Substrate-Guided Display Having Polarization Selective Input Structure

• US 20100201953A1
• Filed: 04/05/2010
• Published: 08/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microvision, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Microvision, Inc.
• Inventors: Powell, Karlton D., Freeman, Mark O.
• Granted Patent: US 7,905,603 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 353/20
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0118 comprising devices for improving the contrast of the display / brillance control visibility
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/012 comprising devices for attenuating parasitic image effects
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0125 Field-of-view increase by wavefront division
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0174 holographic
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0081 with means for altering, e.g. enlarging, the entrance or exit pupil
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0101 characterised by optical features G02B27/0172 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0103 comprising holographic elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/102 for generating a colour image from monochromatic image signal sources
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/104 for use with scanning systems scanning systems G02B26/10
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/1086 operating by diffraction only
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/145 having sequential partially reflecting surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/149 using crossed beamsplitting surfaces, e.g. cross-dichroic cubes or X-cubes
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/28 for polarising used in stereoscopes G02B30/25
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/285 comprising arrays of elements, e.g. microprisms
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/4272 having plural diffractive elements positioned sequentially along the optical path
• 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 5/30 Polarising elements light-modulating devices with active elements G02F1/00
• 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 6/0018 Redirecting means on the surface of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0028 Light guide, e.g. taper
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0031 : Reflecting element, sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0035 : provided on the surface of the light guide or in the bulk of it
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0055 : Reflecting element, sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0056 : for producing polarisation effects, e.g. by a surface with polarizing properties or by an additional polarizing elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0068 : Arrangements of plural sources, e.g. multi-colour light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/06 : the relative position of the fibres being the same at both ends, e.g. for transporting images

Abstract

A display system includes and image-guiding substrate with input and/or output structures configured to improve image quality.

Claims

1-35. -35. (canceled)

36. An image generator comprising:

a plurality of light sources operable to produce a respective plurality of modulated light beams;

a beam combiner configured to combine the plurality of modulated light beams into a composite modulated light beam;

a beam scanner operable to scan the composite modulated light beam in a two-dimensional pattern;

a polarization rotator; and

a guiding substrate configured to receive the scanned composite modulated light beam, guide the scanned composite modulated light beam from an input location to an output location, and launch the scanned composite modulated light beam from the output location into a viewing region, wherein the guiding substrate includes a polarization-selective input structure configured to pass the composite modulated light beam and reflect a rotated light beam, wherein the composite modulated light beam is transmitted through the polarization-selective input structure and the polarization rotator to the beam scanner, and wherein the beam scanner is configured to scan the composite modulated light beam through the polarization rotator to the input structure.

37. The image generator of claim 36 wherein the beam combiner is configured to receive at least two of the modulated light beams along parallel axes.

38. The image generator of claim 36 wherein the beam combiner is mechanically coupled to the guiding substrate.

39. The image generator of claim 36 wherein at least one of the plurality of light sources is mechanically coupled to the guiding substrate.

40. The image generator of claim 36 wherein the beam scanner is mechanically coupled to the guiding substrate.

41. The image generator of claim 36 wherein the beam scanner is aligned to receive the composite modulated light beam along an axis that passes through the guiding substrate.

42. The image generator of claim 36 wherein the composite modulated light beam corresponds to a first polarization selected to pass through the polarization-selective input structure and the polarization rotator is configured to rotate the polarization of twice-transmitted light to a second polarization selected to be reflected by the polarization-selective input structure.

43. A method, comprising:

a plurality of light sources producing a respective plurality of modulated light beams;

a beam combiner combining the plurality of modulated light beams into a composite modulated light beam;

a guiding substrate guiding the scanned composite modulated light beam from an input location to an output location, and launching the scanned composite modulated light beam from the output location into a viewing region;

the guiding substrate having a polarization-selective input structure, the polarization-selective input structure passing the composite modulated light beam and reflecting a rotated light beam;

transmitting the composite modulated light beam through the polarization-selective input structure and a polarization rotator to a beam scanner; and

the beam scanner scanning the composite modulated light beam in a two-dimensional pattern through the polarization rotator to the input structure.

44. The method of claim 43, further comprising the beam combiner receiving at least two of the modulated light beams along parallel axes.

45. The method of claim 43 wherein the beam combiner is mechanically coupled to the guiding substrate.

46. The method of claim 43 wherein at least one of the plurality of light sources is mechanically coupled to the guiding substrate.

47. The method of claim 43 wherein the beam scanner is mechanically coupled to the guiding substrate.

48. The method of claim 43, further comprising aligning the beam scanner to receive the composite modulated light beam along an axis that passes through the guiding substrate.

49. The method of claim 43 wherein the composite modulated light beam corresponds to a first polarization selected to pass through the polarization-selective input structure and the polarization rotator rotating the polarization of twice-transmitted light to a second polarization selected to be reflected by the polarization-selective input structure.