Virtual and augmented reality systems and methods

• US 10,629,004 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2017
• Issued: 04/21/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magic Leap, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Magic Leap, Inc.
• Inventors: Schowengerdt, Brian T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lhymn, Sarah
• Application Number:
  US15/729,462
• Publication Number:
  US 20180039084A1
• Time in Patent Office: 924 Days
• Field of Search: 345619, 345632, 345633
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 17/08 Catadioptric systems used in non-imaging applications G02B19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2006/0098 for scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0118 comprising devices for improving the contrast of the display / brillance control visibility
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0123 comprising devices increasing the field of view
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0125 Field-of-view increase by wavefront division
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0134 of stereoscopic type
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/014 comprising information/image processing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0163 Electric or electronic control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0808 by means of one or more diffracting elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0087 Phased arrays
• 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 27/01 Head-up displays
• 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 27/4205 having a diffractive optical element [DOE] contributing to image formation, e.g. whereby modulation transfer function MTF or optical aberrations are relevant
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/0006 Arrays G02B3/02, G02B5/188 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/0037 characterized by the distribution or form of lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/24 involving temporal multiplexing, e.g. using sequentially activated left and right shutters
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/005 : Diaphragms for cameras G03B9/02
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/1814 : structurally combined with one or more further optical elements, e.g. lenses, mirrors, prisms or other diffraction gratings G02B5/189 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/1828 : having means for producing variable diffraction controlling the direction of light by means of one or more diffracting elements G02B26/0808; acousto-optical elements G02F1/11, G02F1/33; electro- or magneto-optical diffraction G02F1/292, G02F1/2955
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/20 : Filters polarising elements G02B5/30
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/00 : Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/02042 : Multicore optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/06 : the relative position of the fibres being the same at both ends, e.g. for transporting images
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/32 : having lens focusing means positioned between opposed fibre ends with lens being an integral part of the single fibre end G02B6/262
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/34 : utilising prism or grating G02B6/293 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/40 : having fibre bundle mating means
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 2202/16 : Laminated or compound lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/049 : Contact lenses having special fitting or structural features achieved by special materials or material structures
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/104 : having spectral characteristics for purposes other than sun-protection
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/0105 : Illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1334 : based on polymer dispersed liquid crystals, e.g. microencapsulated liquid crystals
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/17 : based on variable-absorption elements not provided for in groups G02F1/015 - G02F1/169
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/29 : for the control of the position or the direction of light beams, i.e. deflection
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/292 : by controlled diffraction or phased-array beam steering controlled diffraction for optical switching G02F1/31
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/294 : Variable focal length devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/31 : Digital deflection, i.e. optical switchingG02F1/33 takes precedence
• 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 3/013 : Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 : Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1423 : controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 13/40 : of characters, e.g. humans, animals or virtual beings
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/00 : 3D [Three Dimensional] image rendering
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/10 : Geometric effects
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/506 : Illumination models
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/10 : Constructive solid geometry [CSG] using solid primitives, e.g. cylinders, cubes
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/003 : Navigation within 3D models or images
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/006 : Mixed reality object pose determination, tracking or camera calibration for mixed reality G06T7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/20 : Editing of 3D images, e.g. changing shapes or colours, aligning objects or positioning parts
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10021 : Stereoscopic video; Stereoscopic image sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30201 : Face
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2213/08 : Animation software package
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/50 : using two or more images, e.g. averaging or subtraction
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/70 : Denoising; Smoothing
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/73 : Deblurring; Sharpening
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/50 : Depth or shape recovery
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/73 : using feature-based methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/193 : Preprocessing; Feature extraction
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/003 : Details of a display terminal, the details relating to the control arrangement of the display terminal and to the interfaces thereto specific for a CRT G09G1/165; for a flat panel G09G3/2092
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/02 : characterised by the way in which colour is displayed details of colour display specific for CRTs G09G1/28; specific for flat matrix panels other than liquid crystal displays G09G3/2003; specific for liquid crystal displays G09G3/3607
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/10 : Intensity circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/18 : Timing circuits for raster scan displays specially adapted for television H04N ; synchronisation between the display unit and other display units, videodisc player G09G5/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/117 : the virtual viewpoint locations being selected by the viewers or determined by viewer tracking
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/239 : using two 2D image sensors having a relative position equal to or related to the interocular distance H04N13/243 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/286 : having separate monoscopic and stereoscopic modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/341 : using temporal multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/344 : with head-mounted left-right displays
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/361 : Reproducing mixed stereoscopic images; Reproducing mixed monoscopic and stereoscopic images, e.g. a stereoscopic image overlay window on a monoscopic image background
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/363 : using image projection screens volumetric display H04N13/388
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/366 : using viewer tracking
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/383 : for tracking with gaze detection, i.e. detecting the lines of sight of the viewer's eyes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2013/0085 : Motion estimation from stereoscopic image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/00 : Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/21 : Circuitry for suppressing or minimising disturbance, e.g. moiré or halo
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/74 : Projection arrangements for image reproduction, e.g. using eidophor

Abstract

A system for displaying virtual content to a user includes at least one light source to multiplex a plurality of light beams to display a respective plurality of light patterns associated with one or more frames of image data. The system also includes a plurality of waveguides to receive the plurality of light beams and to direct the plurality of light beams toward an exit pupil, wherein the plurality of waveguides are stacked along an optical axis of the user. The system further includes at least one optical element to modify a focus of a light beam of the plurality of light beams directed by the plurality of waveguides.

Claims

1. A system for displaying virtual content to a user, comprising:

at least one light source to multiplex a plurality of light beams to display a respective plurality of light patterns associated with one or more frames of image data;

first, second, and third planar waveguides to receive the plurality of light beams and to direct the plurality of light beams toward an exit pupil, wherein the first, second, and third planar waveguides are stacked along an optical axis of the user; and

at least one optical element to modify a focus of a light beam of the plurality of light beams directed by the first, second, and third planar waveguides,

wherein the first, second, and third planar waveguides have first, second, and third wavefront curvatures corresponding to respective first, second, and third focal distances,

wherein the first focal distance is a focal distance of a determined accommodation of the user'"'"'s eyes,

wherein the second focal distance is based at least in part on the determined accommodation and is located at a first predetermined error margin farther from the user'"'"'s eyes relative to the first focal distance,

wherein the third focal distance is based at least in part on the determined accommodation and is located at a second predetermined error margin closer to the user'"'"'s eyes relative to the first focal distance, and

wherein the first, second, and third planar waveguides are configured to allow a range of accommodation before a physical adjustment of the focus level is necessary due to a change in the accommodation of the user'"'"'s eyes.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one optical element modifies the plurality of light beams in a manner such that a wavefront curvature is created, and

wherein the created wavefront curvature corresponds to a focal plane when the plurality of light beams are viewed by the user.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first, second, and third planar waveguides are each switchable between on and off states.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein first, second, and third planar waveguides are static planar waveguides.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein an optical element of the at least one optical elements is switchable between on and off states.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein an optical element of the at least one optical elements is a static optical element.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein an optical element of the at least one optical elements is a diffractive optical element (DOE) in one of the first, second, or third planar waveguides,

wherein the DOE is switchable between on and off states.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one optical element comprises a weak lens.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one optical element comprises a Fresnel zone plate.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein first, second, and third frames of the one or more frames of image data are delivered through the first, second, and third planar waveguides to the user'"'"'s eye simultaneously.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein first, second, and third frames of the one or more frames of image data are delivered through the first, second, and third planar waveguides to the user'"'"'s eye sequentially.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the first planar waveguide is disposed between the second and third planar waveguides, and

wherein the first wavefront curvature corresponds to the focal distance of the determined accommodation of the user'"'"'s eyes.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the second planar waveguide is closer than the first planar waveguide to the user, and

wherein the second wavefront curvature corresponds to the first predetermined error margin farther from the user'"'"'s eyes relative to the first focal distance.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the third planar waveguide is farther than the first planar waveguide from the user,

wherein the third wavefront curvature corresponds to the second predetermined error margin closer to the user'"'"'s eyes relative to the first focal distance,

wherein the third wavefront curvature is greater than the first wavefront curvature, and

wherein the first wavefront curvature is greater than the second wavefront curvature.

15. The system of claim 1, further comprising a compensating lens to compensate for a cumulative focus modification of the at least one optical elements on a light beam passing through the first, second, and third planar waveguides along the optical axis of the user.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the compensating lens is disposed on an opposite side of the plurality of planar waveguides from the user.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one light source comprises a plurality of light sources corresponding to respective ones of the plurality of planar waveguides.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one light source is a single multiplexed light source.

19. The system of claim 1,

wherein the first predetermined error margin is an accommodation error margin, and

wherein the second predetermined error margin is an accommodation error margin.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one light source comprises first, second, and third light sources respectively addressing the first, second, and third planar waveguides along respective longitudinal axes of the first, second, and third planar waveguides orthogonal to the optical axis of the user.