Virtual and augmented reality systems and methods

• US 10,643,392 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2017
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• 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:
  US15/729,494
• Publication Number:
  US 20180045965A1
• Time in Patent Office: 938 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 method for displaying virtual content to a user, the method includes determining an accommodation of the user'"'"'s eyes. The method also includes delivering, through a first waveguide of a stack of waveguides, light rays having a first wavefront curvature based at least in part on the determined accommodation, wherein the first wavefront curvature corresponds to a focal distance of the determined accommodation. The method further includes delivering, through a second waveguide of the stack of waveguides, light rays having a second wavefront curvature, the second wavefront curvature associated with a predetermined margin of the focal distance of the determined accommodation.

Claims

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

determining an accommodation of the user'"'"'s eyes;

delivering, through a first planar waveguide of a plurality of stacked planar waveguides, first light rays having a first wavefront curvature based at least in part on the determined accommodation, wherein the first wavefront curvature corresponds to a first focal distance of the determined accommodation;

delivering, through a second planar waveguide of the plurality of stacked planar waveguides, second light rays having a second wavefront curvature based at least in part on the determined accommodation, wherein the second wavefront curvature corresponds to a second focal distance located at a first predetermined error margin farther from the user'"'"'s eyes relative to the first focal distance; and

delivering, through a third planar waveguide of the plurality of stacked planar waveguides, third light rays having a third wavefront curvature based at least in part on the determined accommodation, wherein the third wavefront curvature corresponds to a third focal distance located at a second predetermined error margin closer to the user'"'"'s eyes relative to the first focal distance,

wherein the first, second, and third planar waveguides of the plurality of stacked 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 method of claim 1, wherein delivering the second light rays having the second wavefront curvature through the second planar waveguide increases a focal range in which the user can accommodate.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first planar waveguide is coupled to a variable focus element (VFE), wherein the VFE varies a focus at which the first planar waveguide focuses the first light rays.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the focus is varied based at least in part on the determined accommodation of the users'"'"' eyes.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first light rays having the first wavefront curvature, the second light rays having the second wavefront curvature, and the third light rays having the third wavefront curvature are delivered simultaneously.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first light rays having the first wavefront curvature, the second light rays having the second wavefront curvature, and the third light rays having the third wavefront curvature are perceived as first, second, and third images at respective first, second, and third depth planes by the user.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first, second, and third planar waveguides respectively comprise first, second, and third diffractive optical elements (DOEs), the method further comprising dynamically altering, responsive to first, second, and third electrical signals, respective diffraction angles of the first, second, and third DOEs to deliver the first, second, and third light rays having the first, second, and third wavefront curvatures by altering respective exit angles of the first, second, and third light rays exiting the plurality of stacked planar waveguides.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the first, second, and third planar waveguides is a substrate guided optic (SGO).

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

10. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the first, second, and third planar waveguides comprises one or more switchable elements.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first light rays having the first wavefront curvature, the second light rays having the second wavefront curvature, and the third light rays having the third wavefront curvature correspond to a same image data.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein delivering the second light rays having the second wavefront curvature through the second planar waveguide comprises delivering the second light rays having the second wavefront curvature through an optical element adjacent the second planar waveguide in the plurality of stacked planar waveguides, wherein the optical element contributes to the second wavefront curvature of the light rays having the second wavefront curvature, and

wherein delivering the third light rays having the third wavefront curvature through the third planar waveguide comprises delivering the third light rays having the third wavefront curvature through an optical element adjacent the third planar waveguide in the plurality of stacked planar waveguides, wherein the optical element contributes to the third wavefront curvature of the light rays having the third wavefront curvature.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein delivering the third light rays having the third wavefront curvature through the third planar waveguide increases a focal range in which the user can accommodate.