Image projection systems and methods

• US 10,534,179 B1
• Filed: 10/12/2017
• Issued: 01/14/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Campfire 3D Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Meta View, Inc.
• Inventors: Ahuja, Ashish, Xiang, Jie
• Primary Examiner(s): Carruth, Jennifer D.
• Application Number:
  US15/782,613
• Time in Patent Office: 824 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0125 Field-of-view increase by wavefront division
• 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 2027/0174 holographic
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0194 with combiner of laminated type, for optical or mechanical aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0833 the reflecting element being a micromechanical device, e.g. a MEMS mirror, DMD G02B26/0825 takes precedence; micromechanical devices in general B81B
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0016 Grooves, prisms, gratings, scattering particles or rough surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/34 utilising prism or grating G02B6/293 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/279 the virtual viewpoint locations being selected by the viewers or determined by tracking
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/00 Circuitry of solid-state image sensors [SSIS]; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3173 wherein the projection device is specially adapted for enhanced portability

Abstract

Systems and methods of image projection are presented herein. Image projection may be facilitated by a layered waveguide and/or other components. The layered waveguide may have an input portion and a presentation portion. Light may be received from a display at the input portion and output at the presentation portion. Th input portion may include coupling optical features. The presentation portion ma include presentation optical features forming Bragg diffraction gratings. Relative proportions of light emitted by the display and coupled onto the layers may be controlled adjust a cumulative focal length of the layered waveguide.

Claims

1. An image projection system comprising:

a first display configured to emit light to form an image;

a layered waveguide having an input portion and a presentation portion, the layered waveguide being configured to receive the light from the first display at the input portion and to selectively output the light received from the first display at the presentation portion, the layered waveguide including multiple sets of layers, the multiple sets of layers including;

a first set of layers, the first set of layers including a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer, the individual layers in the first set of layers including;

coupling optical features in the input portion of the layered waveguide to selectively couple light from the first display into the first set of layers, and

presentation optical features of a first focal length at the presentation portion such that light coupled into the first set of layers by the coupling optical features of the first set of layers are output from the first set of layers by the presentation optical features with the first focal length; and

a second set of layers, the second set of layers including a fourth layer, a fifth layer, and a sixth layer, the individual layers in the second set of layers including;

coupling optical features in the input portion of the layered waveguide to selectively couple light from the first display into the second set of layers, and

presentation optical features of a second focal length at the presentation portion such that light coupled into the second set of layers by the coupling optical features of the second set of layers are output from the second set of layers by the presentation optical features with the second focal length, wherein the first focal length is different than the second focal length; and

one or more physical processors configured by machine-readable instructions to;

control relative proportions of light emitted by the first display that are coupled onto the first set of layers and the second set of layers to adjust a cumulative focal length of the layered waveguide, wherein adjusting the cumulative focal length adjusts a depth of focus of the image formed by the light.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more physical processors are further configured by machine-readable instructions to control the first set of layers and the second set of layers such that a first proportion of the light emitted by the first display is coupled into the first set of layers and a second proportion of light emitted by the first display is coupled into the second set of layers.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the one or more physical processors are further configured by machine-readable instructions to control the first set of layers and the second set of layers such that:

the first layer and the fourth layer are configured to couple light of a first wavelength into the first layer and the fourth layer, respectively;

the second layer and the fifth layer are configured to couple light of a second wavelength into the second layer and the fifth layer, respectively; and

the third layer and sixth layer are configured to couple light of a third wavelength into the third layer and the sixth layer, respectively.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein:

the first layer and the fourth layer include presentation optical features forming Bragg diffraction gratings configured to guide the light of the first wavelength coupled into the first layer and the fourth layer, respectively, to output via the presentation portion;

the second layer and the fifth layer include presentation optical features forming Bragg diffraction gratings configured to guide the light of the second wavelength coupled into the second layer and the fifth layer, respectively, to output via the presentation portion;

the third layer and the sixth layer include presentation optical features forming Bragg diffraction gratings configured to guide the light of the third wavelength coupled into the third layer and the sixth layer, respectively, to output via the presentation portion; and

the light of the first wavelength, the light of the second wavelength, and the light of the third wavelength are combined at the presentation portion to form cumulative light creating the image.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein individual wavelengths correspond to individual colors.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first focal length of the first set of layers corresponds to a first virtual focal plane perceived within a viewing user'"'"'s field-of-view, and the second focal length of the second set of layers corresponds to a second virtual focal plane perceived within the viewing user'"'"'s field-of-view.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the first virtual focal plane and the second virtual focal plane define bounds of a volume of a gradient three-dimensional light field.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the depth of focus impacts perceived range of the image within a user'"'"'s field-of-view, such that the depth of focus being closer to the user causes the perceived range of the image to be closer to the user, and the depth of focus being farther from the user causes the perceived range of the image to be farther from the user.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more physical processors are further configured by machine-readable instructions such that controlling relative proportions of light coupled onto the first set of layers and the second set of layers comprises controlling an amount of electrical bias applied to individual ones of the first set of layers and the second set of layers.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein one or more of the first display, the layered waveguide, or the one or more physical processor are incorporated into a headset.

11. An method of projecting images, the method comprising:

providing a first display configured to emit light to form an image;

providing a layered waveguide, the layered waveguide having an input portion and a presentation portion, the layered waveguide being configured to receive light from the first display at the input portion and to selectively output light received from the first display at the presentation portion, the layered waveguide including multiple sets of layers, the multiple sets of layers including;

a first set of layers, the first set of layers including a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer, the individual layers in the first set of layers including;

coupling optical features in the input portion of the layered waveguide to selectively couple light from the first display into the first set of layers, and

presentation optical features of a first focal length at the presentation portion such that light coupled into the first set of layers by the coupling optical features of the first set of layers are output from the first set of layers by the presentation optical features with the first focal length; and

a second set of layers, the second set of layers including a fourth layer, a fifth layer, and a sixth layer, the individual layers in the second set of layers including;

coupling optical features in the input portion of the layered waveguide to selectively couple light from the first display into the second set of layers, and

presentation optical features of a second focal length at the presentation portion such that light coupled into the second set of layers by the coupling optical features of the second set of layers are output from the second set of layers by the presentation optical features with the second focal length, wherein the first focal length is different than the second focal length; and

controlling, by one or more physical processors, relative proportions of light emitted by the first display that are coupled onto the first set of layers and the second set of layers to adjust a cumulative focal length of the layered waveguide, wherein adjusting the cumulative focal length adjusts a depth of focus of the image formed by the light.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising controlling the first set of layers and the second set of layers such that a first proportion of the light emitted by the first display is coupled into the first set of layers and a second proportion of light emitted by the first display is coupled into the second set of layers.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising controlling the first set of layers and the second set of layers such that:

the first layer and the fourth layer couple light of a first wavelength into the first layer and the fourth layer, respectively;

the second layer and the fifth layer couple light of a second wavelength into the second layer and the fifth layer, respectively; and

the third layer and sixth layer couple light of a third wavelength into the third layer and the sixth layer, respectively.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein:

the first layer and the fourth layer include presentation optical features forming Bragg diffraction gratings configured to guide the light of the first wavelength coupled into the first layer and the fourth layer, respectively, to output via the presentation portion;

the second layer and the fifth layer include presentation optical features forming Bragg diffraction gratings configured to guide the light of the second wavelength coupled into the second layer and the fifth layer, respectively, to output via the presentation portion;

the third layer and the sixth layer include presentation optical features forming Bragg diffraction gratings configured to guide the light of the third wavelength coupled into the third layer and the sixth layer, respectively, to output via the presentation portion; and

the light of the first wavelength, the light of the second wavelength, and the light of the third wavelength are combined at the presentation portion to form cumulative light to create the image.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein individual wavelengths correspond to individual colors.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the first focal length of the first set of layers corresponds to a first virtual focal plane perceived within a viewing user'"'"'s field-of-view, and the second focal length of the second set of layers corresponds to a second virtual focal plane perceived within the viewing user'"'"'s field-of-view.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first virtual focal plane and the second virtual focal plane define bounds of a volume of a gradient three-dimensional light field.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the depth of focus impacts perceived range of the image within a user'"'"'s field-of-view, such that the depth of focus being closer to the user causes the perceived range of the image to be closer to the user, and the depth of focus being farther from the user causes the perceived range of the image to be farther from the user.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein controlling relative proportions of light coupled onto the first set of layers and the second set of layers comprises:

controlling an amount of electrical bias applied to individual ones of the first set of layers and the second set of layers.

20. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

coupling one or more of the first display, the layered waveguide, or the one or more physical processor into a headset.