Abstract: An eyepiece for use in front of an eye of a viewer includes a waveguide having a surface and a diffractive optical element (DOE) optically coupled to the waveguide. The DOE includes a plurality of first ridges protruding from the surface of the waveguide and arranged as a periodic array having a period, each respective first ridge has a first height and a respective first width. The DOE also includes a plurality of second ridges, each respective second ridge protruding from a respective first ridge and having a second height greater than the first height and a respective second width less than the respective first width. At least one of the respective first width, the respective second width, or a respective ratio between the respective first width and the respective second width varies as a function of a distance from a first edge of the DOE.

Abstract: An eyepiece for use in front of an eye of a viewer includes a waveguide configured to propagate light therein, and a diffractive optical element optically coupled to the waveguide. The diffractive optical element includes a plurality of first ridges protruding from a surface of the waveguide. Each of the plurality of first ridges has a first height and a first width. The diffractive optical element further includes a plurality of second ridges. Each of the plurality of second ridges protrudes from a respective first ridge and has a second height greater than the first height and a second width less than the first width. The diffractive optical element is configured to diffract a portion of a light beam incident on the diffractive optical element toward the eye as a first order transmission.

Abstract: An eyepiece for use in front of an eye of a viewer includes a waveguide configured to propagate light therein, and a diffractive optical element optically coupled to the waveguide. The diffractive optical element includes a plurality of first ridges protruding from a surface of the waveguide. Each of the plurality of first ridges has a first height and a first width. The diffractive optical element further includes a plurality of second ridges. Each of the plurality of second ridges protrudes from a respective first ridge and has a second height greater than the first height and a second width less than the first width. The diffractive optical element is configured to diffract a portion of a light beam incident on the diffractive optical element toward the eye as a first order transmission.

Abstract: An eyepiece for use in front of an eye of a viewer includes a waveguide configured to propagate light therein, and a diffractive optical element optically coupled to the waveguide. The diffractive optical element includes a plurality of first ridges protruding from a surface of the waveguide. Each of the plurality of first ridges has a first height and a first width. The diffractive optical element further includes a plurality of second ridges. Each of the plurality of second ridges protrudes from a respective first ridge and has a second height greater than the first height and a second width less than the first width. The diffractive optical element is configured to diffract a portion of a light beam incident on the diffractive optical element toward the eye as a first order transmission.

Abstract: An eyepiece and waveguide for viewing a projected image in a virtual reality and augmented reality imaging and visualization system. The waveguide may include a substrate for guiding light. The waveguide may also include an incoupling diffractive element disposed within or on the substrate and configured to diffract an incoupled light related to the projected image into the substrate. The waveguide may further include a first grating disposed within or on the substrate and configured to manipulate the diffracted incoupled light from the incoupling diffractive element so as to multiply the projected image and to direct the multiplied projected image to a second grating. The second grating may be disposed within or on the substrate and may be configured to outcouple the manipulated diffracted incoupled light from the waveguide. The first grating and the second grating may occupy a same region of the waveguide.

Abstract: An eyepiece for use in front of an eye of a viewer includes a waveguide configured to propagate light therein, and a diffractive optical element optically coupled to the waveguide. The diffractive optical element includes a plurality of first ridges protruding from a surface of the waveguide. Each of the plurality of first ridges has a first height and a first width. The diffractive optical element further includes a plurality of second ridges. Each of the plurality of second ridges protrudes from a respective first ridge and has a second height greater than the first height and a second width less than the first width. The diffractive optical element is configured to diffract a portion of a light beam incident on the diffractive optical element toward the eye as a first order transmission.

Abstract: An eyepiece for use in front of an eye of a viewer includes a waveguide configured to propagate light therein, and a diffractive optical element optically coupled to the waveguide. The diffractive optical element includes a plurality of first ridges protruding from a surface of the waveguide. Each of the plurality of first ridges has a first height and a first width. The diffractive optical element further includes a plurality of second ridges. Each of the plurality of second ridges protrudes from a respective first ridge and has a second height greater than the first height and a second width less than the first width. The diffractive optical element is configured to diffract a portion of a light beam incident on the diffractive optical element toward the eye as a first order transmission.

Abstract: A device includes an input coupling grating having a first grating structure characterized by a first set of grating parameters. The input coupling grating is configured to receive light from a light source. The device also includes an expansion grating having a second grating structure characterized by a second set of grating parameters varying in at least two dimensions. The second grating structure is configured to receive light from the input coupling grating. The device further includes an output coupling grating having a third grating structure characterized by a third set of grating parameters. The output coupling grating is configured to receive light from the expansion grating and to output light to a viewer.

Abstract: An eyepiece for use in front of an eye of a viewer includes a waveguide configured to propagate light therein, and a diffractive optical element optically coupled to the waveguide. The diffractive optical element includes a plurality of first ridges protruding from a surface of the waveguide. Each of the plurality of first ridges has a first height and a first width. The diffractive optical element further includes a plurality of second ridges. Each of the plurality of second ridges protrudes from a respective first ridge and has a second height greater than the first height and a second width less than the first width. The diffractive optical element is configured to diffract a portion of a light beam incident on the diffractive optical element toward the eye as a first order transmission.

Abstract: An eyepiece for projecting an image to an eye of a viewer includes a waveguide configured to propagate light therein, and a diffractive optical element optically coupled to the waveguide. The diffractive optical element includes a plurality of first ridges protruding from a surface of the waveguide. Each of the plurality of first ridges has a first height and a first width. The diffractive optical element further includes a plurality of second ridges. Each of the plurality of second ridges protrudes from a respective first ridge and has a second height greater than the first height and a second width less than the first width. The diffractive optical element is configured to diffract a first portion of the light propagating in the waveguide toward the eye, and to diffract a second portion of the light propagating in the waveguide away from the eye.

Abstract: An eyepiece for projecting an image to an eye of a viewer includes a waveguide configured to propagate light therein, and a diffractive optical element optically coupled to the waveguide. The diffractive optical element includes a plurality of first ridges protruding from a surface of the waveguide. Each of the plurality of first ridges has a first height and a first width. The diffractive optical element further includes a plurality of second ridges. Each of the plurality of second ridges protrudes from a respective first ridge and has a second height greater than the first height and a second width less than the first width. The diffractive optical element is configured to diffract a first portion of the light propagating in the waveguide toward the eye, and to diffract a second portion of the light propagating in the waveguide away from the eye.

Abstract: A device includes an input coupling grating having a first grating structure characterized by a first set of grating parameters. The input coupling grating is configured to receive light from a light source. The device also includes an expansion grating having a second grating structure characterized by a second set of grating parameters varying in at least two dimensions. The second grating structure is configured to receive light from the input coupling grating. The device further includes an output coupling grating having a third grating structure characterized by a third set of grating parameters. The output coupling grating is configured to receive light from the expansion grating and to output light to a viewer.

Abstract: An eyepiece and waveguide for viewing a projected image in a virtual reality and augmented reality imaging and visualization system. The waveguide may include a substrate for guiding light. The waveguide may also include an incoupling diffractive element disposed within or on the substrate and configured to diffract an incoupled light related to the projected image into the substrate. The waveguide may further include a first grating disposed within or on the substrate and configured to manipulate the diffracted incoupled light from the incoupling diffractive element so as to multiply the projected image and to direct the multiplied projected image to a second grating. The second grating may be disposed within or on the substrate and may be configured to outcouple the manipulated diffracted incoupled light from the waveguide. The first grating and the second grating may occupy a same region of the waveguide.