Methods and system for creating focal planes in virtual and augmented reality

• US 10,234,687 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2017
• Issued: 03/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magic Leap, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Magic Leap, Inc.
• Inventors: Welch, William Hudson, Tekolste, Robert D., Chung, Hyunsun, Cheng, Hui-Chuan
• Primary Examiner(s): Simpson, Lixi C
• Application Number:
  US15/819,887
• Publication Number:
  US 20180095284A1
• Time in Patent Office: 483 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0107 with optical power
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0127 comprising devices increasing the depth of field
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0134 of stereoscopic type
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/014 comprising information/image processing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0185 Displaying image at variable distance
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0187 slaved to motion of at least a part of the body of the user, e.g. head, eye
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0194 with combiner of laminated type, for optical or mechanical aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/005 based on electrowetting
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/007 the movable or deformable optical element controlling the colour, i.e. a spectral characteristic, of the light
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0081 with means for altering, e.g. enlarging, the entrance or exit pupil
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0093 with means for monitoring data relating to the user, e.g. head-tracking, eye-tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/14 of variable focal length
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/02 Diffusing elements; Afocal elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0294 adapted to provide an additional optical effect, e.g. anti-reflection or filter
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/012 Head tracking input arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/013 Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence

Abstract

Configurations are disclosed for presenting virtual reality and augmented reality experiences to users. The system may comprise a spatial light modulator operatively coupled to an image source for projecting light associated with one or more frames of image data, and a variable focus element (VFE) for varying a focus of the projected light such that a first frame of image data is focused at a first depth plane, and a second frame of image data is focused at a second depth plane, and wherein a distance between the first depth plane and the second depth plane is fixed.

Claims

1. A method of displaying augmented reality, comprising:

projecting light associated with a first frame of image data;

receiving, at a first waveguide of a stack of waveguides, the projected light associated with the first frame of image data, the first waveguide comprising a first diffractive optical element;

modifying the projected light associated with the first frame of image data;

delivering the modified light to a user'"'"'s eye, wherein the modified light associated with the first frame of image data is perceived at a first depth plane;

projecting light associated with a second frame of image data;

receiving, at a second waveguide of the stack of waveguides, the projected light associated with the second frame of image data, the second waveguide comprising a second diffractive optical element;

modifying the projected light associated with the second frame of image data; and

delivering the modified light to the user'"'"'s eye, wherein the modified light associated with the second frame of image data is perceived at a second depth plane, wherein the first depth plane is different from the second depth plane, and wherein the first depth plane and the second depth plane are perceived simultaneously.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

tracking a vergence of the user'"'"'s eyes; and

determining, based on the tracked vergence, an accommodation of the user'"'"'s eyes.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first waveguide of the stack of waveguides is selected based at least in part on the determined accommodation.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the stack of waveguides comprises six waveguides.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the modification of the projected light comprises altering an angle at which light rays hit the user'"'"'s eyes.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the modification of the projected light comprises collimating the light associated with one or more frames of image data, the collimated light perceived as optical infinity.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the modification of the projected light comprises delivering divergent light rays, the divergent light rays perceived at a distance closer than optical infinity.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting a waveguide of the stack of waveguides on a frame-by-frame basis.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more frames of image data comprise slices of a three-dimensional scene.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more frames of image data are provided in a time-sequential manner.