Abstract: A diffractive waveguide device includes an optical waveguide and a diffractive element optically coupled to the optical waveguide. The diffractive element is configured to alter a polarization and propagation direction of light of a first polarization, and is configured to transmit light of a second polarization without substantially altering a polarization or propagation direction thereof. A polarizing film assembly is configured to provide the light of the second polarization to the optical waveguide, and/or is configured to block the light of the second polarization from the optical waveguide. The polarizing film assembly includes a polarizer and an optical retarder that is positioned between the polarizer and the optical waveguide. Related devices and methods of operation are also discussed.

Abstract: A color correction mask programmatically generated in software on an HMD device is applied to a gaze region on a display field of view (FOV) on a head-mounted display (HMD) device to optimize system resources while rendering a display. Eye monitoring sensors are utilized to track movement of a user's eyes while the user operates the HMD device to determine a gaze position of the user's eyes on the display FOV. Using the determined gaze position, a dynamic foveal gaze region is sized around the gaze position so that the foveal portion of the display FOV is color-corrected, that is, color non-uniformities are reduced or eliminated. In other implementations, a gaze-based weighting mode is implemented in which measurements of the user's full eye or eye orbit are utilized to color correct a larger surface area of the display FOV relative to the foveal color correction mode.

Abstract: Head-mounted display visor assembly. A head mounted display visor assembly includes a molded world-facing visor coupled to a separately molded user-facing bathtub. The visor includes an IR opaque and visual light opaque portion coupled to a separately manufactured IR permissive portion. The visor also includes an IR opaque portion. The bathtub includes an IR permissive, but visual light opaque portion and a visual light permissive portion.

Abstract: A multi-spectral optical imaging device includes a switchable element configured to be switched between first and second states, one of which alters a polarization of light, and a geometric phase element arranged to receive the light from the switchable element. The geometric phase element is configured to diffract a first wavelength band of the light to alter a direction of propagation thereof based on the polarization and without substantially altering a direction of propagation of a second wavelength band of the light, responsive to the first state of the switchable element. Related optical shutters and multi-spectral optical detectors are also discussed.

Abstract: Light guide display and field of view techniques are described. In one or more implementations, an apparatus includes one or more modules implemented at least partially in hardware to configure a user interface and a display device communicatively coupled to the one or more modules to output the user interface to be viewable by a user within a range of distances from the display device such that closer distances within the range permit the user to have an increased field of view in comparison with distances within the range that are further away from the user.

Abstract: An optical system that deploys micro electro mechanical system (MEMS) scanners to contemporaneously generate CG images and to scan a terrain of a real-world environment. An illumination engine emits a first spectral bandwidth and a second spectral bandwidth into an optical assembly along a common optical path. The optical assembly then separates the spectral bandwidth by directing the first spectral bandwidth onto an image-generation optical path and the second spectral bandwidth onto a terrain-mapping optical path. The optical system deploys the MEMS scanners to generate CG images by directing the first spectral bandwidth within the image-generation optical path and also to irradiate a terrain by directing the second spectral bandwidth within the terrain-mapping optical path. Accordingly, the disclosed system provides substantial reductions in both weight and cost for systems such as, for example, augmented reality and virtual reality systems.

Abstract: An optical device comprises a pixel array including one or more pixels. Two or more independently controllable electrodes are electrically coupled to each pixel. A common ground reference electrode is electrically coupled to all pixels of the pixel array. Each pixel includes a plurality of liquid crystal molecules. The liquid crystal molecules may be oriented in a first direction based on a first function of voltages applied by the two or more independently controllable electrodes for the pixel, and oriented in a second direction based on a second function of the voltages applied by the two or more independently controllable electrodes for the pixel. In this way, both phase modulation and polarization modulation may be introduced to light illuminating the pixel array.

Abstract: Head-mounted display visor assembly. A head mounted display visor assembly includes a molded world-facing visor coupled to a separately molded user-facing bathtub. The visor includes an IR opaque and visual light opaque portion coupled to a separately manufactured IR permissive portion. The visor also includes an IR opaque portion. The bathtub includes an IR permissive, but visual light opaque portion and a visual light permissive portion.

Abstract: The technology provides decoupling an aspheric optical element from a birdbath optical element in a near-eye display (NED) device. One or more aspheric lens are used with a spherical birdbath reflective mirror in a projection light engine of a NED device. A projection light engine provides image light (or other information), by way of the spherical birdbath reflective mirror and at least one aspheric lens, to a near-eye display of the NED device. The spherical birdbath reflective mirror collimates and reflects the image light to an exit pupil external to the projection light engine. Decoupling the aspheric optical element from the spherical birdbath reflective mirror may enable high modulation transfer function (MTF) and improved manufacturability of the projection light engine. The NED device having aspheric optical elements decoupled from a birdbath optical element may be positioned by a support structure in a head-mounted display (HMD) or head-up display (HUD).

Abstract: A wearable image display system includes a headpiece, a first and a second light engine, and a first and a second optical component. The first and second light engines generate a first and a second set of beams respectively, each beam substantially collimated so that the first and second set form a first and a second virtual image respectively. Each optical component is located to project an image onto a first and a second eye of a wearer respectively. The first and second sets of beams are directed to incoupling structures of the first and second optical components respectively. Exit structures of the first and second optical components guide the first and second sets of beams onto the first and second eyes respectively. The optical components are located between the light engines and the eyes. Both of the light engines are mounted to a central portion of the headpiece.

Abstract: An optical system that deploys micro electro mechanical system (MEMS) scanners to contemporaneously generate CG images and to scan a terrain of a real-world environment. An illumination engine emits a first spectral bandwidth and a second spectral bandwidth into an optical assembly along a common optical path. The optical assembly then separates the spectral bandwidth by directing the first spectral bandwidth onto an image-generation optical path and the second spectral bandwidth onto a terrain-mapping optical path. The optical system deploys the MEMS scanners to generate CG images by directing the first spectral bandwidth within the image-generation optical path and also to irradiate a terrain by directing the second spectral bandwidth within the terrain-mapping optical path. Accordingly, the disclosed system provides substantial reductions in both weight and cost for systems such as, for example, augmented reality and virtual reality systems.

Abstract: A color correction mask programmatically generated in software on an HMD device is applied to a gaze region on a display field of view (FOV) on a head-mounted display (HMD) device to optimize system resources while rendering a display. Eye monitoring sensors are utilized to track movement of a user's eyes while the user operates the HMD device to determine a gaze position of the user's eyes on the display FOV. Using the determined gaze position, a dynamic foveal gaze region is sized around the gaze position so that the foveal portion of the display FOV is color-corrected, that is, color non-uniformities are reduced or eliminated. In other implementations, a gaze-based weighting mode is implemented in which measurements of the user's full eye or eye orbit are utilized to color correct a larger surface area of the display FOV relative to the foveal color correction mode.

Abstract: A non-telecentric display system that prevents ghost images includes an optical waveguide and a display engine. An image former of the display engine includes a reflective surface having a surface normal thereto. An illumination engine of the display engine emits light towards the reflective surface of the image former such that chief rays are offset by acute angles from the surface normal to the reflective surface. The display engine directs light corresponding to an image, that reflects off the reflective surface of the image former, towards an input-coupler of the optical waveguide so light corresponding to the image is coupled therein and travels by total internal reflection to an output-coupler of the waveguide. Ghost images are prevented at least in part due to the chief rays of light emitted by the illumination engine being offset by acute angles from the surface normal to the reflective surface.

Abstract: An input-coupler of an optical waveguide includes one or more Bragg polarization gratings for coupling light corresponding to the image in two different directions into the optical waveguide. The input-coupler splits the FOV of the image coupled into the optical waveguide into first and second portions by diffracting a portion of the light corresponding to the image in a first direction toward a first intermediate component, and diffracting a portion of the light corresponding to the image in a second direction toward a second intermediate component. An output-coupler of the waveguide combines the light corresponding to the first and second portions of the FOV, and couples the light corresponding to the combined first and second portions of the FOV out of the optical waveguide so that the light corresponding to the image and the combined first and second portions of the FOV is output from the optical waveguide.

Abstract: In embodiments of waveguide optics focus elements, an imaging structure includes a waveguide for viewing of an environment that is viewable with the imaging structure. The waveguide transmits light of a virtual image that is generated to appear as part of the environment for augmented-reality imaging or virtual-reality imaging. The imaging structure also includes one or more focus elements that are integrated in the waveguide and switchable to focus the virtual image at a focus depth that approximately correlates to a focal distance of the environment. The focus elements can each be implemented for a different focus depth of the virtual image, and the focus depth is adjustable based on a combination of the focus elements being switched-on or switched-off.

Abstract: Augmented reality and physical game techniques are described. In one or more implementations, an indication is received by a computing device of a location of a physical gaming piece of a game. An augmentation is computed based on the indication by the computing device to be displayed as part of the game. The augmentation is displayed by the computing device on a display device that is at least partially transparent such that a physical portion of the game is viewable through the display device concurrently with the augmentation.

Abstract: A wearable image display system includes a headpiece, a first and a second light engine, and a first and a second optical component. The first and second light engines generate a first and a second set of beams respectively, each beam substantially collimated so that the first and second set form a first and a second virtual image respectively. Each optical component is located to project an image onto a first and a second eye of a wearer respectively. The first and second sets of beams are directed to incoupling structures of the first and second optical components respectively. Exit structures of the first and second optical components guide the first and second sets of beams onto the first and second eyes respectively. The optical components are located between the light engines and the eyes. Both of the light engines are mounted to a central portion of the headpiece.

Abstract: Augmented reality light guide display techniques are described. In one or more implementations, an apparatus includes a housing configured in a hand-held form factor, one or more sensors configured to detect a position and orientation of the housing in three dimensions in a physical environment of the housing, a light guide that is at least partially transparent and supported by the housing, a light engine that is optically coupled to the light guide, and one or more modules disposed within the housing and implemented at least partially in hardware. The one or more modules are configured to calculate a position and orientation of an augmentation and cause the light engine to output the augmentation for display using the light guide such that the augmentation is viewable concurrently with at least a portion of the physical environment through the light guide.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in replicating an image associated with an input-pupil to an output-pupil includes a planar optical waveguide including a bulk-substrate, and also including an input-coupler, an intermediate-component and an output-coupler. The input-coupler couples light corresponding to the image into the bulk-substrate and towards the intermediate-component. The intermediate-component performs horizontal or vertical pupil expansion and directs the light corresponding to the image towards the output-coupler. The output-coupler performs the other one of horizontal or vertical pupil expansion and couples light corresponding to the image, which travels from the input-coupler to the output-coupler, out of the waveguide. The apparatus further includes an adjacent planar optical component to provide a more uniform intensity distribution compared to if the adjacent planar optical component were absent.

Abstract: A wearable image display system includes a headpiece, a first and a second light engine, and a first and a second optical component. The first and second light engines generate a first and a second set of beams respectively, each beam substantially collimated so that the first and second set form a first and a second virtual image respectively. Each optical component is located to project an image onto a first and a second eye of a wearer respectively. The first and second sets of beams are directed to incoupling structures of the first and second optical components respectively. Exit structures of the first and second optical components guide the first and second sets of beams onto the first and second eyes respectively. The optical components are located between the light engines and the eyes. Both of the light engines are mounted to a central portion of the headpiece.