Abstract: An imaging light guide has waveguide for conveying image-bearing light beams from an image source to an eyebox within which a virtual image can be viewed. First and second in-coupling diffractive optics direct first and second sets of the image-bearing light beams into the waveguide along different first and second paths. First and second turning diffractive optics disposed along the respective paths expand the image-bearing light beams of the first and second sets in a first dimension and direct the expanded image-bearing light beams of the first and second sets to first and second out-coupling diffractive optics. The first and second out-coupling diffractive optics further expand the image-bearing light beams of the two sets in a second dimension and direct the further expanded image-bearing light beams of the two sets from the waveguide toward the eyebox.

Abstract: A frame supports a display apparatus against the head of a viewer. A projector fitted within the frame generates a beam of image-bearing light. A light guide coupled to a forward section of the frame has a waveguide, an in-coupling diffractive optic formed on the waveguide for directing image-bearing light beams into the waveguide, a turning optic formed on the waveguide for expanding the respective image-bearing light beams from the in-coupling diffractive optic in a first dimension, and an out-coupling diffractive optic formed on the waveguide for expanding the respective image-bearing light beams in a second dimension orthogonal to the first dimension and forming a virtual image within a viewer eyebox. A mount supports the light guide in front of the viewer and provides a hinge for angular adjustment of the waveguide with respect to the projector.

Abstract: An image light guide for conveying a virtual image has a waveguide that conveys image-bearing light, formed as a flat plate having an in-coupling diffractive optic with a first grating vector diffracting an image-bearing light beam into the waveguide and directing diffracted light. An out-coupling diffractive optic is formed as a plurality of overlapping diffraction gratings including a first grating pattern having first grating vector k1 and a second grating pattern having a second grating vector k2 for expanding and ejecting the expanded image bearing beams from the waveguide into an expanded eyebox within which the virtual image can be seen.

Abstract: A beam separator has a composite prism having an external input face and an external output face co-planar to the input face. At least one polarization beam splitter surface is encased within the composite prism and has an edge that defines a boundary between the external input face and the external output face. A first reflective surface is disposed to redirect, along a direction orthogonal to the input face, light of a first polarization that reflects from the at least one polarization beam splitter.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus has a projector apparatus that projects light for forming a first image and a second image. A first pupil expander lies in the path of projected light and is configured to direct light to a viewer to form a first virtual image at infinity focus. A second pupil expander lies in the path of the projected light and is configured to direct light through a first lens and to the viewer to form a second virtual image near a focal plane of the first lens. A second lens is disposed to condition light from a visual scene lying beyond the second pupil expander.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus for forming dual virtual images includes a planar waveguide, an in-coupling diffractive optic that directs a set of image-bearing light beams into the waveguide, and an out-coupling diffractive optic that directs the set of image-bearing light beams from the waveguide toward a viewer eyebox. The out-coupling diffractive optic includes an array of contiguous diffractive zones, each of which has a set of diffractive features having at least one of a common orientation and a common pitch. A succession of the zones along one dimension of the array have respective sets of diffractive features that progressively vary in at least one of orientation and pitch in a stepwise manner. The out-coupling diffractive optic is arranged together with the array of contiguous diffractive zones for forming a virtual image that is viewable from the eyebox at a near focus distance.

Abstract: An image light guide for conveying a virtual image has a waveguide that conveys image-bearing light, formed as a flat plate having an in-coupling diffractive optic with a first grating vector diffracting an image-bearing light beam into the waveguide and directing diffracted light. An out-coupling diffractive optic is formed as a plurality of overlapping diffraction gratings including a first grating pattern having first grating vector k1 and a second grating pattern having a second grating vector k2 for expanding and ejecting the expanded image bearing beams from the waveguide into an expanded eyebox within which the virtual image can be seen.

Abstract: An imaging light guide has a waveguide and an in-coupling diffractive optic formed on the waveguide and disposed to direct image-bearing light beams into the waveguide. An array of two or more at least partially reflective surfaces are oriented in parallel and disposed to expand the image-bearing light beams from the in-coupling diffractive optic in a first dimension and to direct the expanded image-bearing light beams toward an out-coupling diffractive optic. The out-coupling diffractive optic is formed on the waveguide and disposed to expand the image-bearing light beams in a second dimension orthogonal to the first dimension and to direct the image-bearing light beams toward a viewer eyebox.

Abstract: A near-eye display for an augmented reality display system couples a self-emitting microdisplay to a transmissive waveguide through an input coupler. Light from the self-emitting microdisplay propagates along the waveguide and through an output coupler for generating a virtual image that is visible together with a real-world scene through the waveguide within an eyebox located in front of the output coupler. A light sensor detects light levels within different portions of the real world scene visible within the eyebox. Drive electronics control the light output from individual pixels of the self-emitting microdisplay to preserve desired local contrast values between the virtual image and the real-world scene.

Abstract: An imaging light guide for conveying a virtual image has a waveguide with first and second color channels for directing light of a first and second wavelength range toward a viewer eyebox. Each color channel has an in-coupling diffractive optic to diffract an image-bearing light beam into the waveguide and a reflector array having a partially reflective surface and a dichroic filter surface in parallel. Reflector array surfaces expand the respective light beam of the channel from the in-coupling diffractive optic in a first dimension and direct the expanded light beams toward an out-coupling diffractive optic. The dichroic surface reflects light of the color channel toward the reflective surface and transmits other light out of the waveguide. The out-coupling diffractive optic expands the image-bearing light beam orthogonally to the first dimension and directs the further expanded light beam toward the viewer eyebox.

Abstract: An imaging light guide for conveying a virtual image has a waveguide that conveys image-bearing light, formed as a flat plate having a front and a back surface and having an in-coupling diffractive optic on the front surface with a first grating vector diffracting an image-bearing light beam into the waveguide and directing diffracted light. An out-coupling diffractive optic is formed on the front or back surface as a diffractive array and with a first subset of diffractive elements, each having a second grating vector k2 offset from the first grating vector by about +60 degrees and a second subset of diffractive elements, each having a third grating vector k3 offset from the first grating vector by about ?60 degrees. Each diffractive element of the first subset is immediately adjacent to at least one diffractive element of the second subset and the diffractive elements are mutually non-overlapping.

Abstract: A near-eye display for an augmented reality display system couples a self-emitting microdisplay to a transmissive waveguide through an input coupler. Light from the self-emitting microdisplay propagates along the waveguide and through an output coupler for generating a virtual image that is visible together with a real-world scene through the waveguide within an eyebox located in front of the output coupler. A light sensor detects light levels within different portions of the real world scene visible within the eyebox. Drive electronics control the light output from individual pixels of the self-emitting microdisplay to preserve desired local contrast values between the virtual image and the real-world scene.

Abstract: An imaging light guide has waveguide for conveying image-bearing light beams from an image source to an eyebox within which a virtual image can be viewed. First and second in-coupling diffractive optics direct first and second sets of the image-bearing light beams into the waveguide along different first and second paths. First and second turning diffractive optics disposed along the respective paths expand the image-bearing light beams of the first and second sets in a first dimension and direct the expanded image-bearing light beams of the first and second sets to first and second out-coupling diffractive optics. The first and second out-coupling diffractive optics further expand the image-bearing light beams of the two sets in a second dimension and direct the further expanded image-bearing light beams of the two sets from the waveguide toward the eyebox.

Abstract: A wearable display apparatus has a support that mounts the display apparatus against the head of a viewer; a ball joint that is fitted within the support and coupled to a clamp that extends from the support; a slide that is translatable within the clamp in a first direction and that holds a display module for forming the display image; and a display coupled to the display module and rotatable in a first arc about a vertical axis that extends in a second direction that is orthogonal to the first direction and further rotatable in a second arc about a horizontal axis that is substantially orthogonal to the vertical axis.

Abstract: An imaging light guide for conveying a virtual image has a waveguide with first and second color channels for directing light of a first and second wavelength range toward a viewer eyebox. Each color channel has an in-coupling diffractive optic to diffract an image-bearing light beam into the waveguide and a reflector array having a partially reflective surface and a dichroic filter surface in parallel. Reflector array surfaces expand the respective light beam of the channel from the in-coupling diffractive optic in a first dimension and direct the expanded light beams toward an out-coupling diffractive optic. The dichroic surface reflects light of the color channel toward the reflective surface and transmits other light out of the waveguide. The out-coupling diffractive optic expands the image-bearing light beam orthogonally to the first dimension and directs the further expanded light beam toward the viewer eyebox.

Abstract: A frame supports a display apparatus against the head of a viewer. A projector fitted within the frame generates a beam of image-bearing light. A light guide coupled to a forward section of the frame has a waveguide, an in-coupling diffractive optic formed on the waveguide for directing image-bearing light beams into the waveguide, a turning optic formed on the waveguide for expanding the respective image-bearing light beams from the in-coupling diffractive optic in a first dimension, and an out-coupling diffractive optic formed on the waveguide for expanding the respective image-bearing light beams in a second dimension orthogonal to the first dimension and forming a virtual image within a viewer eyebox. A mount supports the light guide in front of the viewer and provides a hinge for angular adjustment of the waveguide with respect to the projector.

Abstract: An imaging light guide has a waveguide formed as a coated substrate having first and second surface coatings. A first in-coupling diffractive optic on the first coating directs diffracted light of a first wavelength range into the waveguide along a first direction. A second in-coupling diffractive optic on the second coating directs diffracted light of a second wavelength range into the waveguide along a second different direction. A first dichroic patch between the first surface of the substrate and the first surface coating for (a) transmitting the first wavelength range, (b) transmitting the second wavelength range through a range of incidence angles, and (c) reflecting the second wavelength range through a higher range of incidence angles. A second dichroic patch between the second surface of the substrate and the second surface coating for transmitting the second wavelength range and reflecting the first wavelength range.

Abstract: An image light guide for conveying a virtual image has a waveguide that conveys image-bearing light, formed as a flat plate having an in-coupling diffractive optic with a first grating vector diffracting an image-bearing light beam into the waveguide and directing diffracted light. An out-coupling diffractive optic is formed as a plurality of overlapping diffraction gratings including a first grating pattern having first grating vector k1 and a second grating pattern having a second grating vector k2 for expanding and ejecting the expanded image bearing beams from the waveguide into an expanded eyebox within which the virtual image can be seen.

Abstract: A near-eye display for an augmented reality display system couples a self-emitting microdisplay to a transmissive waveguide through an input coupler. Light from the self-emitting microdisplay propagates along the waveguide and through an output coupler for generating a virtual image that is visible together with a real-world scene through the waveguide within an eyebox located in front of the output coupler. A light sensor detects light levels within different portions of the real world scene visible within the eyebox. Drive electronics control the light output from individual pixels of the self-emitting microdisplay to preserve desired local contrast values between the virtual image and the real-world scene.

Abstract: An imaging light guide for conveying a virtual image has a waveguide that conveys image-bearing light, formed as a flat plate having a front and a back surface and having an in-coupling diffractive optic on the front surface with a first grating vector diffracting an image-bearing light beam into the waveguide and directing diffracted light. An out-coupling diffractive optic is formed on the front or back surface as a diffractive array and with a first subset of diffractive elements, each having a second grating vector k2 offset from the first grating vector by about +60 degrees and a second subset of diffractive elements, each having a third grating vector k3 offset from the first grating vector by about ?60 degrees. Each diffractive element of the first subset is immediately adjacent to at least one diffractive element of the second subset and the diffractive elements are mutually non-overlapping.