PLANAR WAVEGUIDE APPARATUS WITH DIFFRACTION ELEMENT(S) AND SYSTEM EMPLOYING SAME

• US 20150309264A1
• Filed: 04/24/2015
• Published: 10/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magic Leap, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Magic Leap, Inc.
• Inventors: Abovitz, Rony, Schowengerdt, Brian T., Watson, Matthew D.
• Granted Patent: US 9,612,403 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0127 comprising devices increasing the depth of field
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0101 characterised by optical features G02B27/0172 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• 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

Abstract

A waveguide apparatus includes a planar waveguide and at least one optical diffraction element (DOE) that provides a plurality of optical paths between an exterior and interior of the planar waveguide. A phase profile of the DOE may combine a linear diffraction grating with a circular lens, to shape a wave front and produce beams with desired focus. Waveguide apparati may be assembled to create multiple focal planes. The DOE may have a low diffraction efficiency, and planar waveguides may be transparent when viewed normally, allowing passage of light from an ambient environment (e.g., real world) useful in AR systems. Light may be returned for temporally sequentially passes through the planar waveguide. The DOE(s) may be fixed or may have dynamically adjustable characteristics. An optical coupler system may couple images to the waveguide apparatus from a projector, for instance a biaxially scanning cantilevered optical fiber tip.

Claims

1. A waveguide apparatus, comprising:

a planar waveguide having at least a first end, a second end, a first face, and a second face, the second end opposed to the first end along a length of the waveguide, at least the first and the second faces forming an at least partially internally reflective optical path along at least a portion of the length of the planar waveguide, and

the planar waveguide having at least one optically diffractive optical element that interprets interrupts the at least partially internally reflective optical path to provide a plurality of optical paths between an exterior and an interior of the planar waveguide via the first face thereof at respective positions along at least a portion of the length of the planar waveguide.

2. The waveguide apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one the diffractive optical element is integral with the planar waveguide.

3. The waveguide apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one the diffractive optical element is disposed between the first face and the second face of the planar waveguide.

4. The waveguide apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one the diffractive optical element is positioned at one of the first face or the second face of the planar waveguide.

5. The waveguide apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one the diffractive optical element is a Braff grating.

6. The waveguide apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one the diffractive optical element combines a linear diffraction function and a radially circular lens function.

7. The waveguide apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one the diffractive optical element has a phase profile that is a combination of a linear diffraction grating and a radially symmetric lens.

8. A waveguide array apparatus, comprising:

a set of a plurality of planar waveguides, each of the plurality including a planar waveguide in the set having at least a first end, a second end, a first face, and a second face, the second end opposed to the first end along a length of the waveguide, at least the first and the second faces forming an at least partially internally reflective optical path along at least a portion of the length of the planar waveguide, and

for each of at least two of the planar waveguides in the set a respective set of having a diffractive optical elements disposed between the first and the second ends at respective positions along at least a portion of the length of the respective planar waveguide to partially reflect a respective portion of a spherical wave front outwardly from the first face of the respective rectangular waveguide.

9. The waveguide array apparatus of claim 8 wherein at least one the diffractive optical element is integral with respective ones of the planar waveguides.

10. The waveguide array apparatus of claim 8 wherein the diffractive optical elements are is disposed between the first face and the second face.

11. The waveguide array apparatus of claim 8 wherein the diffractive optical elements are is disposed at one of the first face or the second face.

12. The waveguide array apparatus of claim 8 wherein at least one the diffractive optical element is a Braff grating.

13. The waveguide array apparatus of claim 8 wherein at least one the diffractive optical element combines a linear diffraction function and a radially circular lens function.

14. The waveguide array apparatus of claim 8 wherein at least one the diffractive optical element has a phase profile that is a combination of a linear diffraction grating and a radially symmetric lens.

15-27. -27. (canceled)