WAVEGUIDE OPTICS FOCUS ELEMENTS

• US 20130314793A1
• Filed: 05/22/2012
• Published: 11/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Robbins, Steven John, Bohn, David D., Nguyen, Ian Anh
• Granted Patent: US 10,502,876 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/573
• 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 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/18 Diffraction gratings holographic optical elements G02B5/32, G03H; integrally combined with optical fibres G02B6/02057; for coupling light guides G02B6/34; integrally combined with optical integrated light guides G02B6/12; grating systems G02B27/44

Abstract

In embodiments of waveguide optics focus elements, an imaging structure includes a waveguide for viewing of an environment that is viewable with the imaging structure. The waveguide transmits light of a virtual image that is generated to appear as part of the environment for augmented-reality imaging or virtual-reality imaging. The imaging structure also includes one or more focus elements that are integrated in the waveguide and switchable to focus the virtual image at a focus depth that approximately correlates to a focal distance of the environment. The focus elements can each be implemented for a different focus depth of the virtual image, and the focus depth is adjustable based on a combination of the focus elements being switched-on or switched-off.

Claims

1. An imaging structure, comprising:

a waveguide configured for viewing of an environment that is viewable with the imaging structure, the waveguide further configured to transmit light of a virtual image that is generated to appear as part of the environment; and

one or more focus elements integrated in the waveguide and switchable to focus the virtual image at a focus depth that approximately correlates to a focal distance of the environment.

2. An imaging structure as recited in claim 1, wherein one of:

the waveguide is configured for see-through viewing of the environment for augmented-reality viewing of the virtual image in the environment;

or

the waveguide is configured for display viewing of the virtual image and the environment that are generated for virtual-reality viewing.

3. An imaging structure as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more focus elements integrated in the waveguide are each configured for a different focus depth of the virtual image.

4. An imaging structure as recited in claim 1, wherein the focus depth of the virtual image is adjustable based on a combination of the one or more focus elements switched-on or switched-off.

5. An imaging structure as recited in claim 1, wherein more than one of the one or more focus elements are switched-on or switched-off to focus the virtual image at the focus depth.

6. An imaging structure as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more focus elements comprise at least one of:

switchable output diffractive devices;

switchable output reflective devices;

or

Switchable Bragg Gratings.

7. An imaging structure as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more focus elements comprise:

a first switchable output diffractive device configured to focus the virtual image at infinity when switched-on, and propagate the light of the virtual image down the waveguide when switched-off;

a second switchable output diffractive device configured to focus the virtual image at an intermediate focus depth when switched-on, and propagate the light of the virtual image down the waveguide when switched-off; and

a third switchable output diffractive device configured to focus the virtual image at a near focus depth when switched-on, and propagate the light of the virtual image down the waveguide when switched-off.

8. A method, comprising:

transmitting light of a virtual image in a waveguide, the virtual image generated to appear as part of an environment that is viewable through the waveguide;

controlling one or more focus elements that are integrated in the waveguide and switchable to focus the virtual image at a focus depth, the one or more focus elements each configured for a different focus depth of the virtual image; and

focusing the virtual image at the focus depth that approximately correlates to a focal distance of the environment.

9. A method as recited in claim 8, further comprising determining the focal distance of the environment based on focus adjust data that indicates an eye accommodation distance of a user.

10. A method as recited in claim 8, further comprising adjusting the focus depth of the virtual image based on a combination of the one or more focus elements switched-on or switched-off.

11. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein the one or more focus elements comprise one of switchable output diffractive devices or switchable output reflective devices.

12. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein the one or more focus elements comprise Switchable Bragg Gratings.

13. A wearable display device, comprising:

left and right display lens systems configured for augmented reality imaging;

left and right imaging units of the respective left and right display lens systems configured to generate an augmented reality image;

each of the left and right imaging units comprising;

a waveguide configured for see-through viewing of an environment that is viewable through the waveguide, the waveguide further configured to transmit light of a virtual image that is generated to appear as part of the environment; and

one or more focus elements integrated in the waveguide and switchable to focus the virtual image at a focus depth that approximately correlates to a focal distance of the environment.

14. A wearable display device as recited in claim 13, wherein the one or more focus elements integrated in the waveguide are each configured for a different focus depth of the virtual image.

15. A wearable display device as recited in claim 13, wherein the focus depth of the virtual image is adjustable based on a combination of the one or more focus elements switched-on or switched-off.

16. A wearable display device as recited in claim 13, wherein more than one of the one or more focus elements are switched-on or switched-off to focus the virtual image at the focus depth.

17. A wearable display device as recited in claim 13, wherein the one or more focus elements comprise one of switchable output diffractive devices or switchable output reflective devices.

18. A wearable display device as recited in claim 13, wherein the one or more focus elements comprise Switchable Bragg Gratings.

19. A wearable display device as recited in claim 13, wherein the one or more focus elements comprise:

a first switchable output diffractive device configured to focus the virtual image at infinity when switched-on, and propagate the light of the virtual image down the waveguide when switched-off;

a second switchable output diffractive device configured to focus the virtual image at an intermediate focus depth when switched-on, and propagate the light of the virtual image down the waveguide when switched-off; and

a third switchable output diffractive device configured to focus the virtual image at a near focus depth when switched-on, and propagate the light of the virtual image down the waveguide when switched-off.

20. A wearable display device as recited in claim 13, further comprising an imaging application configured to:

receive focus adjust data that indicates an eye accommodation distance of a user;

determine the focal distance of the environment based on the eye accommodation distance of the user; and

initiate focus control signals to control a combination of the one or more focus elements switched-on or switched-off to adjust the focus depth of the virtual image.