Abstract: This disclosure describes optical devices, such as waveguides, and methods of manufacturing same. An example waveguide can include a polymer layer having substantially optically transparent material with first and second major surfaces configured such that light containing image information can propagate through the polymer layer being guided therein by reflecting from the first and second major surfaces via total internal reflection. The first surface can include first smaller and second larger surface portions monolithically integrated with the polymer layer and with each other. The first smaller surface portion can include at least a part of an in-coupling optical element configured to couple light incident on the in-coupling optical element into the polymer layer for propagation therethrough by reflection from the second major surface and the second larger surface portion of the first major surface.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to augmented reality waveguide combiners. The waveguides includes a waveguide substrate, having a substrate refractive index (RI) nsub, a slab waveguide layer disposed over the waveguide substrate, the slab waveguide layer having a slab RI nswg and a slab depth dswg, the slab depth dswg from a lower surface to an upper surface of the slab waveguide layer, at least one grating defined by a plurality of grating structures, the grating structures are disposed in, on, or over the slab waveguide layer, and a superstrate between and over the grating structures, the superstrate having a superstrate RI nsuperstrate and an interface with the slab waveguide layer. The slab RI nswg is greater than the substrate RI nsub and the slab RI nswg is greater than the superstrate RI nsuperstrate.

Abstract: Embodiments of this disclosure provides systems and methods for displays. In embodiments, a display system includes a frame, an eyepiece coupled to the frame, and a first adhesive bond disposed between the frame and the eyepiece. The eyepiece can include a light input region and a light output region. The first adhesive bond can be disposed along a first portion of a perimeter of the eyepiece, where the first portion of the perimeter of the eyepiece borders the light input region such that the first adhesive bond is configured to maintain a position of the light input region relative to the frame.

Abstract: A plurality of waveguide display substrates, each waveguide display substrate having a cylindrical portion having a diameter and a planar surface, a curved portion opposite the planar surface defining a nonlinear change in thickness across the substrate and having a maximum height D with respect to the cylindrical portion, and a wedge portion between the cylindrical portion and the curved portion defining a linear change in thickness across the substrate and having a maximum height W with respect to the cylindrical portion. A target maximum height Dt of the curved portion is 10?7 to 10?6 times the diameter, D is between about 70% and about 130% of Dt, and W is less than about 30% of Dt.

Abstract: A method of operating an eyepiece waveguide having a first diffractive region and a second diffractive region includes directing light from a first projector to impinge on a first incoupling grating (ICG) and directing light from a second projector to impinge on a second ICG. Light from the first projector is diffracted into a first portion of the first diffractive region, diffracted into the second diffractive region, and subsequently diffracted out of the eyepiece waveguide. Light from the second projector is diffracted into the third portion of the second diffractive region, diffracted into the first portion of the first diffractive region, and subsequently diffracted out of the eyepiece waveguide.

Abstract: A head mounted display system configured to project a first image to an eye of a user, the head mounted display system includes at least one waveguide comprising a first major surface, a second major surface opposite the first major surface, and a first edge and a second edge between the first major surface and second major surface. The at least one waveguide also includes a first reflector disposed between the first major surface and the second major surface. The head mounted display system also includes at least one light source disposed closer to the first major surface than the second major surface and a spatial light modulator configured to form a second image and disposed closer to the first major surface than the second major surface, wherein the first reflector is configured to reflect light toward the spatial light modulator.

Abstract: A foveated display for projecting an image to an eye of a viewer is provided. The foveated display includes a first projector and a dynamic eyepiece optically coupled to the first projector. The dynamic eyepiece comprises a waveguide having a variable surface profile. The foveated display also includes a second projector and a fixed depth plane eyepiece optically coupled to the second projector.

Abstract: The disclosure describes an improved drop-on-demand, controlled volume technique for dispensing resist onto a substrate, which is then imprinted to create a patterned optical device suitable for use in optical applications such as augmented reality and/or mixed reality systems. The technique enables the dispensation of drops of resist at precise locations on the substrate, with precisely controlled drop volume corresponding to an imprint template having different zones associated with different total resist volumes. Controlled drop size and placement also provides for substantially less variation in residual layer thickness across the surface of the substrate after imprinting, compared to previously available techniques. The technique employs resist having a refractive index closer to that of the substrate index, reducing optical artifacts in the device.

Abstract: This disclosure describes a wearable display system configured to project light to the eye(s) of a user to display virtual (e.g., augmented reality) image content in a vision field of the user. The system can include light source(s) that output light, spatial light modulator(s) that modulate the light to provide the virtual image content, and an eyepiece configured to convey the modulated light toward the eye(s) of the user. The eyepiece can include waveguide(s) and a plurality of in-coupling optical elements arranged on or in the waveguide(s) to in-couple the modulated light received from the spatial light modulator(s) into the waveguide(s) to be guided toward the user's eye(s). The spatial light modulator(s) may be movable, and/or may include movable components, to direct different portions of the modulated light toward different ones of the in-coupling optical elements at different times.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a device including a first waveguide, the first waveguide having a first input coupler operable to receive a first color light and in-couple the first color light into the first waveguide, and a coating area adjacent to a grating of the first input coupler, the coating area operable to receive a second color light, the coating area having an anti-reflective coating with a transmission refractive index such that in operation the second color light is transmitted through the first waveguide to a second waveguide, the second waveguide below the first waveguide, the second waveguide having a second input coupler disposed below and aligned with the coating area, the second input coupler operable to receive the second color light and in-couple the second color light into the second waveguide.

Abstract: An eyepiece for an augmented reality display system. The eyepiece can include a waveguide substrate. The waveguide substrate can include an input coupler grating (ICG), an orthogonal pupil expander (OPE) grating, a spreader grating, and an exit pupil expander (EPE) grating. The ICG can couple at least one input light beam into at least a first guided light beam that propagates inside the waveguide substrate. The OPE grating can divide the first guided light beam into a plurality of parallel, spaced-apart light beams. The spreader grating can receive the light beams from the OPE grating and spread their distribution. The spreader grating can include diffractive features oriented at approximately 90° to diffractive features of the OPE grating. The EPE grating can re-direct the light beams from the first OPE grating and the first spreader grating such that they exit the waveguide substrate.

Abstract: Embodiments herein are generally directed to a waveguide display assembly and a near-eye display system incorporating the waveguide display assembly. In an embodiment, the waveguide display includes a light engine, a waveguide combiner, an input coupling grating, and one or more coupling gratings exposed to an ambient environment of the waveguide display assembly. The waveguide combiner extends across a user's eye at a wrap angle ?wrap(xy) relative to a waveguide plane, and the light engine is configured to project light toward the input coupling grating at a compensation angle ?Cl so as to increase the grating vector of the exposed gratings and reduce the angles and wavelengths at which light can be diffracted and coupled by the exposed grating into the waveguide combiner to the user's eye.

Abstract: Display devices include waveguides with in-coupling optical elements that mitigate re-bounce of in-coupled light to improve in-coupling efficiency and/or uniformity. A waveguide receives light from a light source and includes an in-coupling optical element that in-couples the received light to propagate by total internal reflection within the waveguide. The in-coupled light may undergo re-bounce, in which the light reflects off a waveguide surface and, after the reflection, strikes the in-coupling optical element. Upon striking the in-coupling optical element, the light may be partially absorbed and/or out-coupled by the optical element, thereby reducing the amount of in-coupled light propagating through the waveguide.

Abstract: Implementations of the present disclosure relate to apparatus, systems, and methods of a compact, high numerical aperture light engine, for example thin optics-based light engine systems using meta-surfaces for wearable displays. One implementation includes an optical device. The optical device includes one or more spatial light modulators, wherein each spatial light modulator is an array of pixels that are individually controllable to output visible light. The optical device also includes a surface defining an exit pupil that is arranged to allow the output visible light to exit the optical device via the exit pupil. The optical device also includes one or more metasurfaces disposed between the one or more spatial light modulators and the exit pupil. The one or more metasurfaces are to focus the visible light that is output by the one or more spatial light modulators.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to methods of forming a substrate having a target thickness distribution at one or more eyepiece areas across a substrate. The substrate includes eyepiece areas corresponding to areas where optical device eyepieces are to be formed on the substrate. Each eyepiece area includes a target thickness distribution. A base substrate thickness distribution of a base substrate is measured such that a target thickness change can be determined. The methods described herein are utilized along with the target thickness change to form a substrate with the target thickness distribution.

Abstract: An eyepiece waveguide for an augmented reality display system may include an optically transmissive substrate, an input coupling grating (ICG) region, a multi-directional pupil expander (MPE) region, and an exit pupil expander (EPE) region. The ICG region may receive an input beam of light and couple the input beam into the substrate as a guided beam. The MPE region may include a plurality of diffractive features which exhibit periodicity along at least a first axis of periodicity and a second axis of periodicity. The MPE region may be positioned to receive the guided beam from the ICG region and to diffract it in a plurality of directions to create a plurality of diffracted beams. The EPE region may overlap the MPE region and may out couple one or more of the diffracted beams from the optically transmissive substrate as output beams.

Abstract: A method of operating an eyepiece waveguide includes directing light from a projector to impinge on an incoupling grating (ICG). The method also includes diffracting a first fraction of the light from the projector into a first portion of the eyepiece waveguide, propagating the first fraction of the light into a second portion of the eyepiece waveguide, and diffracting the first fraction of the light out of the eyepiece waveguide. The method further includes diffracting a second fraction of the light from the projector into the second portion of the eyepiece waveguide, propagating the second fraction of the light into the first portion of the eyepiece waveguide, and diffracting the second fraction out of the eyepiece waveguide.

Abstract: A method of operating a dynamic eyepiece in an augmented reality headset includes producing first virtual content associated with a first depth plane, coupling the first virtual content into the dynamic eyepiece, and projecting the first virtual content through one or more waveguide layers of the dynamic eyepiece to an eye of a viewer. The one or more waveguide layers are characterized by a first surface profile. The method also includes modifying the one or more waveguide layers to be characterized by a second surface profile different from the first surface profile, producing second virtual content associated with a second depth plane, coupling the second virtual content into the dynamic eyepiece, and projecting the second virtual content through the one or more waveguide layers of the dynamic eyepiece to the eye of the viewer.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include apparatus and methods for optical devices. In one embodiment, a method for forming an optical device generally includes disposing a first material device layer on a substrate, patterning a portion of the first material device layer to form a first plurality of device structures in the first material device layer, disposing a second material device layer on an un-patterned portion of the first device material layer, and patterning the second material device layer to form a second plurality of device structures disposed on the first material device layer.

Abstract: The disclosure describes an improved drop-on-demand, controlled volume technique for dispensing resist onto a substrate, which is then imprinted to create a patterned optical device suitable for use in optical applications such as augmented reality and/or mixed reality systems. The technique enables the dispensation of drops of resist at precise locations on the substrate, with precisely controlled drop volume corresponding to an imprint template having different zones associated with different total resist volumes. Controlled drop size and placement also provides for substantially less variation in residual layer thickness across the surface of the substrate after imprinting, compared to previously available techniques. The technique employs resist having a refractive index closer to that of the substrate index, reducing optical artifacts in the device.