useful for LED illuminated direct view color encoded stereoscopic systems based on LCD technology.

Abstract: An image generator having an illuminator, a reflective display device (in one embodiment) and a beamsplitter which produces a virtual image of an image created in a light modulating medium on said reflective display device. In one embodiment, the image generator is a miniature image generator for a relatively small, lightweight head-mounted display which provides a magnified virtual image which is viewed by a viewer. The beamsplitter is optically coupled to the reflective display device. The beamsplitter comprises a film having a plurality of layers including at least a first layer which comprises an oriented birefringent material. The beamsplitter has a wide angle of acceptance.

Abstract: A system for recording and reading out holograms in a storage medium including a pattern encoder, a first fourier transform lens with a focal length f1, a second fourier transform lens with a focal length f2, a detector array, and a first and second prism. The first prism is located between the pattern encoder and the first fourier transform lens, wherein the optical length between the pattern encoder and the first fourier transform lens through the first prism is equal to a back focal length BFL1. The second prism located between the second fourier transform lens f2 and the detector array, wherein the optical path length between the second fourier transform lens and the detector array through the second prism is equal to a back focal length BFL2.

Abstract: A system for recording and reading out holograms in a storage medium comprising a pattern encoder, a first fourier transform lens with a focal length f1, a second fourier transform lens with a focal length f2, a detector array, and a first and second prism. The first prism is located between the pattern encoder and the first fourier transform lens, wherein the optical length between the pattern encoder and the first fourier transform lens through the first prism is equal to a back focal length BFL1. The second prism located between the second fourier transform lens f2 and the detector array, wherein the optical path length between the second fourier transform lens and the detector array through the second prism is equal to a back focal length BFL2.

Abstract: An enhanced illumination system for a micro-display comprises an illuminator for a reflective display panel having a light source and a prism. The prism has a first substantially planar face proximate to the light source and to the display panel, so that light propagates from the light source into the prism through the first face and is redirected to the display panel through the first face. A second face of the prism is positioned opposite the light source so that light reflected from the display panel impinges on the second face and propagates to imaging optics. The illuminator may also include an auxiliary prism optically coupled to the second face of the first prism to correct for astigmatism of the reflected light from the display panel and a beam splitter between the first prism and the auxiliary prism.

Abstract: The present invention provides an enhanced illumination system for a micro-display. In one embodiment, the invention is an illuminator for a reflective display panel having a light source and a prism. The prism has a first substantially planar face proximate to the light source and to the display panel, so that light propagates from the light source into the prism through the first face and is redirected to the display panels through the first face.