Abstract: A device includes a first light source device configured to transmit a first light in a first direction and a second light source device configured to transmit a second light in a second direction. The device also includes a first set of one or more lenses configured for directing the first light from the first light source device and the second light from the second light source device 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 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 distance between an eye and a lens of the first set of one or more lenses.

Abstract: A display device is configurable to be operable in a first mode and a second mode. The display device includes an emission surface configured to output image light, a first optical assembly, and a second optical assembly. The first optical assembly is configured to receive image light from the emission surface and to direct the image light toward the eyes of a user at a first optical power. The second optical assembly includes a first region configured to receive image light from the emission surface and to direct the image light toward the eyes of a user at a second optical power. The second optical assembly also includes a second region configured to receive ambient light and to transmit at least a portion of the received ambient light at a third optical power distinct from and less than the first optical power and the second optical power.

Abstract: An optical assembly includes at least one switchable waveplate and a reflective polarizer layer. The reflective polarizer layer is configured to pass a first polarization orientation of display light and reflect a second polarization orientation orthogonal to the first polarization orientation. The optical assembly provides a first effective focal length when the switchable waveplate is switched to a first retardance value and the optical assembly provides a second effective focal length when the switchable waveplate is switched to a second retardance value.

Abstract: A display device includes a light source, a spatial light modulator, and an optical assembly. The light source is configured to provide illumination light and the spatial light modulator positioned to receive the illumination light. The optical assembly includes an optical element and a curved reflector that is distinct and separate from the optical element. The curved reflector is disposed relative to the light source so that at least a portion of the illumination light is reflected by the curved reflector toward the optical element, is reflected by the optical element toward the curved reflector, and is transmitted through the curved reflector. A method performed by the display device is also disclosed.

Abstract: An optical assembly includes a substrate having a first surface and a second surface that is opposite to and substantially parallel with the first surface. The substrate also includes a reflector and a beam splitter, each of which is coupled to the substrate. 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 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.

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: 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 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: A display device includes a projector and a display that has a first surface and a second surface. The projector is configured to project image light toward the display. The display is configured to output diffused image light from the first surface and to transmit ambient light from the second surface to the first surface. The display device also includes an optical assembly that has a substrate with substantially uniform thickness. The optical assembly is configured to receive the diffused image light and transmit a portion of the diffused image light output from the first surface of the display at a first optical power. The optical assembly is also configured to receive the ambient light and transmit a portion of the ambient light through the optical assembly at a second optical power that is less than the first optical power.

Abstract: A device is provided. The device includes a waveguide configured to output a first light having a first polarization to a first side of the waveguide and a second light having the first polarization to a second side of the waveguide. The device also includes an optical element assembly disposed at the first side of the waveguide and configured to convert the first light having the first polarization into a third light having a second polarization, and output the third light toward the waveguide. The device further includes a polarizer disposed at the second side of the waveguide and configured to transmit the third light having the second polarization, and block the second light having the first polarization.

Abstract: A display device includes a light source, a spatial light modulator, and an optical element. The optical element includes a reflective surface. The optical assembly is positioned relative to the light source so that at least a portion of the illumination light received by the optical element is reflected at the reflective surface back toward the light source. The spatial light modulator is positioned to receive at least a portion of the illumination light reflected by the reflective surface. A method performed by the display device is also disclosed.

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 light source, a spatial light modulator, and an optical assembly. The light source is configured to provide illumination light and the spatial light modulator is positioned to receive the illumination light. The optical assembly includes a first reflective surface with an aperture and a second reflective surface that is opposite to the first reflective surface. The optical assembly is positioned relative to the light source so that at least a first portion of the illumination light received by the optical assembly 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. A method performed by the display device is also disclosed.

Abstract: A display device includes an optical diffuser configured to, in response to receiving image light, output diffused image light having a same polarization as the image light. The optical diffuser is also configured to transmit ambient light. The display device also includes an optical assembly that includes a substrate, a reflector coupled to the substrate, and a beam splitter coupled to the substrate. The optical assembly is configured to transmit the diffused image light at a first optical power by reflecting the diffused image light at the reflector and at the beam splitter and to transmit the transmitted ambient light at a second optical power that is less than the first optical power without reflection at the reflector or the beam splitter. A method for transmitting light through the display device is also disclosed.

Abstract: A display assembly includes a light source, a spatial light modulator (SLM) and a grating. The light source is configured to emit illumination light, the SLM is configured to receive the illumination light and reflect at least a portion of the illumination light. The grating is positioned to redirect the illumination light output from the light source toward the SLM, receive at least a portion of the reflected light from the SLM, redirect first light having a first polarization toward the light source, and transmit through the grating second light having a second polarization that is orthogonal to the first polarization. Also disclosed are operations performed by the display assembly.

Abstract: A display device includes a waveguide, an array of tunable retarders in contact with the waveguide, and a polarization selective optical element. A respective tunable retarder of the array of tunable retarders receives light from the waveguide. The respective tunable retarder has a first state, which causes the respective tunable retarder to direct light having a first polarization in a first direction and a second state, which causes the respective tunable retarder to direct light having a second polarization that is distinct from the second polarization in the first direction. The polarization selective optical element is located adjacent to the array of tunable retarders so that the light having the second polarization propagates from the polarization selective optical element in a second direction and the light having the second polarization propagates from the polarization selective optical element in a third direction distinct from the second direction.

Abstract: An optical device for illuminating one or more portions of a spatial light modulator includes a waveguide, an array of tunable retarders, and a polarization selective optical element. A respective tunable retarder is optically coupled to receive light from the waveguide. The respective tunable retarder has a first state, which causes the respective tunable retarder to direct light having a first polarization in a first direction, and a second state, which causes the respective tunable retarder to direct light having a second polarization distinct from the first polarization in the first direction. The polarization selective optical element is located adjacent to the array of tunable retarders so that the light having the first polarization propagates from the polarization selective optical element in a second direction and the light having the second polarization propagates from the polarization selective optical element in a third direction distinct from the second direction.

Abstract: An optical device includes a substrate, a plurality of optical elements positioned on the substrate, and one or more switchable cells. A respective optical element of the plurality of optical elements is configured to redirect light having a first polarization and transmit light having a second polarization orthogonal to the first polarization. The plurality of optical elements includes a first optical element located on a first region of the substrate and a second optical element located on a second region of the substrate. A respective switchable cell of the one or more switchable cells includes optically anisotropic molecules. The one or more switchable cells include a first switchable cell located on a first cell location of the substrate between the first region and the second region of the substrate. Also disclosed are a display device including the optical device and a method performed by the optical device.

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.