Head mounted imaging apparatus with optical coupling
First Claim
1. A virtual image display apparatus comprising:
- a) a projector that directs image-bearing light beams along a projection axis;
b) a planar waveguide that is oriented at an obtuse angle with respect to the projection axis, wherein the waveguide is configured to receive the image-bearing light beams through an input aperture, to expand the image-bearing light beams, and to output the expanded image-bearing beams through an output aperture of the planar waveguide, wherein the output aperture is spaced apart from the input aperture along the planar waveguide; and
c) an optical coupler that is configured to receive the image-bearing light beams along the projection axis, to reorient the projection axis with respect to the planar waveguide, to rotate the image-bearing light beams about the projection axis, and to direct the rotated image-bearing beams along the reoriented projection axis through the input aperture of the planar waveguide.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A head-mounted virtual image display apparatus has a projector that directs image-bearing light beams along a projection axis. A planar waveguide is configured to receive the image-bearing light beams through an input aperture and to form expanded image-bearing light beams that are output from an output aperture of the waveguide. An optical coupler is configured to receive the image-bearing light beams along the projection axis, to reorient the projection axis with respect to the waveguide, to rotate the image-bearing light beams about the projection axis, and to direct the rotated image-bearing beams along the reoriented projection axis through the input aperture of the waveguide.
10 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A virtual image display apparatus comprising:
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a) a projector that directs image-bearing light beams along a projection axis; b) a planar waveguide that is oriented at an obtuse angle with respect to the projection axis, wherein the waveguide is configured to receive the image-bearing light beams through an input aperture, to expand the image-bearing light beams, and to output the expanded image-bearing beams through an output aperture of the planar waveguide, wherein the output aperture is spaced apart from the input aperture along the planar waveguide; and c) an optical coupler that is configured to receive the image-bearing light beams along the projection axis, to reorient the projection axis with respect to the planar waveguide, to rotate the image-bearing light beams about the projection axis, and to direct the rotated image-bearing beams along the reoriented projection axis through the input aperture of the planar waveguide. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A head-mounted display having a frame that houses a virtual image display apparatus that is energizable to display a virtual image to an eye of a viewer, wherein the virtual image display apparatus comprises:
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a) a projector energizable to emit image-bearing light beams along a projection axis, wherein the projector is coupled to a temple member of the frame; b) a planar waveguide that is oriented at an obtuse angle with respect to the projection axis, wherein the planar waveguide is configured to receive the image-bearing light beams through an input aperture, to expand the image-bearing light beams, and to output the expanded image-bearing beams through an output aperture of the planar waveguide, wherein the output aperture is spaced apart from the input aperture along the planar waveguide; and c) an optical coupler that is configured to receive the image-bearing light beams along the projection axis, to reorient the projection axis with respect to the planar waveguide, to rotate the image-bearing light beams about the projection axis, and to direct the rotated image-bearing beams along the reoriented projection axis through the input aperture of the planar waveguide. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A virtual image display apparatus comprising:
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a) a projector coupled to the edge of a frame and energizable to emit an image-bearing light beams along a projection axis; b) a waveguide configured to receive the image-bearing light beams through an input aperture and to output the image-bearing light beams through an output aperture of the waveguide, wherein the output aperture is spaced apart from the input aperture along the waveguide; and c) an optical coupler that is configured to receive the image-bearing light beams along the projection axis, to reorient the projection axis to an acute angle with respect to the waveguide, to rotate the image-bearing light beams about the projection axis, and to direct the rotated image-bearing beams along the reoriented projection axis through the input aperture of the waveguide, wherein the optical coupler comprises; (i) a first prism facing the projector and having a first reflective surface that reorients the projection axis; and (ii) a second prism that is optically coupled to the first prism and has a second reflective surface that further reorients the projection axis; wherein an optical stop of the projector is disposed within the optical coupler. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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Specification