Abstract: A time-division multiplexed projection display is pixel shifted to produce an increased perceived display resolution. A polarizing beam splitter (PBS) divides input unpolarized display light into two orthogonal linear polarizations and directs them to two PBS arms. The PBS arms act to shift the light in synchronization with the time-multiplexed display such that a single pixel of the light engine providing the display light is converted into two or four virtual pixels, effectively increasing the perceived display resolution relative to the native resolution of the light engine. The PBS combines the light from both PBS arms into a single, unpolarized output that may then be projected into a lens or a waveguide incoupler to enable the light to propagate through a waveguide for display at a user's eye.

Abstract: A time-division multiplexed projection display is pixel shifted to produce an increased perceived display resolution or to mitigate image defects, such as defects in a display, a waveguide, or a prism, in an augmented, mixed, or virtual reality device. A polarizing beam splitter (PBS) divides input unpolarized display light into two orthogonal linear polarizations and directs them to two PBS arms. The PBS arms act to shift the light in synchronization with the time-multiplexed display such that a single pixel of the light engine providing the display light is converted into two or four virtual pixels, effectively increasing the perceived display resolution relative to the native resolution of the light engine. The PBS combines the light from both PBS arms into a single, unpolarized output that may then be projected into a lens or a waveguide incoupler to enable the light to propagate through a waveguide for display.

Abstract: According to an aspect, a method includes identifying a lens pitch associated with a wafer. The method further includes determining a projector pitch for a first projector and a second projector on the wafer based on the lens pitch. The method also includes selecting a portion of the wafer for a device based on the projector pitch.

Abstract: According to an aspect, a method includes generating a first projection from a first image source, the first projection displayed on a surface of a device. The method further includes generating a second projection from a second image source, the second projection displayed on the surface of the device. The method also includes identifying at least one error in an alignment associated with the first image source based on the first projection and the second projection.

Abstract: A head-mounted display (HMD) system includes a lens element supported by a support structure. The lens element includes a waveguide that includes an incoupler, an outcoupler, and an exit pupil expander. The incoupler is disposed within a first area of the waveguide. The outcoupler is disposed within a second area of the waveguide. The exit pupil expander is disposed within a third area of the waveguide. An anti-reflection coating is formed via fabrication used to form the incoupler, the outcoupler, and the exit pupil expander. The anti-reflection coating is disposed within a fourth area of the waveguide different than the first, second, and third areas of the waveguide.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes techniques and arrangements for directing light from an optical engine to one of a plurality of incouplers in a multiple incoupler waveguide system. For example, the present disclosure describes a plurality of reflective and transmissive elements to selectively direct light based on a plurality of optical characteristics to a first incoupler or a second incoupler.

Abstract: A head-mounted display (HMD) system including a lens element supported by a support structure, the lens element having a waveguide with an incoupler configured to receive light from an optical scanner of the HMD. The incoupler is configured with multiple features varying in at least one of height, spacing, angle, or density. The features may be separated into discrete zones along the incoupler such that at least one of height, spacing, angle, or density of the plurality of features is varied over the incoupler and constant within a given zone or the features may be varied continuously across the incoupler.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes techniques for reflecting light incoupled into a waveguide in a direction away from the outcoupler back toward the outcoupler. The waveguide includes an incoupler to incouple light of a first polarization state, and a reflective structure to receive incoupled light of the first polarization state and reflect it with a second polarization state toward the outcoupler. The reflective structure is on an opposite side of the incoupler as the outcoupler. In some embodiments, a polarization beam splitter or other polarization-selective layer is included at an interface of the incoupler and a waveguide substrate of the waveguide to transmit light of the first polarization state and reflect light of the second polarization state.

Abstract: Illustrative systems and methods for performing extended reality projection using monochrome pixel panels in inverted arrangements are described herein. For example, an extended reality projection system may include a binocular head-mounted display having a left side and a right side, a first set of monochrome pixel panels distributed in a first arrangement and collectively configured to produce a color image for presentation on the left side, and a second set of monochrome pixel panels distributed in a second arrangement and collectively configured to produce the color image for presentation on the right side. In this extended reality projection system, the second arrangement may be inverted from the first arrangement such that a color non-uniformity associated with the presentation on the right side is inverted from a color non-uniformity associated with the presentation on the left side. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: An eyewear display includes a first waveguide incorporated into one lens of the eyewear display and a second waveguide incorporated into the other lens of the eyewear display. The first waveguide includes a first incoupler, and the second waveguide includes a second incoupler. The eyewear display also includes a light engine with a switchable panel to alternate between directing display light to the first incoupler and directing display light to the second incoupler.

Abstract: A display system includes one or more low-power laser diodes, each producing an emission. The emissions are directed to an optical element that affects the direction or divergence of the emissions. The optical element redirects the emissions toward a steering element such as a MEMS-actuated mirror, or a combination of such mirrors. The steering element directs the emissions toward the incoupler of a waveguide acting as an optical combiner. The emissions propagate through the waveguide and are extracted by an outcoupler in the direction of an observer. By scanning the direction of the beam-steering element along one or several directions, an image may be formed.

Abstract: Various configurations of projectors and cameras are disclosed that use shared wafer level optics, in which optical elements, e.g., microlenses, of a projector are fabricated on the same wafer as optical elements, e.g., microlenses, of a camera. Projectors and cameras can be mounted together on a mixed reality headset, e.g., an AR/VR headset, for example, as a feature of smart glasses. Some projectors and/or cameras can be co-located in the arm or temple of the glasses. Some projectors and/or cameras can be co-located near a center point of the frame of the glasses. Use of shared wafer-level optics provides a compact and efficient solution for simultaneously guiding light leaving a projector and light entering a camera.

Abstract: A head-mounted display system (100) includes a lens element (110) supported by a support structure (102). The lens element (110) includes a waveguide (212) to couple light from an image source. The waveguide (212) includes a waveguide surface (207) and a grating (250). The grating (250) is disposed onto the waveguide surface (207) and includes rows of three-dimensional, 3D, primitive structures (435), with a height of the 3D primitive structures being smaller than a wavelength of visible incident light at a surface of the sub-wavelength grating.

Abstract: A display system varies a size of a field of view area of a display for augmented reality (AR) applications based on at least one of ambient light in the environment and content displayed at the display and varying a brightness level of the field of view area such that the brightness level within the field of view area is inversely proportional to the field of view area. Based on an amount of ambient light detected in the environment of the display system, the display system adjusts the size of the area of the field of view of the display in inverse proportion to the amount of detected ambient light. As the size of the field of view area decreases, the display system increases the brightness level of the display within the field of view such that the brightness level is approximately inversely proportional to the field of view area.

Abstract: A waveguide including first and second sections has a first molded optic material forming a portion of the geometry of one or more Bragg gratings disposed on one surface of the first section of the waveguide. Similarly, a second molded optic material forming another portion of the geometry of one or more Bragg gratings is disposed on one surface of the second section of the waveguide. Further, a photopolymer material is deposited on the first molded optic material. As the first and second sections are coupled, a waveguide is formed with a layer of photopolymer material disposed in the waveguide with the layer of photopolymer material having a geometry defined by the first and second molded optic materials. Bragg grating holograms are then recorded in the layer of photopolymer material, resulting in a waveguide with a plurality of Bragg gratings.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for directing display light employ one or more optical combiners that include recycle optics such as diffraction gratings, which can receive wasted display light travelling in a volume of an optical combiner, and redirect the wasted display light towards other optics so the wasted display light may be effectively used to produce a display. The optical combiners may also include a uniformization optic which can redistribute non-uniform display light, to produce a more uniform display, which in turn enables higher efficiency optics to be used.

Abstract: Improved techniques include providing a coupling element on a nose bridge that can overlay left and right images output from respective outcouplers and send the overlay image to a sensor. Based on at least a portion of the overlay image, the sensor may cause the left, right, or both field of views to move until the left and right images are aligned.

Abstract: Improved techniques of detecting angular misalignment between a display and a waveguide of a smartglasses device includes providing a detection mechanism for the display such that the location of a misalignment can indicate how to compensate for the misalignment.

Abstract: To increase the field of view and/or the wavelengths of light (i.e., color bandwidth) transmitted by a waveguide without using high-index resin, some embodiments include a waveguide grating formed on a substrate that is imprinted with a relatively low-index resin and a conformal coating having a relatively high refractive index. In some embodiments, the substrate is imprinted with the resin using nano imprint lithography and the residual layer thickness of the resin layer is minimized. The conformal coating conforms to the geometry of the surface it coats with a substantially uniform thickness.

Abstract: There is provided a method of operating a wearable heads-up display (WHUD), which method includes generating first and second lights having respectively first and second wavelengths within about 50 nm of one another. The method also includes directing the first and second lights onto an incoupler of a display optic of the WHUD along first and second ranges of input angles respectively. The first and second ranges of input angles correspond to positions of pixels of first and second portions of an image to be displayed by the WHUD. The incoupler has first and second angular bandwidths corresponding to the first and second wavelengths respectively. A combination of the first and second ranges of input angles is larger than each of the first and second angular bandwidths. Moreover, the method includes directing the first and second lights into a field of view of a user to form the image.