Abstract: An optical system including a light-guide optical element (LOE) with first and second sets (204, 206) of mutually-parallel, partially-reflecting surfaces at different orientations. Both sets of partially-reflecting surfaces are located between parallel major external surfaces. A third set of at least partially-reflecting surfaces (202), deployed at the coupling-in region, receive image illumination injected from a projector (2) with an optical aperture having a first in-plane width and direct the image illumination via reflection of at least part of the image illumination at the third set of at least partially-reflective facets towards the first set of partially-reflective facets with an effective optical aperture having a second width larger than the first width.

Abstract: A near-eye display for displaying an image to a viewer has enhanced laser efficiency and enhanced eye-safety features. The display includes a laser source which generates one or more laser spots and a scan driver which scans the laser spots across an image field. The electrical energy consumption is minimized by modulating the laser source at 3 power levels —a near-zero level, a near-threshold level, and a lasing level—and by synchronizing the modulation with the scan driver. In another embodiment, the laser module generates two or more laser spots which scan non-overlapping lines on the image field. The scanning is configured to prevent the light intensity at the eye of a viewer from exceeding eye-safety levels, even in the event of a scanning malfunction.

Abstract: A display and method for providing an image to an eye of a viewer is provided. The display comprises at least two projector assemblies. Each projector assembly comprises a light-guide optical element (LOE), and an image projector arrangement for generating a partial image and being deployed to introduce the partial image into the LOE for coupling out towards the eye of the viewer. The at least two projector assemblies cooperate to display the image to the eye of the viewer with partial overlap. The display further comprises a controller associated with the image projector arrangements and configured to reduce a pixel intensity of selected pixels in a region of partial overlap between the first and second part of the image so as to enhance a perceived uniformity of the image.

Abstract: Specific management of configuration of overlap of facets reduces non-uniformity in an image outcoupled toward a nominal point of observation. A waveguide including at least two parallel surfaces, first, middle, and last partially reflecting facets are configured such that in a geometrical projection of the facets onto one of the surfaces the facets overlap, preferably with adjacent facets overlapping and non-adjacent facets starts and ends coinciding along at least a portion of the waveguide.

Abstract: An optical waveguide combiner having an output coupler comprising an array of embedded partially reflective dielectric mirrors expanding and coupling a virtual, optionally color, image generated by a laser display engine into a user EMB, wherein the dielectric mirrors are configured having a wavelength band for each lasing band of the laser display engine that includes wavelengths of light in the lasing band and in a range of wavelengths over which the lasing band is expected to drift, a reflectivity angular range exhibiting a first reflectivity, a transmittance angular range exhibiting a second reflectivity less than the first reflectivity, and a see-thru angular transmittance range having high transmittance for natural light incident on the facets.

Abstract: A method of polishing a target surface of a waveguide to achieve perpendicularity relative to a reference surface is disclosed. The method includes i) providing a polishing apparatus having a polishing plate with a flat surface defining a reference plane, and an adjustable mounting apparatus configured to hold the waveguide during polishing at a plurality of angular orientations; ii) positioning an optical alignment sensor and a light reflecting apparatus such that a first collimated light beam is reflected off of a surface parallel to the reference plane, and a second perpendicular collimated light beam is reflected off of the reference surface; iii) aligning the waveguide within the polishing apparatus such that the reflections received by the optical alignment sensor align within the optical alignment sensor, thereby being indicative of perpendicularity between the reference plane and the reference surface; and iv) polishing the target surface of the aligned waveguide.

Abstract: An optical system includes an image redirecting arrangement with at least two reflectors to direct a collimated image from an image projector so as to propagate within a light-guide optical element (LOE) in first and second directions, to be subsequently reflected by corresponding first and second sets of partially-reflecting internal surfaces towards a coupling-out optical arrangement. A part of a field of view (FOV) adjacent to the right side of the collimated image propagating in the first direction crosses a plane of one of the sets of partially-reflecting internal surfaces or a plane parallel to the major external surfaces, thereby forming self-overlap of a part of the collimated image in a region of the field of view which does not reach the eye of a user.

Abstract: A display has an image projector projecting collimated image illumination along a projection direction, and an optical element having two major surfaces and containing partially reflective surfaces which are internal to the optical element, planar, mutually parallel and overlapping relative to the projection direction. Each ray of the collimated image illumination enters the optical element and is partially reflected by at least two of the partially reflective surfaces so as to be redirected to exit the first major surface along a viewing direction. An alternative implementation, a first reflection from one of the partially reflective surfaces redirects part of the image illumination rays so as to undergo total internal reflection at the major surfaces of the optical element. The rays are then redirected by further reflection from another of the partially reflective surfaces to exit the optical element along the viewing direction.

Abstract: A display for displaying an image to a viewer includes an image generator having an illumination subsystem generating illumination of at least a first color, the image generator employing the illumination to generate an image. Projection optics projects illumination from the image for display to the viewer. The illumination subsystem includes a first laser generating a first laser beam of the first color with a first polarization and a second laser generating a second laser beam of the first color with a second polarization. The first and second polarizations are orthogonal at at least one location within the projection optics, thereby projecting a quasi-unpolarized image.

Abstract: A light-guide optical element (LOE) includes a transparent substrate having two parallel major external surfaces for guiding light within the substrate by total internal reflection (TIR). Mutually parallel internal surfaces within the LOE are provided with a structural polarizer which is transparent to light polarized parallel to a primary polarization transmission axis, and is partially or fully reflective to light polarized perpendicular to the primary polarization transmission axis. By suitable orientation of the polarization axis of successive internal surfaces together with the polarization mixing properties of TIR and/or use of birefringent materials, it is possible to achieve the desired proportion of coupling-out of the image illumination from each successive facet.

Abstract: An optical system is presented for use in an augmented reality imaging system. The optical system comprises a light directing device, and a projecting optical device. The light directing device is configured for directing input light, including light indicative of an augmented image to be projected and input light indicative of a real image of an external scene, to propagate to an imaging plane. The projecting optical device has a fixed field of view and has a plurality of different focal parameters at different regions thereof corresponding to different vision zones within the field of view.

Abstract: A transparent substrate has two parallel faces and guides collimated image light by internal reflection. A first set of internal surfaces is deployed within the substrate oblique to the parallel faces. A second set of internal surfaces is deployed within the substrate parallel to, interleaved and in overlapping relation with the first set of internal surfaces. Each of the internal surfaces of the first set includes a first coating having a first reflection characteristic to be at least partially reflective to at least a first subset of components of incident light. Each of the internal surfaces of the second set includes a second coating having a second reflection characteristic complementary to the first reflection characteristic to be at least partially reflective to at least a second subset of components of incident light. The sets of internal surfaces cooperate to reflect all components of light from the first and second subsets.

Abstract: An optical waveguide has at least two major external surfaces and is configured for guiding light by internal reflection, and is deployed with one of the two major external surfaces in facing relation to a scene. An optical coupling-out configuration is associated with the optical waveguide and is configured for coupling a proportion of light, guided by the optical waveguide, out of the optical waveguide toward the scene. An illumination arrangement is deployed to emit light for coupling into the optical waveguide that is collimated prior to being coupled in the optical waveguide. A detector is configured for sensing light reflected from an object located in the scene in response to illumination of the object by light coupled out of the optical waveguide by the optical coupling-out configuration. A processing subsystem is configured to process signals from the detector to derive information associated with the object.

Abstract: A laser package is described, the laser package comprising a plurality of laser diodes separately attached to at least one sub-mount having respective connecting pads, wherein, during operation, each of the laser diodes emits light having a fast axis and a slow axis defining a fast axis plane and a slow axis plane, wherein the fast axis planes of all laser diodes are parallel to each other and the distance between the fast axis planes of at least two laser diodes is smaller than the lateral distance between these laser diodes. Furthermore, a system with at least two laser packages is described.

Abstract: A display system (500) for displaying an image to an eye of a user includes a light-guide optical element (LOE) (506) and an image projector (512) projecting image illumination of a collimated image into the LOE. The image projector includes an electrically-controllable variable lens (10, 13, 71, 77, 58A, 58B, 59, 58C, 58D, 58E, 58F1, 58F2, 58G1, 58G2, 58H, 1223). A controller (18) determines a current region of interest of the image, either from tracking of the user's eye or by analysis of the image content, and controls the variable lens so as to reduce aberrations in the current region of interest at the expense of increased aberration in at least one area of the image outside the current region of interest.

Abstract: A compact projector for use in a head-mounted display device consists of an illumination section, a relay section, and a numerical aperture expander (NAE). The illumination section includes one or more illumination sources, a scanner, and a focusing lens which converges light onto an image plane. The NAE receives light from the illumination section, expands the average numerical aperture of the light, and transmits the light to the relay section. The relay section includes optical elements which collimate light from the image plane onto an exit pupil. The projector may also be fitted with lateral-axis and/or vertical-axis stops which prevent stray light from passing through the exit pupil.

Abstract: An optical aperture multiplier includes a first optical waveguide (10) having a rectangular cross-section and including partially reflecting surfaces (40) at an oblique angle to a direction of elongation of the waveguide. A second optical waveguide (20), also including partially reflecting surfaces (45) at an oblique angle, is optically coupled with the first optical waveguide (10). An image coupled into the first optical waveguide with an initial direction of propagation at an oblique coupling angle advances by four-fold internal reflection along the first optical waveguide, with a proportion of intensity of the image reflected at the partially reflecting surfaces so as to be coupled into the second optical waveguide, and then propagates through two-fold reflection within the second optical waveguide, with a proportion of intensity of the image reflected at the partially reflecting surfaces so as to be directed outwards from one of the parallel faces as a visible image.

Abstract: A light-guide device includes a light guiding element (13) with a number of faces, including two parallel faces (26), for guiding light by internal reflection. A transparent optical element (19) has an interface surface for attachment to a coupling surface (14) of the light guiding element, and is configured such that light propagating within the transparent optical element passes through the interface surface and the coupling surface (14) so as to propagate within the light guiding element (13). A non-transparent coating (15) is applied to at least part of one or more faces of the light guiding element (13), defining an edge (17) adjacent to, or overlapping, the coupling surface (14) of the light guiding element (13). A quantity of transparent adhesive is deployed between the coupling surface and the interface surface so as to form an optically transmissive interface. An overspill region 31 of the adhesive extends to, and overlaps, the edge (17).

Abstract: Coated surfaces arranged in a stack assume a periodic formation having a sequence of segments including a first segment. The first segment has first, second, and third coated surfaces, and is repeated a set number of times to form the periodic formation. The stack is sliced to form a slice having two major external surfaces and adjacent sections each having coated surfaces from one segment between the two major external surfaces. The slice is cut to form at least one substrate from each section. Each substrate has two major surfaces and coated surfaces from a single segment of the periodic formation between the two major surfaces. In certain embodiments, the first coated surface reflects a first light color, the second coated surface transmits the first light color and reflects a second light color, and the third surface reflects a third light color and transmits the first and second light colors.

Abstract: An optical device includes a lightguide having a first pair of external surfaces parallel to each other, and at least two sets of facets. Each of the sets including a plurality of partially reflecting facets parallel to each other, and between the first pair of external surfaces. In each of the sets of facets, the respective facets are at an oblique angle relative to the first pair of external surfaces, and at a non-parallel angle relative to another of the sets of facets. The optical device is particularly suited for optical aperture expansion.