Abstract: Structures for forming an optical feature and methods for forming the optical feature are disclosed. In some embodiments, the structure comprises a patterned layer comprising a pattern corresponding to the optical feature; a base layer; and an intermediate layer bonded to the patterned layer and the base layer.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for fabricating nanostructures on a substrate that can be used in eyepieces for displays, e.g., in head wearable devices. Fabricating and/or etching such a substrate can include submerging the substrate in a bath and applying ultrasonication to the bath for a first time period. The ultrasonication applied to the first bath can agitate the fluid to provide a substantially uniform first reactive environment across the surface of the substrate. The substrate can be submerged in a second bath and ultrasonication can be applied to the second bath for a second time period. The ultrasonication applied to the second bath can agitate the fluid to provide a substantially uniform second reactive environment across the surface of the substrate. A predetermined amount of material can be removed from the surface of the substrate during the second time period to produce an etched substrate.

Abstract: A method of operating an eyepiece waveguide of an augmented reality system includes projecting virtual content using a projector assembly and diffracting the virtual content into the eyepiece waveguide via a first order diffraction. A first portion of the virtual content is clipped to produce a remaining portion of the virtual content. The method also includes propagating the remaining portion of the virtual content in the eyepiece waveguide, outcoupling the remaining portion of the virtual content out of the eyepiece waveguide, and diffracting the virtual content into the eyepiece waveguide via a second order diffraction. A second portion of the virtual content is clipped to produce a complementary portion. The method further includes propagating the complementary portion of the virtual content in the eyepiece waveguide and outcoupling the complementary portion of the virtual content out of the eyepiece waveguide.

Abstract: An augmented reality system includes a projector assembly and a set of imaging optics optically coupled to the projector assembly. The augmented reality system also includes an eyepiece optically coupled to the set of imaging optics. The eyepiece has a world side and a user side opposite the world side and includes one or more eyepiece waveguides. Each of the one or more eyepiece waveguides includes an incoupling interface and an outcoupling interface operable to output virtual content toward the user side. The augmented reality system further includes an optical notch filter disposed on the world side of the eyepiece.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an article including: a waveguide formed from a polymer material and including: an optical coupling structure on a surface of the waveguide, the optical coupling structure configured to couple light incident on the optical coupling structure into the waveguide; an out-coupling surface grating extending over a first region of the surface of the waveguide; and an anti-reflective surface grating extending over a second region of the surface of the waveguide, the second region encircling the optical coupling structure, the anti-reflective surface grating including: a layer of material layered to a thickness on the surface of the waveguide; and a pattern of nanostructures having a width, extending from the layer of material by a height and spaced apart by a pitch.

Abstract: Improved stacked waveguide assemblies, and methods of making the same. The stacked waveguide assemblies include a plurality of waveguides stacked together and configured to transmit image information to a user's eye. Each of the waveguides is bonded to adjacent waveguides using a stack adhesive applied between the adjacent waveguides proximate an edge of each waveguide. A thin blackening edge layer is applied around the edge of each waveguide and is configured to absorb substantially all visible light bouncing off the edge of each respective waveguide. This design improves image contrast without affecting image sharpness.

Abstract: In some implementations, a method includes imprinting an optically-diffractive structure, and imprinting an optically-sub-diffractive structure adjacent to the optically-diffractive structure. For example, the structures can be grating with different characteristics. The imprinted structures can be included in optical devices and display systems.

Abstract: Polarization insensitive gratings and displays including the same are disclosed.

Abstract: An eyepiece includes a substrate and an in-coupling grating patterned on a single side of the substrate. A first grating coupler is patterned on the single side of the substrate and has a first grating pattern. The first grating coupler is optically coupled to the in-coupling grating. A second grating coupler is patterned on the single side of the substrate adjacent to the first grating coupler. The second grating coupler has a second grating pattern different from the first grating pattern. The second grating coupler is optically coupled to the in-coupling grating.

Abstract: A display device includes a waveguide assembly comprising a waveguide configured to outcouple light out of a major surface of the waveguide to form an image in the eyes of a user. An adaptive lens assembly comprises a switchable waveplate assembly. The switchable waveplate assembly includes quarter-wave plates on opposing sides of a switchable liquid crystal layer, and electrodes on the quarter-wave plates in the volume between the quarter-wave plates. The electrodes can selectively establish an electric field and may serve as an alignment structure for molecules of the liquid crystal layer. Portions of the adaptive lens assembly may be manufactured by roll-to-roll processing in which a substrate roll is unwound, and alignment layers and liquid crystal layers are formed on the substrate as it moves towards a second roller, to be wound on that second roller.

Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques for manufacturing waveguides that include spacer(s) on at least one surface of the waveguide, such that the spacers maintain mechanical stability and separation between the waveguides when the waveguides as assembled into a waveguide stack that is usable as an optical device. The disclosure also describes the various implementations of waveguides and optical devices that include spacers. The spacers may be created using a drop dispenser, in which drops of a (e.g., polymer) fluid are dispensed onto at least one surface of a substrate to be used as a waveguide. After being dispensed, the fluid drops can be cured to create the final, solidified spacers. Curing may also be performed in-flight before the drops reach the surface of the substrate. Partially cured drops may be stacked to create spacers of a particular height.

Abstract: An eyepiece waveguide for an augmented reality display system. The eyepiece waveguide can include an optically transmissive substrate with an input coupling grating (ICG) region. The ICG region can receive a beam of light and couple the beam into the substrate in a guided propagation mode. The eyepiece waveguide can also include a combined pupil expander-extractor (CPE) grating region that receives the beam of light from the ICG region and alters the propagation direction of the beam with a first interaction and out-couples the beam with a second interaction. The diffractive features of the CPE grating region can be arranged in rows and columns of alternating higher and lower quadrilateral surfaces or the diffractive features can comprise diamond shaped raised ridges. The eyepiece waveguide can also include one or more recycler grating regions.

Abstract: A head-mounted display system includes: a head mounted display frame; a first eyepiece supported by the frame, the first eyepiece including a first substrate composed of a crystalline, transparent material having crystallographic axes in a first orientation with respect to the frame, the substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the first eyepiece further including a first in-coupling element including a grating on the first surface, and a first out-coupling element including a grating on the first surface and/or a grating on the second surface; and a second eyepiece including a second substrate composed of the crystalline, transparent material having crystallographic axes in a second orientation with respect to the frame different from the first orientation, a second in-coupling element on either surface of the second substrate, and a second out-coupling element on either surface of the second substrate.

Abstract: Waveguides comprising materials with refractive index greater than or equal to 1.8 and methods of patterning waveguides are disclosed. Patterned waveguides comprising materials with refractive index greater than or equal to 1.8 can be incorporated in display devices, such as, for example wearable display devices to project virtual images to a viewer.

Abstract: Asymmetric structures formed on a substrate and microlithographic methods for forming such structures. Each of the structures has a first side surface and a second side surface, opposite the first side surface. A profile of the first side surface is asymmetric with respect to a profile of the second side surface. The structures on the substrate are useful as a diffraction pattern for an optical device.

Abstract: A method of operating an augmented reality display having a world side and a user side includes receiving world light incident on the augmented reality display from the world side, linearly polarizing the world light to produce first linearly polarized light characterized by a first polarization state, and rotating the first linearly polarized light to produce second linearly polarized light characterized by a second polarization state orthogonal to the first polarization state. The method also includes converting the second linearly polarized light to first circularly polarized light having a first handedness, converting the first circularly polarized light to second circularly polarized light having a second handedness, converting the second circularly polarized light to the second linearly polarized light; and blocking the second linearly polarized light.

Abstract: An eyepiece waveguide for an augmented reality display system includes an optically transmissive substrate, a first in-coupling grating (ICG) region, a second ICG region and one or more pupil expander and extraction gratings. The first ICG region can receive input beams of light corresponding to a first color component of an input image, and can couple them into the substrate. The second ICG region can receive input beams of light corresponding to a second color component of the input image, and can couple them into the substrate. The pupil expander and extraction gratings can replicate the in-coupled beams and out-couple them from the substrate. The first and second ICG regions can be provided at angularly separated locations around the substrate. The eyepiece waveguide can be capable of reducing color distortion in an output image.

Abstract: Recesses are formed on a front side and a rear side of a waveguide. A solid porogen material is spun onto the front side and the rear side and fills the recesses. First front and rear cap layers are then formed on raised formations of the waveguide and on the solid porogen material. The entire structure is then heated and the solid porogen material decomposes to a porogen gas. The first front and rear cap layers are porous to allow the porogen gas to escape and air to enter into the recesses. The air maximizes a difference in refractive indices between the high-index transparent material of the waveguide and the air to promote reflection in the waveguide from interfaces between the waveguide and the air.

Abstract: An eyepiece includes a substrate and an in-coupling grating patterned on a single side of the substrate. A first grating coupler is patterned on the single side of the substrate and has a first grating pattern. The first grating coupler is optically coupled to the in-coupling grating. A second grating coupler is patterned on the single side of the substrate adjacent to the first grating coupler. The second grating coupler has a second grating pattern different from the first grating pattern. The second grating coupler is optically coupled to the in-coupling grating.

Abstract: An eyepiece waveguide for an augmented reality display system. The eyepiece waveguide can include an optically transmissive substrate with an input coupling grating (ICG) region. The ICG region can receive a beam of light and couple the beam into the substrate in a guided propagation mode. The eyepiece waveguide can also include a combined pupil expander-extractor (CPE) grating region that receives the beam of light from the ICG region and alters the propagation direction of the beam with a first interaction and out-couples the beam with a second interaction. The diffractive features of the CPE grating region can be arranged in rows and columns of alternating higher and lower quadrilateral surfaces or the diffractive features can comprise diamond shaped raised ridges. The eyepiece waveguide can also include one or more recycler grating regions.