Near-to-eye display with steerable phased arrays

• US 10,409,074 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2017
• Issued: 09/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Bohn, David Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): Thomas, Brandi N
• Application Number:
  US15/585,506
• Publication Number:
  US 20180321496A1
• Time in Patent Office: 860 Days
• Field of Search: 359237, 359265-267, 359270-273, 359279, 359290-292, 359298
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0112 comprising device for genereting colour display
• 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 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 27/0176 characterised by mechanical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/14 operating by reflection only
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1686 the I/O peripheral being an integrated camera
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/015 Input arrangements based on nervous system activity detection, e.g. brain waves [EEG] detection, electromyograms [EMG] detection, electrodermal response detection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0304 Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means constructional details of pointing devices not related to the detection arrangement using opto-electronic means G06F3/033; optical digitisers G06F3/042
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/147 using display panels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/12 Overlay of images, i.e. displayed pixel being the result of switching between the corresponding input pixels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/003 to produce spatial visual effects
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/02 by tracing or scanning a light beam on a screen
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/005 Adapting incoming signals to the display format of the display terminal

Abstract

Near-to-eye devices with steerable phased arrays are provided. In some configurations, a device comprises 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 steerable phased arrays for generating light defining a field of view of image content. The generated light is aligned with light from a real-world view to create an output that concurrently displays the real-world view with the field of view of the image content. The light from the steerable phased arrays is directed through one or more waveguides to an output region of the one or more waveguides. The light from the real-world view can pass through transparent portions of waveguides in a manner that aligns a rendering of the image content with the light from the real-world view to create augmented reality views.

Claims

1. An optical device, comprising:

a controller modulating one or more output signals comprising image data defining image content;

a first steerable phased array generating a first light of a first predetermined wavelength range, the first light forming a first field of view of the image content based on the one or more output signals;

a first waveguide having a first input region for receiving the first light and a first output region, the first waveguide reflecting the first light within the first waveguide towards the first output region;

a second steerable phased array generating a second light of a second predetermined wavelength range, the second light forming a second field of view of the image content based on the one or more output signals;

a second waveguide having a second input region for receiving the second light and a second output region, the second waveguide reflecting the second light within the second waveguide towards the second output region;

a third steerable phased array generating a third light of a third predetermined wavelength range, the third light forming a third field of view of the image content based on the one or more output signals; and

a third waveguide having a third input region for receiving the third light and a third output region, the third waveguide reflecting the third light within the third waveguide towards the third output region, wherein the first output region, the second output region, and the third output region are aligned with a lens directing light from a real-world view to create an output concurrently displaying the real-world view with a composite field of view of the first field of view, the second field of view, and the third field of view.

2. The optical device of claim 1, wherein the first output region, the second output region, the third output region, and the lens are aligned to project a rendered object in a predetermined position relative to a view of a real-world object.

3. The optical device of claim 1, wherein the light from the real-world view passes through transparent sections of the first waveguide, the second waveguide, and the third waveguide.

4. The optical device of claim 1, wherein the first predetermined wavelength range comprises a first range including 460 nm, a second range including 525 nm, or a third range including 617 nm.

5. The optical device of claim 1, wherein the second predetermined wavelength range comprises a first range including 460 nm, a second range including 525 nm, or a third range including 617 nm.

6. The optical device of claim 1, wherein the third predetermined wavelength range comprises a first range including 460 nm, a second range including 525 nm, or a third range including 617 nm.