Abstract: An optical assembly for an eye-tracking camera includes an aperture stop, a first optical surface, and a second optical surface. The optical assembly is configured to receive non-visible light reflected or scattered by an eye and to direct the non-visible light to an image sensor along an optical path, where the non-visible light is received from an optical combiner of an eye-tracking system. The first optical surface is disposed on the optical path and is configured to correct for field-independent optical aberrations induced by the optical combiner. The second optical surface is disposed on the optical path and is configured to correct for field-dependent optical aberrations induced by the optical combiner.

Abstract: An optical device includes a first polarization selective reflector; a second polarization selective reflector positioned relative to the first polarization selective reflector so that the first polarization selective reflector directs first light having a first nonplanar polarization toward the second polarization selective reflector and the second polarization selective reflector directs at least a portion of the first light toward the first polarization selective reflector as second light. The optical device includes a first reflector positioned relative to the first polarization selective reflector so that the first polarization selective reflector directs at least a portion of the second light having a second nonplanar polarization toward the first reflector as third light.

Abstract: An optical assembly for projecting light output by a display includes an optical waveguide, a reflective optical element, and a in-coupler coupled with the optical waveguide. The reflective optical element is positioned to receive first light and to reflect the first light as second light. The in-coupler is positioned to receive the first light and transmit the first light toward the reflective optical element. The in-coupler is further positioned to receive the second light and redirect a first portion of the second light so that the first portion of the second light undergoes total internal reflection inside the optical waveguide. The reflective optical element includes a negative meniscus lens having a concave lens surface and a convex lens surface coupled with a reflective surface. The reflective optical element is positioned to focus the first light such that the second light is more collimated than the first light.

Abstract: An optical assembly includes a reflector and a volume Bragg grating (VBG). The VBG is positioned for: (i) transmitting light having a first polarization and incident upon the VBG at an incident angle that is within a first angular range, (ii) reflecting light having the first polarization and incident upon the VBG at an incident angle that is within a second angular range distinct from the first angular range, and (iii) transmitting light having a second polarization different from the first polarization. The optical assembly is configured to receive first light, having the first polarization, and reflect the first light at the reflector and at the VBG before the first light is output from the optical assembly. The optical assembly is configured to receive second light, having the second polarization, and output the second light from the optical assembly without undergoing reflection at either the reflector or the VBG.

Abstract: A display device includes a frame, a display, an optical assembly, and a display-moving assembly connected to the display and the frame. The display-moving assembly is configured to move the display between multiple different positions, including a first position and a second position. When the display is in the first position, the display is configured to output image light in a first direction. The first direction is substantially parallel to an optical axis of the optical assembly. When the display is in the second position, the display is positioned away from the optical axis of the optical assembly.

Abstract: A display device includes a display having optically anisotropic molecules disposed between a front surface and a back surface. The display is configurable to either receive image light and diffuse the image light to output diffused image light from the front surface, or to transmit ambient light from the back surface to the front surface. The display device also includes an optical assembly that has a substrate, a reflector, and a beam splitter. The optical assembly is configurable to transmit a portion of the diffused image light at a first optical power via an optical path including reflections at the reflector and at the beam splitter and to transmit a portion of the ambient light output from the front surface of the display at a second optical power without reflection at the reflector. The second optical power is less than the first optical power.

Abstract: An optical assembly for projecting light from a display includes a first optical waveguide, a reflective optical element configured, and a first in-coupler. The reflective optical element is configured to receive first light having first polarization from the display and to reflect the first light as second light having second polarization distinct from the first polarization. The first in-coupler is coupled with the first optical waveguide. The first in-coupler is configured to receive and transmit the first light. The first in-coupler is further configured to receive the second light and redirect a first portion of the second light so that the first portion of the second light undergoes total internal reflection inside the first optical waveguide.

Abstract: A display device includes an image source, a holographic relay, and a holographic image combiner in an off-axis configuration. The holographic relay may include a pair of freeform holographic reflectors relaying light of the image source to an intermediate image plane. The holographic image combiner receives and redirects the relayed light from the holographic relay, forming an image in angular domain at an eyebox of the display device, the image in angular domain corresponding to the image in linear domain generated by the image source.

Abstract: An optical assembly includes a substrate that has a first surface and a second surface that is opposite to and substantially parallel with the first surface, a reflector, and a volume Bragg grating (VBG). The VBG is configured to transmit light incident upon the VBG at an incident angle that is within a first predetermined angular range and to reflect light that is incident upon the VBG at an incident angle that is within a second predetermined angular range distinct from the first angular range. The optical assembly is configured to transmit first light received at the first surface in an optical path that includes reflection at the reflector and at the VBG. The optical assembly is also configured to transmit second light received at the first surface such that the second light is output from the second surface without undergoing reflection at either the reflector or the VBG.

Abstract: An optical assembly includes a first polarization-sensitive reflector, a second polarization-sensitive reflector, and a Faraday rotator. The first polarization-sensitive reflector is positioned to transmit light having a first polarization, and reflect light having a second polarization that is orthogonal to the first polarization. The second polarization-sensitive reflector is positioned to reflect light having a third polarization that is different from the first polarization and the second polarization, and transmit light having a fourth polarization that is orthogonal to the third polarization.

Abstract: A scanning projector for a display apparatus includes a first scanning reflector configured to steer a light beam in a first plane, a second scanning reflector configured to steer the light beam received from the first scanning reflector in a second plane, and beam relay optics configured to relay a first pupil defined at the first scanning reflector to a second pupil defined at the second scanning reflector, and to relay the second pupil to an output pupil of the scanning projector. The beam relay optics may include a concave reflector and a polarization beam splitter coupled to a scanning reflector in a triple pass configuration.

Abstract: A multipass scanner usable e.g. in a near-eye display is disclosed. The multipass scanner scans a light beam angularly, forming an image in angular domain. The multipass scanner includes a light source, a tiltable reflector, and a multipass coupler that couples light emitted by the light source to the tiltable reflector, receives the reflected light and couples it back to the tiltable reflector to double the scanning angle. Then, the multipass coupler couples the light reflected at least twice from the tiltable reflector to an exit pupil of the scanner. A pupil-replicating waveguide disposed at the exit pupil of the scanner extends the image in angular domain. Multiple reflections of the light beam from the tiltable reflector enable one to increase the angular scanning range and associated field of view of the display without having to increase the angular scanning range of the tiltable reflector.

Abstract: A beam scanner for a near-eye display includes a beam-folded pupil relay configured for receiving a light beam reflected from a tiltable reflector and relaying the light beam to an exit pupil while preserving the beam angle of the reflected beam. The beam-folding pupil relay includes a beamsplitter, e.g. a polarization beam splitter configured to redirect the beam to a curved reflector, which sends the beam towards the exit pupil. Polarization of the light beam reflected from the curved reflector may be changed to an orthogonal polarization by a waveplate disposed in an optical path of the light beam between the polarization beam splitter and the curved reflector, enabling the reflected light beam to propagate through the polarization beam splitter towards the exit pupil. A pupil-replicating waveguide may be disposed proximate the exit pupil. A 2D tiltable reflector or a pair of 1D tiltable reflectors may be used.

Abstract: An optical assembly includes a first optical waveguide, a first in-coupler coupled with the first optical waveguide and a projector configured to project image light toward a first side of the first optical waveguide. The optical assembly also includes a first scanning reflector optically coupled with the projector and disposed on a second side of the first optical waveguide that is opposite to the first side. The projector is configured to project image light. The first scanning reflector is configured to receive the image light and to redirect the image light across a first range of directions. The first in-coupler is configured to redirect a first portion of the image light so that the first portion of the image light undergoes total internal reflection inside the first optical waveguide.

Abstract: An optical assembly for projecting light from a display includes a first optical waveguide, a reflective optical element configured, and a first in-coupler. The reflective optical element is configured to receive first light having first polarization from the display and to reflect the first light as second light having second polarization distinct from the first polarization. The first in-coupler is coupled with the first optical waveguide. The first in-coupler is configured to receive and transmit the first light. The first in-coupler is further configured to receive the second light and redirect a first portion of the second light so that the first portion of the second light undergoes total internal reflection inside the first optical waveguide.

Abstract: A display device includes a light source, a spatial light modulator (SLM), and an optical assembly that includes a first reflective surface and a second reflective surface that is opposite to the first reflective surface. The light source is configured to provide illumination light. The optical assembly is configured to receive the illumination light. At least a first portion of the illumination light received by the optical assembly is transmitted through the first reflective surface toward the second reflective surface, is reflected by the second reflective surface toward the first reflective surface, is reflected by the first reflective surface toward the second reflective surface, and is transmitted through the second reflective surface. The SLM is configured to receive and modulate the portion of the illumination light transmitted through the optical assembly, and to output the modulated light. A method performed by the display device is also disclosed.

Abstract: An optical assembly includes a substrate that has a first surface and a second surface that is opposite to and substantially parallel with the first surface, a reflector, and a volume Bragg grating (VBG). The VBG is configured to transmit light incident upon the VBG at an incident angle that is within a first predetermined angular range and to reflect light that is incident upon the VBG at an incident angle that is within a second predetermined angular range distinct from the first angular range. The optical assembly is configured to transmit first light received at the first surface in an optical path that includes reflection at the reflector and at the VBG. The optical assembly is also configured to transmit second light received at the first surface such that the second light is output from the second surface without undergoing reflection at either the reflector or the VBG.

Abstract: An optical assembly a substrate having a first surface and a second surface that is opposite to and substantially parallel with the first surface. The first surface has a first curved profile and the second surface has a second curved profile. The optical assembly also includes a beam splitter on the first surface and a reflector on the second surface. The optical assembly is configured to transmit image light received at the first surface in an optical path that includes reflection at each of the reflector and the beam splitter before the image light is output from the second surface. The optical assembly is also configured to transmit ambient light received at the first surface such that the second light is output from the second surface without undergoing reflection at either the reflector or the beam splitter. A method of transmitting light through the optical assembly is also disclosed.

Abstract: A display device includes a display having optically anisotropic molecules disposed between a front surface and a back surface. The display is configurable to either receive image light and diffuse the image light to output diffused image light from the front surface, or to transmit ambient light from the back surface to the front surface. The display device also includes an optical assembly that has a substrate, a reflector, and a beam splitter. The optical assembly is configurable to transmit a portion of the diffused image light at a first optical power via an optical path including reflections at the reflector and at the beam splitter and to transmit a portion of the ambient light output from the front surface of the display at a second optical power without reflection at the reflector. The second optical power is less than the first optical power.

Abstract: A beam scanner of a projector-based near-eye display includes a polarization volume hologram (PVH) grating. The PVH grating receives a polarized light beam from a light source and couples the beam to a tiltable reflector, e.g. a 2D tiltable MEMS reflector, for angular scanning the beam. The light beam impinging onto the tiltable reflector is separated from the light beam reflected from the tiltable reflector by polarization, due to the PVH grating diffracting light of only one handedness of polarization. Upon reflection from the tiltable reflector, the beam changes the handedness of polarization, which enables its separation from the impinging beam. The beam scanner may receive multiple light beams from multiple light sources. A projector and a near-eye display based on such beam scanners are also disclosed.