Abstract: A varifocal block includes, in optical series, a switchable half waveplate (SHWP) and a plurality of liquid crystal (LC) lenses. The SHWP outputs circularly polarized light, and a handedness of the circularly polarized light is controlled by the SHWP being in an active state or a non-active state. Each LC lens of the plurality of LC lenses has a plurality of optical states, the plurality of optical states including an additive state that adds optical power to the LC lens and a subtractive state that removes optical power from the LC lens. The plurality of optical states of each of the plurality of the LC lenses compounded in optical series provides a range of adjustment of optical power for the varifocal block.

Abstract: A varifocal block includes liquid crystal (LC) lens and a liquid lens structure in optical series. The LC lens has a plurality of optical states, including an additive state that adds optical power to the LC lens and a subtractive state that removes optical power from the LC lens. The liquid lens structure comprises a transparent substrate layer, a deformable membrane, and a volume of liquid enclosed between the transparent substrate layer and the deformable membrane. The deformable membrane has an adjustable range of optical power dependent on an adjustable curvature of the deformable membrane. The plurality of optical states of the LC lens and the adjustable range of optical power of the liquid lens structure together provide a continuous range of optical power for the varifocal block.

Abstract: A waveguide display includes a substrate having two opposite surfaces, and a slanted grating at a first surface of the two opposite surfaces of the substrate. The slanted grating includes a plurality of ridges and is characterized by a grating period in one direction. The plurality of ridges is tilted at a slant angle with respect to a surface normal of the first surface and is characterized by a height. The height of the plurality of ridges, the grating period, and the slant angle are configured to cause destructive interference between ambient light diffracted by the slanted grating. In some embodiments, a difference between the height of the plurality of ridges and an integer multiple of the grating period divided by the tangent of the slant angle is less than a threshold value.

Abstract: The disclosed apparatus may include a waveguide configuration that may include (1) a coupling area having at least one coupling element configured to receive a plurality of monochromatic images, where each of the monochromatic images is of a predetermined wavelength of light, (2) a propagation area in which light, received via the at least one coupling element, moves within a length of the waveguide configuration, and (3) a decoupling area that extends along the propagation area and includes decoupling elements that project a polychromatic image toward an eyebox, where the polychromatic image includes the monochromatic images of the predetermined wavelengths of light. Associated systems and devices are also provided herein.

Abstract: A waveguide display includes a first substrate and one or more grating layers on a first surface of the first substrate. The one or more grating layers are configured to cause destructive interference between ambient light diffracted by at least two grating layers or between ambient light diffracted by different portions of one grating layer. In some embodiments, the waveguide display also includes an angular-selective transmissive layer. The angular-selective transmissive layer is configured to reflect, diffract, or absorb ambient light incident on the angular-selective reflective layer with an incidence angle greater than a threshold value.

Abstract: A wearable image display system includes a headpiece, a first and a second light engine, and a first and a second optical component. The first and second light engines generate a first and a second set of beams respectively, each beam substantially collimated so that the first and second set form a first and a second virtual image respectively. Each optical component is located to project an image onto a first and a second eye of a wearer respectively. The first and second sets of beams are directed to incoupling structures of the first and second optical components respectively. Exit structures of the first and second optical components guide the first and second sets of beams onto the first and second eyes respectively. The optical components are located between the light engines and the eyes. Both of the light engines are mounted to a central portion of the headpiece.

Abstract: A head-mounted display (HMD) presented herein comprises an electronic display, an optical assembly with a dynamic optical axis component (DOAC), an eye tracker and a controller. The electronic display is configured to emit image light. The eye tracker is configured to determine a gaze vector of a user wearing the HMD. The DOAC is positioned in front of the electronic display and refracts the image light received from the electronic display. The controller provides emission instructions to the DOAC to dynamically move an optical axis of the DOAC to align the optical axis with the determined gaze vector. The optical assembly directs the image light refracted by the DOAC to an eye box of the HMD corresponding to a location of an eye of the user. An optical error associated with the refracted image light directed to the eye box is reduced.

Abstract: A Pancharatnam Berry Phase (PBP) color corrected structure is presented that comprises a plurality of switchable gratings and a plurality of PBP active elements. Each switchable grating has an inactive mode when reflects light of a specific color channel, of a set of color channels, and transmits light of other color channels in the set of color channels, wherein the specific color channel is different for each of the plurality of switchable gratings, and to have an active mode to transmit light that is inclusive of the set of color channels. The PBP active elements receive light output from at least one of the plurality of switchable gratings. Each of the PBP active elements is configured to adjust light of a different color channel of the set of color channels by a same amount to output light corrected for chromatic aberration for the set of color channels.

Abstract: A holographic Bragg grating is used as an output element for a waveguide in a lens used for artificial reality. By using a Bragg grating, a number of waveguides can be reduced. The output element has a first super grating and a second super grating written in a single grating layer of the waveguide. The first super grating has a grating vector that is skew to a grating vector of the second super grating to provide both deflection and out coupling for two-dimensional output coupling.

Abstract: A waveguide display is used for presenting media to a user. The waveguide display includes light source assembly, an output waveguide, and a controller. The light source assembly includes one or more projectors projecting an image light at least along one dimension. The output waveguide includes a waveguide body with two opposite surfaces. The output waveguide includes a first grating receiving an image light propagating along an input wave vector, a second grating, and a third grating positioned opposite to the second grating and outputting an expanded image light with wave vectors matching the input wave vector. The controller controls the scanning of the one or more source assemblies to form a two-dimensional image.

Abstract: A varifocal block includes liquid crystal (LC) lens and a liquid lens structure in optical series. The LC lens has a plurality of optical states, including an additive state that adds optical power to the LC lens and a subtractive state that removes optical power from the LC lens. The liquid lens structure comprises a transparent substrate layer, a deformable membrane, and a volume of liquid enclosed between the transparent substrate layer and the deformable membrane. The deformable membrane has an adjustable range of optical power dependent on an adjustable curvature of the deformable membrane. The plurality of optical states of the LC lens and the adjustable range of optical power of the liquid lens structure together provide a continuous range of optical power for the varifocal block.

Abstract: A waveguide display presents media to users. The waveguide assembly includes a light source, a source waveguide, an output waveguide, an actuator assembly, and a controller. The light source emits image light based on scanning instructions from the controller. The source waveguide receives the emitted image light, expands the image light in at least one dimension, and outputs an expanded image light to the output waveguide at an input area. The output waveguide outputs the expanded image light from a portion of an output area. The actuator assembly adjusts a first curvature of the source waveguide with a first set of actuators and adjusts a second curvature of the output waveguide with a second set of actuators, where the first curvature is orthogonal to the first curvature.

Abstract: A waveguide display is used for presenting media to a user. The waveguide assembly includes a light source, a source waveguide, an output waveguide, and a controller. The light source emits image light based on scanning instructions from the controller. The source waveguide receives the image light from the light source, expands the image light in at least one dimension, and outputs an expanded image light to the output waveguide at an input area. The output waveguide outputs the expanded image light from a portion of an output area based on a direction of the expanded light from the source waveguide.

Abstract: A waveguide display is used for presenting media to a user. The waveguide display includes light source assembly, an output waveguide, and a controller. The light source assembly includes one or more projectors projecting an image light at least along one dimension. The output waveguide includes a waveguide body with two opposite surfaces. The output waveguide includes a first grating receiving an image light propagating along an input wave vector, a second grating, and a third grating positioned opposite to the second grating and outputting an expanded image light with wave vectors matching the input wave vector. The controller controls the scanning of the one or more source assemblies to form a two-dimensional image.

Abstract: A waveguide display includes a source assembly, an output waveguide, and a controller. The source assembly includes a light source and an optics system. The light source includes source elements arranged in a 1D or 2D array that emit image light. The optics system includes a scanning mirror assembly that scans the image light to particular locations based on scanning instructions. The output waveguide receives the scanned image light from the scanning mirror assembly and outputs an expanded image light. In some embodiments, the waveguide display includes a source waveguide and the 1D array of source elements. The source waveguide receives a conditioned image light from the source assembly. The controller generates the scanning instructions and provides the scanning instructions to the scanning mirror assembly. In some embodiments, the controller provides the scanning instructions to an actuator assembly of the source waveguide.

Abstract: A Pancharatnam Berry Phase (PBP) color corrected structure is presented that comprises a plurality of switchable gratings and a plurality of PBP active elements. Each switchable grating has an inactive mode when reflects light of a specific color channel, of a set of color channels, and transmits light of other color channels in the set of color channels, wherein the specific color channel is different for each of the plurality of switchable gratings, and to have an active mode to transmit light that is inclusive of the set of color channels. The PBP active elements receive light output from at least one of the plurality of switchable gratings. Each of the PBP active elements is configured to adjust light of a different color channel of the set of color channels by a same amount to output light corrected for chromatic aberration for the set of color channels.

Abstract: A wearable image display system includes a headpiece, a first and a second light engine, and a first and a second optical component. The first and second light engines generate a first and a second set of beams respectively, each beam substantially collimated so that the first and second set form a first and a second virtual image respectively. Each optical component is located to project an image onto a first and a second eye of a wearer respectively. The first and second sets of beams are directed to incoupling structures of the first and second optical components respectively. Exit structures of the first and second optical components guide the first and second sets of beams onto the first and second eyes respectively. The optical components are located between the light engines and the eyes. Both of the light engines are mounted to a central portion of the headpiece.

Abstract: A waveguide display includes a light source, a conditioning lens assembly, a scanning mirror assembly, and a controller. The light source includes a plurality of source elements that are configured to emit image light in accordance with scanning instructions. The conditioning lens assembly transmits conditioned light based in part on the image light. The scanning mirror assembly scans the conditioned image light to particular locations as scanned image light in accordance with scanning instructions. The output waveguide includes an input area and an output area, receives the scanned image light emitted from the scanning mirror assembly at the input area, and outputs the expanded image light from a portion of the output area based in part on a direction of the expanded light output from the scanning mirror assembly. The controller generates the scanning instructions and provides the scanning instructions to the light source and the scanning mirror assembly.

Abstract: A wearable image display system includes a headpiece, a first and a second light engine, and a first and a second optical component. The first and second light engines generate a first and a second set of beams respectively, each beam substantially collimated so that the first and second set form a first and a second virtual image respectively. Each optical component is located to project an image onto a first and a second eye of a wearer respectively. The first and second sets of beams are directed to incoupling structures of the first and second optical components respectively. Exit structures of the first and second optical components guide the first and second sets of beams onto the first and second eyes respectively. The optical components are located between the light engines and the eyes. Both of the light engines are mounted to a central portion of the headpiece.

Abstract: A Pancharatnam Berry Phase (PBP) color corrected structure is presented that comprises a plurality of switchable gratings and a plurality of PBP active elements. Each switchable grating has an inactive mode when reflects light of a specific color channel, of a set of color channels, and transmits light of other color channels in the set of color channels, wherein the specific color channel is different for each of the plurality of switchable gratings, and to have an active mode to transmit light that is inclusive of the set of color channels. The PBP active elements receive light output from at least one of the plurality of switchable gratings. Each of the PBP active elements is configured to adjust light of a different color channel of the set of color channels by a same amount to output light corrected for chromatic aberration for the set of color channels.