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: A head-mounted virtual image display apparatus has a projector that directs image-bearing light beams along a projection axis. A planar waveguide is configured to receive the image-bearing light beams through an input aperture and to form expanded image-bearing light beams that are output from an output aperture of the waveguide. An optical coupler is configured to receive the image-bearing light beams along the projection axis, to reorient the projection axis with respect to the waveguide, to rotate the image-bearing light beams about the projection axis, and to direct the rotated image-bearing beams along the reoriented projection axis through the input aperture of the waveguide.

Abstract: A computer-driven wearable display device incorporating a display engine for presenting virtual images to wearers is interconnected with a computer-driven portable display device incorporating a display screen for presenting real images to the wearers of the wearable display device. An applications management and communication system including an external manager application residing on the portable display device provides for managing and launching applications residing on the wearable display device through the user interface of the portable display device.

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: 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: A near-eye display includes an image generator that generates angularly related beams over a range of angles for forming a virtual image and a waveguide that propagates the angularly related beams over a limited range of angles. An input aperture of the waveguide includes a plurality of controllable components that are selectively operable as diffractive optics for injecting subsets of the angularly related beams into the waveguide. An output aperture of the waveguide includes a plurality of controllable components that selectively operable as diffractive optics for ejecting corresponding subsets of the angularly related beams out of the waveguide toward an eyebox. A controller synchronizes operation of the controllable components of the output aperture with the propagation of different subsets of angularly related beams along the waveguide for ejecting the subsets of angularly related beams out of the waveguide for presenting the virtual image within the eyebox.

Abstract: A computer-driven wearable display device incorporating a display engine for presenting virtual images to wearers is interconnected with a computer-driven portable display device incorporating a display screen for presenting real images to the wearers of the wearable display device. An applications management and communication system including an external manager application residing on the portable display device provides for managing and launching applications residing on the wearable display device through the user interface of the portable display device.

Abstract: A near-eye display includes an image generator that generates angularly related beams over a range of angles for forming a virtual image and a waveguide that propagates the angularly related beams over a limited range of angles. An input aperture of the waveguide includes a plurality of controllable components that are selectively operable as diffractive optics for injecting subsets of the angularly related beams into the waveguide. An output aperture of the waveguide includes a plurality of controllable components that selectively operable as diffractive optics for ejecting corresponding subsets of the angularly related beams out of the waveguide toward an eyebox. A controller synchronizes operation of the controllable components of the output aperture with the propagation of different subsets of angularly related beams along the waveguide for ejecting the subsets of angularly related beams out of the waveguide for presenting the virtual image within the eyebox.

Abstract: A near-eye display of a type having an image generator for generating a succession of angularly related beams and waveguide for propagating the angularly related beams to an eyebox within which a virtual image is visible includes a controllable output aperture for such purposes as reconstructing a better defined pupil within the eyebox while also preserving the possibility for viewing the ambient environment from the eyebox through the controllable output aperture.

Abstract: A near-eye display of a type having an image generator for generating a succession of angularly related beams and waveguide for propagating the angularly related beams to an eyebox within which a virtual image is visible includes a controllable output aperture for such purposes as reconstructing a better defined pupil within the eyebox while also preserving the possibility for viewing the ambient environment from the eyebox through the controllable output aperture.

Abstract: An ocular device includes a housing, a rotatable ring, a first prism fixed in the rotatable ring, an indexable ring and a second prism fixed in the indexable ring. The housing has a stepped inner profile defining first and second circular tracks in the housing, the tracks being concentric about a rotational axis. The rotatable ring is disposed in the first circular track and is freely rotatable about the rotational axis with respect to the housing. The indexable ring is disposed in the second circular track and is indexable about the rotational axis.

Abstract: A binocular display deals with an optical contrast imbalance problem between display screens manifest over a range of interpupillary distances by orienting contrast asymmetries between the display screens in opposite directions.

Abstract: A method of encoding video signals includes obtaining, averaging, offsetting, and replacing steps. In the obtaining step, a first value comprising a value of a video characteristic for a first portion of a first video signal and a second value comprising a value of the video characteristic for a second portion of a second video signal are obtained. In the averaging step, the first value and the second value are averaged to obtain an average value. In the offsetting step, the average value is offset by a first predetermined offset to obtain a first offset value and the average value is offset by a second predetermined offset to obtain a second offset value. In the replacing step, the first value is replaced with the first offset value on the first signal and the second value is replaced with the second offset value on the second video signal.

Abstract: Virtual displays with micro-display engines are arranged in compact, lightweight configurations that generate clear virtual images for an observer. The displays are particularly suitable for portable devices, such as head-mounted displays adapted to non-immersive or immersive applications. The non-immersive applications feature reflective optics moved out of the direct line of sight of the observer and provide for differentially modifying the amount or form of ambient light admitted from the forward environment with respect to image light magnified within the display. Micro-display engines suitable for both non-immersive and immersive display applications and having LCD image sources displace polarization components of the LCD image sources along the optical paths of the engines for simplifying engine design. A compound imaging system for micro-display engines features the use of reflectors in sequence to expand upon the imaging possibilities of the new micro-display engines.

Abstract: A headset for operably disposing a virtual display and optional speaker on the head of a user. The headset, including a cantilevered arm coupled to the headset with a pivot, including a hemispherical dome with at least three points of contact with the display support cantilever arm, and thus the headset, also including a stabilizer further stabilizing the virtual display with respect to the user.

Abstract: Virtual displays with micro-display engines are arranged in compact, lightweight configurations that generate clear virtual images for an observer. The displays are particularly suitable for portable devices, such as head-mounted displays adapted to non-immersive or immersive applications. The non-immersive applications feature reflective optics moved out of the direct line of sight of the observer and provide for differentially modifying the amount or form of ambient light admitted from the forward environment with respect to image light magnified within the display. Micro-display engines suitable for both non-immersive and immersive display applications and having LCD image sources displace polarization components of the LCD image sources along the optical paths of the engines for simplifying engine design. A compound imaging system for micro-display engines features the use of reflectors in sequence to expand upon the imaging possibilities of the new micro-display engines.