Field inversion waveguide using micro-prism array
First Claim
1. A field inverting optical waveguide configured to convey electromagnetic radiation from a waveguide ingress end to a waveguide egress end along an optical path, comprising:
- an optically flat input surface disposed at the waveguide ingress end; and
an exit surface disposed substantially opposite the input surface at the waveguide egress end, the exit surface further comprising;
an array of prisms projecting outward from the exit surface away from the input surface,wherein the input surface and the exit surface are arranged substantially orthogonally to the optical path and the array of prisms is configured to invert at least a portion of a field of view of incident light entering the waveguide, and the optical path is substantially parallel to an optical axis of the waveguide, and wherein the array of prisms further comprises an array comprising a plurality of tilted roof prisms, wherein each tilted roof prism comprises a front surface oriented at an obtuse angle with respect to the exit surface wherein the obtuse angle excludes a body of the tilted roof prism, a roof adjoining the front surface comprising a first inverting rear surface and a second inverting rear surface meeting at a rear surface joining angle of nominally 90 degrees at a corner edge, and the corner edge is tilted at an acute angle with respect to the exit surface, wherein the acute angle excludes the body of the tilted roof prism.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A field inverting optical waveguide is disclosed. The waveguide is configured to convey electromagnetic radiation from an ingress end to an egress end along an optical path. The waveguide includes an optically flat input surface disposed at the waveguide ingress end, and an exit surface disposed substantially opposite the input surface at the waveguide egress end. The exit surface includes an array of prisms projecting outward from or inward to the exit surface. The input surface and the exit surface are arranged substantially orthogonally to the optical path.
-
Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A field inverting optical waveguide configured to convey electromagnetic radiation from a waveguide ingress end to a waveguide egress end along an optical path, comprising:
-
an optically flat input surface disposed at the waveguide ingress end; and an exit surface disposed substantially opposite the input surface at the waveguide egress end, the exit surface further comprising; an array of prisms projecting outward from the exit surface away from the input surface, wherein the input surface and the exit surface are arranged substantially orthogonally to the optical path and the array of prisms is configured to invert at least a portion of a field of view of incident light entering the waveguide, and the optical path is substantially parallel to an optical axis of the waveguide, and wherein the array of prisms further comprises an array comprising a plurality of tilted roof prisms, wherein each tilted roof prism comprises a front surface oriented at an obtuse angle with respect to the exit surface wherein the obtuse angle excludes a body of the tilted roof prism, a roof adjoining the front surface comprising a first inverting rear surface and a second inverting rear surface meeting at a rear surface joining angle of nominally 90 degrees at a corner edge, and the corner edge is tilted at an acute angle with respect to the exit surface, wherein the acute angle excludes the body of the tilted roof prism. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
-
-
5. A field inverting optical waveguide configured to convey electromagnetic radiation from a waveguide ingress end to a waveguide egress end along an optical path, comprising:
-
an optically flat input surface disposed at the waveguide ingress end; and an exit surface disposed substantially opposite the input surface disposed at the waveguide egress end, further comprising an array of prisms indented into the waveguide at the exit surface toward the input surface, wherein the input surface and the exit surface are arranged substantially orthogonally to the optical path, and the array of prisms is configured to invert at least a portion of a field of view of incident light entering the waveguide, and wherein the array of prisms further comprises an array comprising a plurality of tilted roof prisms, wherein each tilted roof prism comprises a front surface oriented at an obtuse angle with respect to the exit surface wherein the obtuse angle excludes a body of the tilted roof prism, a roof adjoining the front surface comprising a first inverting rear surface and a second inverting rear surface meeting at a rear surface joining angle of nominally 90 degrees at a corner edge, and the corner edge is tilted at an acute angle with respect to the exit surface, wherein the acute angle excludes the body of the tilted roof prism. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. An optical system comprising:
-
a collimator configured to receive incident radiation; and an image inverting waveguide configured to receive radiation from the collimator and convey the radiation to an egress end along an optical path, comprising; an optically flat input structure configured to receive radiation from the collimator; and an exit structure disposed substantially opposite the input structure, further comprising an array of prisms configured to convey radiation comprising an image from the waveguide to an eyebox of a viewer and to invert the entire image, and wherein the array of prisms further comprises an array comprising a plurality of tilted roof prisms, wherein each tilted roof prism comprises a front surface oriented at an obtuse angle with respect to the exit surface wherein the obtuse angle excludes a body of the tilted roof prism, a roof adjoining the front surface comprising a first inverting rear surface and a second inverting rear surface meeting at a rear surface joining angle of nominally 90 degrees at a corner edge, and the corner edge is tilted at an acute angle with respect to the exit surface wherein the acute angle excludes the body of the tilted roof prism. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
-
-
15. A method for forming an image inverting optical waveguide configured to convey electromagnetic radiation received at a waveguide ingress end to a waveguide egress end along an optical path, comprising the steps of:
-
forming an optically flat input surface disposed at the waveguide ingress end; forming an exit surface disposed substantially opposite the input surface at the waveguide egress end; and forming an array of field inverting prisms upon the exit surface, wherein the input surface and the exit surface are arranged substantially orthogonally to the optical path, and wherein the array of prisms further comprises an array comprising a plurality of tilted roof prisms, wherein each tilted roof prism comprises a front surface oriented at an obtuse angle with respect to the exit surface wherein the obtuse angle excludes a body of the tilted roof prism, a roof adjoining the front surface comprising a first inverting rear surface and a second inverting rear surface meeting at a rear surface joining angle of nominally 90 degrees at a corner edge, and the corner edge is tilted at an acute angle with respect to the exit surface, wherein the acute angle excludes the body of the tilted roof prism. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
-
-
18. An optical waveguide configured to convey electromagnetic radiation from a waveguide ingress end to a waveguide egress end along an optical path, comprising:
-
an optically flat input surface disposed at the waveguide ingress end; and an exit surface disposed substantially opposite the input surface at the waveguide egress end, the exit surface further comprising; an array of micro prisms projecting outward from the exit surface away from the input surface, wherein the input surface and the exit surface are arranged substantially orthogonally to the optical path and the array of prisms is configured to invert an image of incident light entering the waveguide, each micro prism of the array of micro prisms has a sub-millimeter length, and the optical path is substantially parallel to an optical axis of the waveguide, and wherein the array of prism further comprises an array comprising a plurality of tilted roof prisms, wherein each tilted roof prism comprises a front surface oriented at an obtuse angle with respect to the exit surface wherein the obtuse angle excludes a body of the tilted roof prism, a roof adjoining the front surface comprising a first inverting rear surface and a second inverting rear surface meeting at a rear surface joining angle of nominally 90 degrees at a corner edge, and the corner edge is tilted at an acute angle with respect to the exit surface, where the acute angle excludes the body of the tilted rood prism.
-
Specification