SYSTEMS, DEVICES, AND METHODS THAT INTEGRATE EYE TRACKING AND SCANNING LASER PROJECTION IN WEARABLE HEADS-UP DISPLAYS

• US 20160349516A1
• Filed: 05/27/2016
• Published: 12/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Thalmic Labs Inc.
• Inventors: Alexander, Stefan, Chapeskie, Jake, Holland, Lloyd Frederick, Mahon, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 10,488,661 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0107 with optical power
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0109 comprising details concerning the making of holograms
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/015 involving arrangement aiming to get less bulky devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0174 holographic
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0833 the reflecting element being a micromechanical device, e.g. a MEMS mirror, DMD G02B26/0825 takes precedence; micromechanical devices in general B81B
• 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 27/0103 comprising holographic elements
• 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 5/32 Holograms used as optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/013 Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3129 scanning a light beam on the display screen scanning a light beam on a screen in displays other than projection devices G09G3/02; scanning systems in general G02B26/10; projectors using laser light sources in general H04N9/3161
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3161 using laser light sources using laser beams scanning the display screen H04N9/3129

Abstract

Systems, devices, and methods that integrate eye tracking capability into scanning laser projector (“SLP”)-based wearable heads-up displays are described. An infrared laser diode is added to an RGB SLP and an infrared photodetector is aligned to detect reflections of the infrared light from features of the eye. A holographic optical element (“HOE”) may be used to combine visible light, infrared light, and environmental light into the user'"'"'s “field of view.” The HOE may be heterogeneous and multiplexed to apply positive optical power to the visible light and zero or negative optical power to the infrared light.

Claims

1. A heterogeneous holographic optical element (“

HOE”

) comprising;

at least one layer of holographic material, wherein the at least one layer of holographic material includes;

a first hologram to apply a first optical power to light having a first wavelength; and

at least a second hologram to apply at least a second optical power to light having a second wavelength, the second optical power different from the first optical power and the second wavelength different from the first wavelength.

2. The heterogeneous HOE of claim 1 wherein:

the first hologram redirects light having the first wavelength and applies the first optical power to the light having the first wavelength upon redirection of the light having the first wavelength; and

the second hologram redirects light having the second wavelength and applies the second optical power to the light having the second wavelength upon redirection of the light having the second wavelength.

3. The heterogeneous HOE of claim 1 wherein the first optical power is a positive optical power and the first hologram causes light having the first wavelength to converge at a first rate of convergence.

4. The heterogeneous HOE of claim 3 wherein the second optical power is zero.

5. The heterogeneous HOE of claim 3 wherein the second optical power is a negative optical power and the second hologram causes light having the second wavelength to diverge.

6. The heterogeneous HOE of claim 3 wherein the second optical power is positive and less than the first optical power, and wherein the second hologram causes light having the second wavelength to converge at a second rate of convergence that is less than the first rate of convergence.

7. The heterogeneous HOE of claim 3 wherein the first optical power is greater than or equal to forty diopters and the second optical power is less than or equal to zero diopters.

8. The heterogeneous HOE of claim 1 wherein the first wavelength is visible to a human eye and the second wavelength is invisible to the human eye.

9. The heterogeneous HOE of claim 8 wherein the first wavelength is selected from a first range of 390 nm to 700 nm and the second wavelength is selected from a second range of 700 nm to 10 um.

10. The heterogeneous HOE of claim 1 wherein the at least one layer of holographic material includes a single layer of holographic material and the first hologram and the at least a second hologram are both included in the single layer of holographic material.

11. The heterogeneous HOE of claim 1 wherein the at least one layer of holographic material includes a first layer of holographic material and at least a second layer of holographic material, and wherein the first layer of holographic material includes the first hologram and the second layer of holographic material includes the second hologram.

12. The heterogeneous HOE of claim 1 wherein the at least one layer of holographic material further includes:

at least a third hologram to apply the first optical power to light having a third wavelength, the third wavelength substantially different from both the first wavelength and the second wavelength.

13. The heterogeneous HOE of claim 12 wherein the first hologram is a red hologram to apply the first optical power to a red light, the second hologram is an infrared hologram to apply the second optical power to an infrared light, the third hologram is a green hologram to apply the first optical power to a green light, and wherein the at least one layer of holographic material further includes a blue hologram to apply the first optical power to a blue light.

14. The heterogeneous HOE of claim 1, further comprising:

an eyeglass lens, wherein the at least one layer of holographic material is carried by the eyeglass lens.