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: 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 imprint lithography method of configuring an optical layer includes selecting one or more parameters of a nanolayer to be applied to a substrate for changing an effective refractive index of the substrate and imprinting the nanolayer on the substrate to change the effective refractive index of the substrate such that a relative amount of light transmittable through the substrate is changed by a selected amount.

Abstract: An eyepiece for a head-mounted display includes one or more first waveguides arranged to receive light from a spatial light modulator at a first edge, guide at least some of the received light to a second edge opposite the first edge, and extract at least some of the light through a face of the one or more first waveguides between the first and second edges. The eyepiece also includes a second waveguide positioned to receive light exiting the one or more first waveguides at the second edge and guide the received light to one or more light absorbers.

Abstract: An optical device, such as an eyepiece, including multiple layers of waveguides. The optical device can include an edge sealant for reducing light contamination, a lamination dam to restrict the wicking of the edge sealant between layers of the optical device, and venting gap(s) in the sealant and dam to allow air flow between the exterior and interior of the eyepiece. The gap(s) allow outgassing from the interior of the eyepiece of unreacted polymer and/or accumulated moisture, to prevent defect accumulation caused by chemical reaction of outgassed chemicals with the (e.g., ionic, acidic, etc.) surface of the eyepiece layers. The gap(s) also prevent pressure differences which may physically deform the eyepiece over time.

Abstract: Methods for creating a pattern on a curved surface and an optical structure (e.g., curved waveguide, a lens having an antireflective feature, an optical structure of a wearable head device) are disclosed. In some embodiments, the method comprises: depositing a patterning material on a curved surface; positioning a superstrate over the patterning material, the superstrate comprising a template for creating the pattern; applying, using the patterning material, a force between the curved surface and the superstrate; curing the patterning material, wherein the cured patterning material comprises the pattern; and removing the superstrate. In some embodiments, the method comprises forming the optical structure using the pattern.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for displays, such as for a head wearable device. An example display can include an infrared illumination layer, the infrared illumination layer including a waveguide having a first face and a second face, the first face disposed opposite the second face. The illumination layer may also include an in-coupling grating disposed on the first face, the in-coupling grating configured to couple light into the waveguide to generate internally reflected light propagating in a first direction. The illumination layer may also include a plurality of out-coupling gratings disposed on at least one of the first face and the second face, the plurality of out-coupling gratings configured to receive the internally reflected light and couple the internally reflected light out of the waveguide.

Abstract: Very high refractive index (n>2.2) lightguide substrates enable the production of 70° field of view eyepieces with all three color primaries in a single eyepiece layer. Disclosed herein are viewing optics assembly architectures that make use of such eyepieces to reduce size and cost, simplifying manufacturing and assembly, and better-accommodating novel microdisplay designs.

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: An eyepiece waveguide includes a set of waveguide layers having a world side and a user side. The eyepiece waveguide also includes a first cover plate having a first optical power and disposed adjacent the world side of the set of waveguide layers and a second cover plate having a second optical power and disposed adjacent the user side of the set of waveguide layers.

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: Very high refractive index (n>2.2) lightguide substrates enable the production of 70° field of view eyepieces with all three color primaries in a single eyepiece layer. Disclosed herein are viewing optics assembly architectures that make use of such eyepieces to reduce size and cost, simplifying manufacturing and assembly, and better-accommodating novel microdisplay designs.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a blazed diffraction grating comprises providing a master template substrate and imprinting periodically repeating lines on the master template substrate in a plurality of master template regions. In some embodiments, the periodically repeating lines in different ones of the master template regions extend in different directions. The method additionally comprises using at least one of the master template regions as a master template to imprint at least one blazed diffraction grating pattern on a grating substrate. In some embodiments, the method further comprises coating the periodically repeating lines with a material having a greater hardness than the material that forms the lines.

Abstract: A display device comprises a waveguide configured to guide light in a lateral direction parallel to an output surface of the waveguide. The waveguide is further configured to outcouple the guided light through the output surface. The display device additionally comprises a broadband adaptive lens assembly configured to incouple and to diffract therethrough the outcoupled light from the waveguide. The broadband adaptive lens assembly comprises a first waveplate lens comprising a liquid crystal (LC) layer arranged such that the waveplate lens has birefringence (?n) that varies in a radially outward direction from a central region of the first waveplate lens and configured to diffract the outcoupled light at a diffraction efficiency greater than 90% within a wavelength range including at least 450 nm to 630 nm. The broadband adaptive lens assembly is configured to be selectively switched between a plurality of states having different optical powers.

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 fabricating an optical element includes providing a substrate, forming a castable material coupled to the substrate, and casting the castable material using a mold. The method also includes curing the castable material and removing the mold. The optical element comprises a planar region and a clear aperture adjacent the planar region and characterized by an optical power.

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 has a major surface facing the output surface and a waveplate lens and 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: A method of fabricating a blazed diffraction grating comprises providing a master template substrate and imprinting periodically repeating lines on the master template substrate in a plurality of master template regions. The periodically repeating lines in different ones of the master template regions extend in different directions. The method additionally comprises using at least one of the master template regions as a master template to imprint at least one blazed diffraction grating pattern on a grating substrate.

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: Architectures are provided for selectively incoupling one or more streams of light from a multiplexed light stream into a waveguide. The multiplexed light stream can have light with different characteristics (e.g., different wavelengths and/or different polarizations). The waveguide can comprise in-coupling elements that can selectively couple one or more streams of light from the multiplexed light stream into the waveguide while transmitting one or more other streams of light from the multiplexed light stream.