Abstract: A laser projection system is provided that includes at least one pickoff element or pickoff interface that redirects a portion of input laser light toward one or more photodetectors for purposes such as laser output power monitoring. An interface of a given pickoff element or a given pickoff interface uses Fresnel reflection to redirect the input laser light. The Fresnel reflection occurs due to a difference in indices of refraction between two materials that meet to form that interface. In some embodiments, a pickoff element is disposed in an optical path between a beam combiner and an optical scanner of the system. The pickoff element can be a plate beamsplitter, a cube beamsplitter, or a prism. In some embodiments, at least one pickoff interface is provided between two or more substrates of the beam combiner, the substrates that form a given pickoff interface having different respective indices of refraction.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for making and using curved holographic optical elements (“HOEs”) are described. A hologram to apply a first optical power to playback light may be embedded in an internal volume of a curved lens, where the curved lens has a first curvature to apply a second optical power to the playback light and a second curvature opposite the first curvature to define the internal volume of the curved lens. The first optical power may be equal in magnitude and opposite in sign to the second optical power. The curved HOEs described herein are particularly well-suited for use when integrated with a curved eyeglass lens to form the transparent combiner of a virtual retina display.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for laser projectors with variable luminance that are well-suited for use in a wearable heads-up display (“WHUD”) are described. Such laser projectors include a laser light source(s) and a scan mirror(s) to generate an image in the field of view of a user, and a liquid crystal element between the light source(s) and the scan mirror(s) to adjust the luminance of the image. The liquid crystal element is on an optical path between the laser light source(s) and the scan mirror and is communicatively coupled to a controller that modulates an opacity of the liquid crystal element. The opacity of the liquid crystal element determines the luminance of the image and may be altered in response to different factors, such as ambient light. Particular applications of the laser projector systems, devices, and methods in a wearable heads-up display are described.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for laser projectors with variable luminance that are well-suited for use in a wearable heads-up display (“WHUD”) are described. Such laser projectors include a laser light source(s) and a scan mirror(s) to generate an image in the field of view of a user, and a liquid crystal element between the light source(s) and the scan mirror(s) to adjust the luminance of the image. The liquid crystal element is on an optical path between the laser light source(s) and the scan mirror and is communicatively coupled to a controller that modulates an opacity of the liquid crystal element. The opacity of the liquid crystal element determines the luminance of the image and may be altered in response to different factors, such as ambient light. Particular applications of the laser projector systems, devices, and methods in a wearable heads-up display are described.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for laser projectors with variable luminance that are well-suited for use in a wearable heads-up display (“WHUD”) are described. Such laser projectors include a laser light source(s) and a scan mirror(s) to generate an image in the field of view of a user, and a liquid crystal element between the light source(s) and the scan mirror(s) to adjust the luminance of the image. The liquid crystal element is on an optical path between the laser light source(s) and the scan mirror and is communicatively coupled to a controller that modulates an opacity of the liquid crystal element. The opacity of the liquid crystal element determines the luminance of the image and may be altered in response to different factors, such as ambient light. Particular applications of the laser projector systems, devices, and methods in a wearable heads-up display are described.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for focusing laser projectors are described. A laser projector includes N?1 laser diodes, each of which emits laser light having a divergence. Each laser diode is paired with a respective primary or collimation lens to at least reduce a divergence of the laser light that the laser diode produces. Downstream from the primary lens(es) in the optical path(s) of the laser light, a single dedicated secondary or convergence lens converges the laser light to a focus. By initiating the convergence of the laser light at the secondary or convergence lens as opposed to at the primary or collimation lens(es), numerous benefits that are particularly advantageous in laser projection-based wearable heads-up displays are realized.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for focusing laser projectors are described. A laser projector includes N?1 laser diodes, each of which emits laser light having a divergence. Each laser diode is paired with a respective primary or collimation lens to at least reduce a divergence of the laser light that the laser diode produces. Downstream from the primary lens(es) in the optical path(s) of the laser light, a single dedicated secondary or convergence lens converges the laser light to a focus. By initiating the convergence of the laser light at the secondary or convergence lens as opposed to at the primary or collimation lens(es), numerous benefits that are particularly advantageous in laser projection-based wearable heads-up displays are realized.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for focusing laser projectors are described. A laser projector includes N?1 laser diodes, each of which emits laser light having a divergence. Each laser diode is paired with a respective primary or collimation lens to at least reduce a divergence of the laser light that the laser diode produces. Downstream from the primary lens(es) in the optical path(s) of the laser light, a single dedicated secondary or convergence lens converges the laser light to a focus. By initiating the convergence of the laser light at the secondary or convergence lens as opposed to at the primary or collimation lens(es), numerous benefits that are particularly advantageous in laser projection-based wearable heads-up displays are realized.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for preventing image astigmatism in wearable heads-up displays (WHUD) with laser projectors are described. A WHUD includes a support structure carrying a laser projector and an eyeglass lens with a transparent combiner. The laser projector includes at least one laser diode, at least one anamorphic optical element, and at least one controllable mirror. The at least one laser diode generates a laser light that, without optical manipulation, would result in an astigmatic, unfocused image at the eye of the user. The at least one anamorphic optical element anamorphically shapes the spot of the laser light to compensate for an astigmatic effect of at least the transparent combiner. The at least one controllable mirror scans the light onto the transparent combiner and the transparent combiner redirects the light towards an eye of a user to create a focused, non-astigmatic image.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for eyebox expansion by exit pupil replication in wearable heads-up displays (“WHUDs”) are described. A WHUD includes a scanning laser projector (“SLP”), a holographic combiner, and an optical splitter positioned in the optical path therebetween. The optical splitter receives light signals generated by the SLP and separates the light signals into N sub-ranges based on the point of incidence of each light signal at the optical splitter. The optical splitter redirects the light signals corresponding to respective ones of the N sub-ranges towards the holographic combiner effectively from respective ones of N spatially-separated virtual positions for the SLP. The holographic combiner converges the light signals to respective ones of N spatially-separated exit pupils at the eye of the user. In this way, multiple instances of the exit pupil are distributed over the area of the eye and the eyebox of the WHUD is expanded.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for preventing image astigmatism in wearable heads-up displays (WHUD) with laser projectors are described. A WHUD includes a support structure carrying a laser projector and an eyeglass lens with a transparent combiner. The laser projector includes at least one laser diode, at least one anamorphic optical element, and at least one controllable mirror. The at least one laser diode generates a laser light that, without optical manipulation, would result in an astigmatic, unfocused image at the eye of the user. The at least one anamorphic optical element anamorphically shapes the spot of the laser light to compensate for an astigmatic effect of at least the transparent combiner. The at least one controllable mirror scans the light onto the transparent combiner and the transparent combiner redirects the light towards an eye of a user to create a focused, non-astigmatic image.

Abstract: A wearable heads-up display includes a support structure that in use is worn on a head of a user, a scanning laser projector carried by the support structure, and a holographic optical element carried by the support structure. The holographic optical element includes a set of holograms formed in one or more layers of holographic material. The set of holograms includes a red hologram that is exclusively responsive to red laser light incident thereon over a first range of angles of incidence, a green hologram that is exclusively responsive to blue laser light incident thereon over the first range of angles of incidence, and a blue hologram that is exclusively responsive to green laser light incident thereon over the first range of angles of incidence.

Abstract: A holographic optical element includes a set of holograms formed in one or more layers of holographic material. The set of holograms includes a red hologram that is exclusively responsive to a first wavelength of red light incident thereon over a first range of angles of incidence, a green hologram that is exclusively responsive to a second wavelength of green light incident thereon over the first range of angles of incidence, and a blue hologram that is exclusively responsive to a third wavelength of blue light incident thereon over the first range of angles of incidence.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for engineering the eyebox of a display using multiple heterogeneous exit pupils are described. The eyebox of a display includes at least two heterogeneous exit pupils that are different from one another in terms of size and/or shape. Heterogeneous exit pupils may overlap, one may encompass another, or they may be completely spatially-separated from one another. Such configurations enable specific eyebox and/or visual display configurations that can be advantageous in certain applications. An example in which a scanning laser-based wearable heads-up virtual retina display implements a holographic combiner that is engineered to provide multiple heterogeneous exit pupils is described.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for eyebox expansion by exit pupil replication in wearable heads-up displays (“WHUDs”) are described. A WHUD includes a scanning laser projector (“SLP”), a holographic combiner, and an exit pupil selector positioned in the optical path therebetween. The exit pupil selector is controllably switchable into and between N different configurations. In each of the N configurations, the exit pupil selector receives a light signal from the SLP and redirects the light signal towards the holographic combiner effectively from a respective one of N virtual positions for the SLP. The holographic combiner converges the light signal to a particular one of N exit pupils at the eye of the user based on the particular virtual position from which the light signal is made to effectively originate. In this way, multiple instances of the exit pupil are distributed over the eye and the eyebox of the WHUD is expanded.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for spatial multiplexing in holographic optical elements (“HOEs”) are described. A spatially-multiplexed HOE includes multiple spatially-separated holographic regions and each spatially-separated region applies a respective optical function to light that is incident thereon. An exemplary application as a spatially-multiplexed holographic combiner (“SMHC”) in a scanning laser-based wearable heads-up display (“WHUD”) is described. In this exemplary application, a scanning laser projector directs multiple light signals over the area of the SMHC and the SMHC converges the light signals towards multiple spatially-separated exit pupils at or proximate the eye of the user. The particular exit pupil at the eye of the user towards which any particular light signal is converged by the SMHC depends on the particular region of the SMHC upon which the light signal is incident.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for making and using curved holographic optical elements (“HOEs”) are described. A hologram to apply a first optical power to playback light may be embedded in an internal volume of a curved lens, where the curved lens has a first curvature to apply a second optical power to the playback light and a second curvature opposite the first curvature to define the internal volume of the curved lens. The first optical power may be equal in magnitude and opposite in sign to the second optical power. The curved HOEs described herein are particularly well-suited for use when integrated with a curved eyeglass lens to form the transparent combiner of a virtual retina display.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for combined angle- and wavelength multiplexing in holographic optical elements (“HOE”) are described. An angle- and wavelength-multiplexed HOE includes multiple angle-multiplexed sets of wavelength-multiplexed holograms. Each set of wavelength-multiplexed holograms includes at least two holograms that are each responsive to a different wavelength of light. Each angle-multiplexed set of wavelength-multiplexed holograms includes a respective set of wavelength-multiplexed holograms that are all responsive to light that is incident thereon with and angle of incidence that is within a particular range. An example application is described in which an angle- and wavelength-multiplexed HOE is used as a holographic combiner in a wearable heads-up display, where angle-multiplexing provides multiple spatially-separated exit pupils in the eyebox of the display and wavelength-multiplexing provides multiple colors to each respective exit pupil.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for eyebox expansion by exit pupil replication in scanning laser-based wearable heads-up displays (“WHUDs”) are described. The WHUDs described herein each include a scanning laser projector (“SLP”), a holographic combiner, and an optical replicator positioned in the optical path therebetween. For each light signal generated by the SLP, the optical replicator receives the light signal and redirects each one of N>1 instances of the light signal towards the holographic combiner effectively from a respective one of N spatially-separated virtual positions for the SLP. The holographic combiner converges each one of the N instances of the light signal to a respective one of N spatially-separated exit pupils at the eye of the user. In this way, multiple instances of the exit pupil are distributed over the area of the eye and the eyebox of the WHUD is expanded.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for eyebox expansion by exit pupil replication in scanning laser-based wearable heads-up displays (“WHUDs”) are described. The WHUDs described herein each include a scanning laser projector (“SLP”), a holographic combiner, and an optical replicator positioned in the optical path therebetween. For each light signal generated by the SLP, the optical replicator receives the light signal and redirects each one of N>1 instances of the light signal towards the holographic combiner effectively from a respective one of N spatially-separated virtual positions for the SLP. The holographic combiner converges each one of the N instances of the light signal to a respective one of N spatially-separated exit pupils at the eye of the user. In this way, multiple instances of the exit pupil are distributed over the area of the eye and the eyebox of the WHUD is expanded.