Abstract: An optical structure includes a first refractive layer, a Fresnel surface, a dichroic reflective coating, a third refractive layer, and a replica layer. The first refractive layer has a first refractive index. The Fresnel surface is formed in a second refractive layer having a second refractive index. The Fresnel surface includes active surfaces and draft surfaces. The dichroic reflective coating is selectively disposed on the active surfaces. The replica layer is disposed between the Fresnel surface and the third refractive layer. The replica layer has the second refractive index and the second refractive index is higher than the first refractive index.

Abstract: A polarization volume hologram (PVH) lens includes a PVH layer having a freeform design. The PVH layer includes a first region and a second region having different optical properties.

Abstract: An optical system includes a substrate and a polarization volume hologram (PVH) composite film formed over the substrate. The PVH composite film includes a first PVH layer formed over the substrate and having a helix twist of a first handedness, and a second PVH layer coupled to the first PVH layer and having a helix twist of a second handedness orthogonal to the first handedness. The first PVH layer is configured to reflect and converge circularly polarized light having the first handedness. The second PVH layer is configured to reflect and converge circularly polarized light having the second handedness.

Abstract: An optical structure includes a refractive material having a refractive index and a multilayer dichroic reflective coating. The multilayer dichroic reflective coating is disposed on the refractive material. The average refractive index of the multilayer dichroic reflective coating is substantially the same as the refractive index of the refractive material.

Abstract: A head-mounted device (HMD) contains a display, an optics block, a redirection structure, and an eye tracking system. The display is configured to emit image light and provide it to an eye of a user. The optics block is configured to direct the emitted light in order to allow it to reach the eye. The eye tracking system contains a camera, an illumination source, and a controller. The camera is configured to capture image data using infrared light reflected from the eye. The controller is configured to use this image data to determine eye tracking information. The illumination source is configured to illuminate the eye with infrared light for the purpose of taking eye tracking measurements. The redirection structure is configured to direct infrared light reflected from the eye to the eye tracking system. In multiple embodiments, redirection structures may comprise prism arrays, lenses, liquid crystal layers, or grating structures.

Abstract: A head-mounted display (HMD) includes a pancake lens block, an eye tracking system, and an electronic display. The electronic display is coated with a dichroic film that transmits visible light and reflects infrared light (IR). An IR emitter illuminates an eye of the user, and infrared light is reflected from an eye through the pancake lens block and is incident on the dichroic film. The reflected light is captured by an image capturing element of the eye tracking system that is positioned at a periphery of HMD located off-axis relative to an optical axis of the pancake lens block.

Abstract: Techniques for eye-tracking in a near-eye display system are disclosed. One example of a near-eye display system includes a substrate transparent to visible light and configured to be placed in front of a user's eye, one or more light sources configured to emit illumination light invisible to the user's eye, one or more input couplers configured to couple the illumination light into the substrate, and one or more grating couplers each configured to couple a portion of the illumination light out of the substrate and towards the user's eye at a different direction. The illumination light coupled into the substrate propagates within the substrate through total internal reflection. The one or more grating couplers include at least one of a chirped surface-relief grating coupler or a volume Bragg grating coupler.

Abstract: Techniques disclosed herein relate generally to eye-tracking in near-eye display systems. One example of an eye illuminator for eye-tracking includes a substrate transparent to visible light, an array of light sources immersed in the substrate and configured to emit infrared light, and a holographic optical element conformally coupled to a surface of the substrate and encapsulated by an encapsulation layer. The holographic optical element is configured to transmit the visible light and diffract the infrared light emitted by the array of light sources to the eye of a user for eye-tracking.

Abstract: Aspects of an illumination layer of a near-eye optical element for a head mounted display (HMD) are provided herein. The illumination layer includes a plurality of in-field light sources and a keep-out zone. The in-field light sources are configured to emit infrared light to illuminate an eye of a user of the HMD for imaging of the eye by an eye-tracking camera. The keep-out zone includes a center that is to be aligned with a center of the eye when the eye is in a centered orientation, where the in-field light sources are arranged within the illumination layer outside of the keep-out zone.

Abstract: A method for the active control of in-field light sources of a head mounted display (HMD) includes receiving an image of an eye of a user of the HMD, where the image is captured by an eye-tracking camera in response to infrared light emitted by a plurality of in-field light sources. The method also includes selectively disabling at least one of the in-field light sources based on information from the image of the eye.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are techniques for eye tracking in near-eye display devices. In some embodiments, an illuminator for eye tracking is provided. The illuminator includes a light source configured to be positioned within a field of view of an eye of a user; a first reflector configured to shadow the light source from a field of view of a camera; and a second reflector configured to receive light from the light source that is reflected by the eye of the user, and to direct the light toward the camera.

Abstract: A head-mounted device (HMD) comprises a display element, a Fresnel assembly, an illumination source, and a camera assembly. The display element outputs image light in a first band of light through a display surface. The optics block directs light from the display element to a target region (e.g., includes a portion of a user's face, eyes, etc.). The Fresnel assembly transmits light in the first band and directs light in a second band different than the first band to a first position. The source illuminates the target area with light in the second band. The camera is located in the first position and captures light in the second band corresponding to light reflected from the target area that is then reflected by the Fresnel assembly toward the camera. A controller may use the captured light to determine tracking information for areas of a user's face (e.g., eyes).

Abstract: A lens assembly includes a plurality of micro-LEDs coupled to one or more circuitries affixed to a surface of a lens substrate. At least one micro-LED is positioned within a viewing region of the lens substrate. The viewing region is a region through which light emitted by an electronic display passes prior to reaching an eyebox. The lens assembly may be part of a head-mounted display (HMD). An eye tracking unit of the HMD includes the one or more micro-LEDs to project light onto a portion of a user's eye and a detector to collect reflected and/or scattered light from the illuminated portion of the eye. The eye tracking unit tracks the movement of the user's eye. Based on the tracked movement, the HMD adjusts presentation of displayed content such as focus and/or resolutions of the displayed content.

Abstract: A retinal imaging system includes a projector, an imaging device, and a controller coupled to an eye tracking system under test. The projector emits a light pattern to be delivered to a pupil of an eye, a location of the pupil being estimated by the eye tracking system under test. The imaging device captures one or more images of a retina of the eye illuminated with at least a portion of the light pattern. The controller determines one or more eye tracking parameters based on the captured one or more images of the retina. The controller compares each determined eye tracking parameter with each of estimated one or more eye tracking parameters, wherein values for the one or more eye tracking parameters are estimated by the eye tracking system under test. The controller characterizes each estimated eye tracking parameter based on the comparison.

Abstract: An apparatus may include an adjustable fluid lens that includes a deformable element and a fluid that is substantially transparent and that is contained at least in part by the deformable element. The apparatus may additionally include a sensor that detects a property of the fluid that indicates a viscosity of the fluid. The apparatus may further include a control element that regulates, based at least in part on the property of the fluid, a speed with which to apply a deforming force to the deformable element. Additionally, the apparatus may include an actuator that adjusts an optical property of the adjustable fluid lens by applying the deforming force to the deformable element at the regulated speed. Various other apparatuses, systems, and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A head-mounted device (HMD) comprises a display element, a Fresnel assembly, an illumination source, and a camera assembly. The display element outputs image light in a first band of light through a display surface. The optics block directs light from the display element to a target region (e.g., includes a portion of a user's face, eyes, etc.). The Fresnel assembly transmits light in the first band and directs light in a second band different than the first band to a first position. The source illuminates the target area with light in the second band. The camera is located in the first position and captures light in the second band corresponding to light reflected from the target area that is then reflected by the Fresnel assembly toward the camera. A controller may use the captured light to determine tracking information for areas of a user's face (e.g., eyes).

Abstract: An optical combiner for a head mounted display includes a refractive material having a refractive index and a Fresnel surface formed in the refractive material. The Fresnel surface includes a plurality of Fresnel features that include an active surface and a draft surface. An active surface angle supporting the active surface is substantially the same as a draft surface angle supporting the draft surface such that active surface and the draft surface are symmetrical.

Abstract: An example device may include a light source, an optical element, and, optionally, an encapsulant layer. A light beam generated by the light source may be received by the optical element and redirected towards an illumination target, such as an eye of a user. The optical element may include a material, for example, with a refractive index of at least approximately 2 at a wavelength of the light beam. The light source may be a semiconductor light source, such as a light-emitting diode or a laser. The optical element may be supported by an emissive surface of the light source. Refraction at an exit surface of the optical element, and/or within a metamaterial layer, may advantageously modify the beam properties, for example, in relation to illuminating a target. In some examples, the light source and optical element may be integrated into a monolithic light source module.

Abstract: Techniques for eye-tracking in a near-eye display system are disclosed. One example of a near-eye display system includes a waveguide-based display substrate that is transparent to visible light and configured to be placed in front of a user's eye. The waveguide-based display substrate includes a first surface area configured to specularly reflect a first portion of invisible light reflected by the user's eye to a camera to form a first image of the user's eye in a first area of an image frame, and a light deflector embedded in the waveguide-based display substrate or formed on a second surface area of the waveguide-based display substrate. The light deflector is configured to direct a second portion of the invisible light reflected by the user's eye to the camera to form a second image of the user's eye in a second area of the image frame.

Abstract: An optical element includes a refractive material, a plurality of relay curvatures, and dichroic relay mirrors configured as an optical relay. The plurality of relay curvatures is formed in the refractive material. The dichroic relay mirrors include a dichroic reflective layer disposed on the plurality of relay curvatures and immersed in the refractive material. The dichroic reflective layer reflects a first spectrum light and passes light outside the first spectrum light. The first spectrum light may be infrared light.