Substrate Guided Relay Having A Homogenizing Layer

• US 20120176682A1
• Filed: 01/10/2011
• Published: 07/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microvision, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Microvision, Inc.
• Inventors: DeJong, Christian Dean
• Granted Patent: US 8,531,773 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/630
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0118 comprising devices for improving the contrast of the display / brillance control visibility
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0101 characterised by optical features G02B27/0172 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/003 Light absorbing elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0011 the light guides being planar or of plate-like form

Abstract

Briefly, in accordance with one more embodiments, a substrate guided relay for a photonics module includes a slab guide having a first end and a second end, and a first surface and a second surface. An input coupler disposed at the first end of the slab guide at an interface between the input coupler and the slab guide receives an input beam and feeds the input beam into the slab guide which generates multiple copies of the input beam. An output coupler disposed on the first surface of the slab guide causes the multiple copies of the input beam to exit the slab guide via the output coupler as an output. A homogenizer disposed on the second surface of the slab guide reflects at least some of the multiple copies of the input beam to increase uniformity of the output.

Claims

1. A substrate guided relay, comprising:

a slab guide having a first end and a second end, and a first surface and a second surface;

an input coupler disposed at the first end of the slab guide at an interface between the input coupler and the slab guide to receive an input beam and to feed the input beam into the slab guide;

an output coupler disposed on the first surface of the slab guide to cause the multiple copies of the input beam to exit the slab guide via the output coupler as an output; and

a homogenizer disposed on the second surface of the slab guide, wherein the homogenizer reflects at least some of the input beam to increase uniformity of the output.

2. A substrate guided relay as claimed in claim 1, wherein the slab guide or the homogenizer, or combinations thereof, include an absorbing edge at the second end to absorb at least some of the multiple copies of the input beam.

3. A substrate guided relay as claimed in claim 1, wherein the homogenizer has an end near the input coupler, the end of the homogenizer being disposed at an offset distance away from the interface between the input coupler and the slab guide.

4. A substrate guided relay as claimed in claim 1, wherein the homogenizer has an end near the input coupler, the end of the homogenizer being disposed at an offset distance away from the interface between the input coupler and the slab guide such that the end of the homogenizer does not require an absorbing edge.

5. A substrate guided relay as claimed in claim 1, wherein the homogenizer has an end near the input coupler, the end of the homogenizer being disposed downstream from the interface between the input coupler and the slab guide such the input beam do not interact with the end of the homogenizer.

6. A substrate guided relay as claimed in claim 1, wherein the homogenizer has an end near the input coupler, the end of the homogenizer being disposed at or at least partially overlapping the interface between the input coupler and the slab guide.

7. A substrate guided relay as claimed in claim 1, wherein the homogenizer has an end near the input coupler, the end of the homogenizer being disposed at or at least partially overlapping the interface between the input coupler and the slab guide, wherein the homogenizer further comprises an absorbing edge at the end to absorb at least some of the multiple copies of the input beam in the homogenizer.

8. A display system, comprising:

a photonics module to generate an image as an output light; and

a substrate guided relay to receive the output light from the photonics module as an input light to generate multiple copies of input light from and to homogenize the input light, the substrate guided relay comprising;

a slab guide having a first end and a second end, and a first surface and a second surface;

an input coupler disposed at the first end of the slab guide at an interface between the input coupler and the slab guide to receive an input beam and to feed the input beam into the slab guide;

an output coupler disposed on the first surface of the slab guide to cause the multiple copies of the input beam to exit the slab guide via the output coupler as an output; and

a homogenizer disposed on the second surface of the slab guide, wherein the homogenizer reflects at least some of the input beam to increase uniformity of the output.

9. A display system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the slab guide or the homogenizer, or combinations thereof, include an absorbing edge at the second end to absorb at least some of the input beam.

10. A display system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the homogenizer has an end near the input coupler, the end of the homogenizer being disposed at an offset distance away from the interface between the input coupler and the slab guide.

11. A display system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the homogenizer has an end near the input coupler, the end of the homogenizer being disposed at an offset distance away from the interface between the input coupler and the slab guide such that the end of the homogenizer does not require an absorbing edge.

12. A display system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the homogenizer has an end near the input coupler, the end of the homogenizer being disposed downstream from the interface between the input coupler and the slab guide such that the input beam do not interact with the end of the homogenizer.

13. A display system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the homogenizer has an end near the input coupler, the end of the homogenizer being disposed at or at least partially overlapping the interface between the input coupler and the slab guide.

14. A display system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the homogenizer has an end near the input coupler, the end of the homogenizer being disposed at or at least partially overlapping the interface between the input coupler and the slab guide, wherein the homogenizer further comprises an absorbing edge at the end to absorb at least some of the input beam in the homogenizer.

15. An information handling system, comprising:

a processor and a memory coupled to the processor, the memory having an image to be displayed stored therein, and a display system coupled to the processor to display the image stored in the memory, the display system comprising;

a photonics module to generate an image as an output light, and a substrate guided relay to receive the output light from the photonics module as an input light to generate multiple copies of input light from and to homogenize the input light, the substrate guided relay comprising;

a slab guide having a first end and a second end, and a first surface and a second surface;

an input coupler disposed at the first end of the slab guide at an interface between the input coupler and the slab guide to receive an input beam and to feed the input beam into the slab guide,;

an output coupler disposed on the first surface of the slab guide to cause the multiple copies of the input beam to exit the slab guide via the output coupler as an output; and

a homogenizer disposed on the second surface of the slab guide, wherein the homogenizer reflects at least some of the input beam to increase uniformity of the output.

16. An information handling system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the slab guide or the homogenizer, or combinations thereof, include an absorbing edge at the second end to absorb at least some of the input beam.

17. A display system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the homogenizer has an end near the input coupler, the end of the homogenizer being disposed at an offset distance away from the interface between the input coupler and the slab guide such that the end of the homogenizer does not require an absorbing edge.

18. A display system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the homogenizer has an end near the input coupler, the end of the homogenizer being disposed downstream from the interface between the input coupler and the slab guide such that the input beam do not interact with the end of the homogenizer.

19. A display system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the homogenizer has an end near the input coupler, the end of the homogenizer being disposed at or at least partially overlapping the interface between the input coupler and the slab guide.

20. A display system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the homogenizer has an end near the input coupler, the end of the homogenizer being disposed at or at least partially overlapping the interface between the input coupler and the slab guide, wherein the homogenizer further comprises an absorbing edge at the end to absorb at least some of the input beam in the homogenizer.