Abstract: A vortex polarizer converts light having azimuthal polarization emitted at a light emitting surface of a light emitting diode (LED) into a converted light having linear polarization. The vortex polarizer includes a distribution of fast axes that vary as a function of azimuth angle. Each fast axis rotates a portion of the light having the azimuthal polarization to a portion of the converted light having linear polarization. The vortex polarizer may include linear photoalignment polymer (LPP) aligned to define the distribution of fast axes.

Abstract: A method for monolithically fabricating a light field sensor with an array of microlens. Each microlens is formed directly on a surface including a plurality of pixels of the light field sensor formed on a wafer. The manufacturing system performs a preparation of the surface including the plurality of pixels formed on the wafer. The manufacturing system deposits a layer of photoresist on the surface of the wafer. The manufacturing system performs a patterning on the deposited layer to form one or more blocks of cured photoresists. The manufacturing system performs a thermal curing of the one or more blocks of uncured photoresists to form an array of microlens of the light field sensor. Each microlens covers at least one of the plurality of pixels of the light field sensor formed on the wafer.

Abstract: A waveguide display includes a source assembly, an output waveguide, and a controller. The source assembly includes a light source and an optics system. The light source includes source elements arranged in a 1D or 2D array that emit image light that is temporally incoherent and spatially coherent. In some embodiments, the light source includes an array of superluminous LEDs, an array of laser diodes, an array of resonant cavity LEDs, or some combination thereof. The optics system includes a scanning assembly that scans the image light to particular locations based on scanning instructions. The output waveguide receives the scanned image light from the scanning assembly and outputs an expanded image light. The controller generates the scanning instructions and provides the scanning instructions to the light source.

Abstract: A waveguide display includes a light source, a scanning mirror assembly, an output waveguide, and a controller. The light source emits image light. The scanning mirror assembly scans the image light as scanned image light to particular locations in accordance with scanning instructions. The output waveguide includes an input area and an output area. The output waveguide receives the scanned image light emitted from the scanning mirror assembly at the input area, and output expanded image light from a portion of the output area, the location of the portion of the output area based in part on a direction of the scanned image light output from the scanning mirror assembly. The controller generates the scanning instructions and provides the scanning instructions to the scanning mirror assembly.

Abstract: A head-mounted display (HMD) presented herein comprises an electronic display, an optical assembly with a dynamic optical axis component (DOAC), an eye tracker and a controller. The electronic display is configured to emit image light. The eye tracker is configured to determine a gaze vector of a user wearing the HMD. The DOAC is positioned in front of the electronic display and refracts the image light received from the electronic display. The controller provides emission instructions to the DOAC to dynamically move an optical axis of the DOAC to align the optical axis with the determined gaze vector. The optical assembly directs the image light refracted by the DOAC to an eye box of the HMD corresponding to a location of an eye of the user. An optical error associated with the refracted image light directed to the eye box is reduced.

Abstract: A wearable display device and a calibration method for the wearable display device are provided. The wearable display device or its component(s) may exhibit optical throughput dependent on beam angle or beam coordinate at the eyebox. The linear or angular dependencies of throughput may be accounted for when generating an image to be displayed, to lessen or offset these dependencies during operation of the wearable display.

Abstract: A lens assembly includes two or more polarization-dependent lenses sensitive to either linear or circular polarization, and at least one switchable polarization converter. The switchable polarization converter is configured to rotate linearly polarized light or change the handedness of circularly polarized light when switched on. The lens assembly is configurable to project displayed images on two or more different image planes. For example, when the switchable polarization converter is switched off, the lens assembly projects a displayed image on a first image plane. When the switchable polarization converter is switched on, the lens assembly projects a displayed image on a second image plane different from the first image plane.

Abstract: A head-mounted display device includes a first light element configured to transmit a first light having a first color; a second light element configured to transmit a second light having a second color; a first lens configured for directing the first light in a first direction and directing the second light in a second direction; and a first set of one or more lenses configured for directing the first light and the second light from the first lens toward a first eye of a user. Also disclosed is a method that includes transmitting a first light and a second light through a first lens and a first set of one or more lenses and directing the first light and the second light toward a first eye of a user. Further disclosed is a method for adjusting a position of one or more lenses.

Abstract: A near-eye display (NED) includes a source assembly that emits image light, a waveguide-based display assembly, and a controller coupled to the waveguide-based display assembly, and an optical assembly. The waveguide-based display assembly includes a liquid crystal (LC) waveguide, an input area, and an output area. The LC waveguide comprising a first glass layer, a second glass layer, and a LC layer between the first and second glass layers. The LC waveguide propagates the image light in-coupled via the input area in accordance with emission instructions toward the output area that out-couples the image light to a user's eye. The controller generates the emission instructions and provides the emission instructions to the LC waveguide for generating the image light of substantially uniform brightness.

Abstract: A head-mounted display (HMD) presents viewable media to a user. The HMD includes a light source and an optical block. The light source includes a first sub-pixel mounted on a first set of microbumps at a first height from a substrate and emits light within a first optical band, and a second sub-pixel mounted on a second set of microbumps at a second height from the substrate that is different from the first height, and emits light over a second optical band that is different than the first optical band. The optical block receives the image light from the light source, and directs the image light to an eyebox, wherein the first height and the second height mitigates longitudinal chromatic aberration and field curvature in the optical block.

Abstract: A light projection system includes a light source configured to emit image light and an optical assembly configured to provide positive optical power to the image light and optically correct the image light. The optical assembly comprises a plurality of optical elements configured to correct differential distortion related to the image light across a field of view (FOV) within a threshold amount. The differential distortion is corrected based in part on asymmetry of the plurality of optical elements relative to an optical axis shared by the plurality of optical elements.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in replicating an image associated with an input-pupil to an output-pupil includes a planar optical waveguide including a bulk-substrate, and also including an input-coupler, an intermediate-component and an output-coupler. The input-coupler couples light corresponding to the image into the bulk-substrate and towards the intermediate-component. The intermediate-component performs horizontal or vertical pupil expansion and directs the light corresponding to the image towards the output-coupler. The output-coupler performs the other one of horizontal or vertical pupil expansion and couples light corresponding to the image, which travels from the input-coupler to the output-coupler, out of the waveguide. The apparatus further includes an adjacent planar optical component to provide a more uniform intensity distribution compared to if the adjacent planar optical component were absent.

Abstract: A head-mounted display (HMD) presented herein comprises an electronic display, an optical assembly with a dynamic optical axis component (DOAC), an eye tracker and a controller. The electronic display is configured to emit image light. The eye tracker is configured to determine a gaze vector of a user wearing the HMD. The DOAC is positioned in front of the electronic display and refracts the image light received from the electronic display. The controller provides emission instructions to the DOAC to dynamically move an optical axis of the DOAC to align the optical axis with the determined gaze vector. The optical assembly directs the image light refracted by the DOAC to an eye box of the HMD corresponding to a location of an eye of the user. An optical error associated with the refracted image light directed to the eye box is reduced.

Abstract: A device includes a first light source device configured to transmit a first light and a second light. The device also includes a first set of one or more lenses configured for directing the first light and the second light toward a first eye of a user. The first light is spatially offset from the second light. The first light and the second light provide a cue for adjusting a location of the first set of one or more lenses. Also disclosed is a method that includes transmitting a first light and a second light through a first set of one or more lenses and directing the first light and the second light toward a first eye of a user. Further disclosed is a method for adjusting a position of one or more lenses.

Abstract: A head-mounted display (HMD) presents viewable media to a user. The HMD includes a light source and an optical block. The light source includes a first sub-pixel mounted on a first set of microbumps at a first height from a substrate and emits light within a first optical band, and a second sub-pixel mounted on a second set of microbumps at a second height from the substrate that is different from the first height, and emits light over a second optical band that is different than the first optical band. The optical block receives the image light from the light source, and directs the image light to an eyebox, wherein the first height and the second height mitigates longitudinal chromatic aberration and field curvature in the optical block.

Abstract: A head-mounted display device includes a first light element configured to transmit a first light having a first color; a second light element configured to transmit a second light having a second color; a first lens configured for directing the first light in a first direction and directing the second light in a second direction; and a first set of one or more lenses configured for directing the first light and the second light from the first lens toward a first eye of a user. Also disclosed is a method that includes transmitting a first light and a second light through a first lens and a first set of one or more lenses and directing the first light and the second light toward a first eye of a user. Further disclosed is a method for adjusting a position of one or more lenses.

Abstract: A compact light projection system. The light projection system includes a light source, an anamorphic reflector assembly, and a correction element that is configured to mitigate aberration. The light source is configured to emit image light. The anamorphic reflector assembly includes a first surface and a second surface. The first surface is configured to reflect the image light toward the second surface which reflects the reflected image light to output it from the anamorphic reflector assembly. And the first surface and the second surface are both curved and non-rotationally symmetric such that the light output from the anamorphic reflector assembly is collimated image light. The collimated image light is optically corrected based in part on mitigation of aberration by the correction element.

Abstract: A compact light projection system. The light projection system includes a light source, an anamorphic reflector assembly, and a correction element that is configured to mitigate aberration. The light source is configured to emit image light. The anamorphic reflector assembly includes a first surface and a second surface. The first surface is configured to reflect the image light toward the second surface which reflects the reflected image light to output it from the anamorphic reflector assembly. And the first surface and the second surface are both curved and non-rotationally symmetric such that the light output from the anamorphic reflector assembly is collimated image light. The collimated image light is optically corrected based in part on mitigation of aberration by the correction element.

Abstract: An optical device comprises a number of waveguides, e.g., color plates, that are individually formed to couple a corresponding color output of a micro-display engine and project an image into a human vision system. Some configurations include stacked structures for suppressing a predetermined wavelength range a corresponding to a wavelength range emitted from a waveguide. Techniques, devices, and systems disclosed herein can mitigate cross coupling that occurs between the waveguides to provide enhanced MTF values over devices that do not include the stacked structures. Individual optical devices configured to suppress a predetermined wavelength range are also provided.

Abstract: An optical device comprises a number of waveguides, e.g., color plates, that are individually formed to couple a corresponding color output of a micro-display engine and project an image into a human vision system. Some configurations include stacked structures for suppressing a predetermined wavelength range a corresponding to a wavelength range emitted from a waveguide. Techniques, devices, and systems disclosed herein can mitigate cross coupling that occurs between the waveguides to provide enhanced MTF values over devices that do not include the stacked structures. Individual optical devices configured to suppress a predetermined wavelength range are also provided.