Left and Right Eye Optical Paths with Shared Optical Element for Head-Mounted Display Device

• US 20170068094A1
• Filed: 09/03/2015
• Published: 03/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Webster, James Randolph, Lin, KengHui, Hsiung, Chienchih, Wu, Jeb, James, Richard, Robbins, Steven John, Poon, Yarn Chee
• Granted Patent: US 9,726,891 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0125 Field-of-view increase by wavefront division
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0134 of stereoscopic type
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/283 used for beam splitting or combining
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/25 using polarisation techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/30 Polarising elements light-modulating devices with active elements G02F1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/3058 comprising electrically conductive elements, e.g. wire grids, conductive particles
• 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 6/0008 the light being emitted at the end of the fibre

Abstract

A display engine assembly comprises a first imager and a second imager to generate a left image and a right image, respectively, in a head-mounted display device. The left and right images are left and right components, respectively, of a single stereoscopic image. The display engine further comprises an optical waveguide optically coupled to the first imager and the second imager. The optical waveguide is part of a first optical path to convey the left image to a left eye of a user of the head-mounted display device and is also part of a second optical path to convey the right image to a right eye of the user of the head-mounted display device.

Claims

1. A display engine assembly comprising:

a first imager to generate a left image in a head-mounted display device;

a second imager to generate a right image in the head-mounted display device, the left and right images being left and right components, respectively, of a single stereoscopic image; and

an optical waveguide optically coupled to the first imager and the second imager, the optical waveguide being part of a first optical path to convey the left image to a left eye of a user of the head-mounted display device and being part of a second optical path to convey the right image to a right eye of the user of the head-mounted display device.

2. The display engine assembly of claim 1, wherein the optical waveguide is a first polarizing beam splitter.

3. The display engine assembly of claim 2, further comprising a second polarizing beam splitter, the second polarizing beam splitter being part of the first optical path and the second optical path.

4. The display engine assembly of claim 3, wherein the second polarizing beam splitter is a wire grid beam splitter.

5. The display engine assembly of claim 3, wherein the first polarizing beam splitter is composed at least partially of glass, the display engine assembly further comprising a first glass frame member coupling the first polarizing beam splitter to the second polarizing beam splitter.

6. The display engine assembly of claim 5, further comprising a second glass frame member coupling the first polarizing beam splitter to the second polarizing beam splitter, wherein the first and second glass frame members are coupled to opposite sides of the first polarizing beam splitter.

7. The display engine assembly of claim 2, wherein the first polarizing beam splitter is shaped as a rectangular box.

8. The display engine assembly of claim 2, further comprising at least one of:

a third imager to generate a second left image for the left eye of the user, the third imager disposed optically between the first polarizing beam splitter and a first illumination source of the head-mounted display device;

or

a fourth imager to generate a second right image for the right eye of the user, the fourth imager disposed optically between the first polarizing beam splitter and a second illumination source of the head-mounted display device.

9. An apparatus comprising:

a first plurality of illumination sources;

a left imager to generate a left image for a left eye of a user of a head-mounted display device, based on light from the first plurality of illumination sources;

a second plurality of illumination sources;

a right imager to generate a right image for a right eye of the user of the head-mounted display device, based on light from the second plurality of illumination sources;

a first polarizing beam splitter, optically coupled to both the left imager and the right imager, to convey the left image and the right image to left and right output ports, respectively, of the display engine wherein the first polarizing beam splitter is composed at least partially of glass;

a second polarizing beam splitter disposed in an optical path between the first polarizing beam splitter and the left and right imagers; and

a plurality of glass frame members coupling the first polarizing beam splitter to the second polarizing beam splitter.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the second polarizing beam splitter is a wire grid beam splitter.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the plurality of glass frame members are coupled to opposite sides of the first polarizing beam splitter.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first polarizing beam splitter is shaped as a rectangular box.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising at least one of:

a second left imager to generate a second left image for the left eye of the user, the second left imager disposed optically between the first polarizing beam splitter and the first plurality of illumination sources;

or

a second right imager to generate a second right image for the right eye of the user, the second right imager disposed optically between the first polarizing beam splitter and the second plurality of illumination sources.

14. A head-mounted display device comprising:

a head fitting by which the head-mounted display device can be mounted to the head of a user;

a display engine assembly coupled to the head fitting and including

a first imager to generate a left image for a left eye of a user of the head-mounted display device,

a second imager to generate a right image for a right eye of the user of the head-mounted display device,

a left optical output port,

a right optical output port, and

a first polarizing beam splitter, optically coupled to both the first imager and the second imager, to convey the left image and the right image to the left and right optical output ports, respectively;

a plurality of waveguides separately coupled to the left and right optical output ports, to convey the left and right images toward the left and right eyes, respectively, of the user;

a processor to control operation of the head-mounted display device; and

a plurality of sensors coupled to the processor.

15. The head-mounted display device of claim 14, wherein the display engine assembly further comprises a second polarizing beam splitter disposed in an optical path between the first polarizing beam splitter and the first and second imagers.

16. The head-mounted display device of claim 14, wherein the second polarizing beam splitter is a wire grid beam splitter.

17. The head-mounted display device of claim 16, wherein the first polarizing beam splitter is composed at least partially of glass, the display engine assembly further comprising a first glass frame member coupling the first polarizing beam splitter to the second polarizing beam splitter.

18. The head-mounted display device of claim 16, wherein the display engine assembly further comprises a second glass frame member coupling the first polarizing beam splitter to the second polarizing beam splitter, wherein the first and second glass frame members are coupled to two opposite sides of the first polarizing beam splitter.

19. The head-mounted display device of claim 14, wherein the first polarizing beam splitter is shaped as a rectangular box.

20. The head-mounted display device of claim 14, wherein the display engine assembly further comprises at least one of:

a third imager to generate a second left image for the left eye of the user, the third imager disposed optically between the first polarizing beam splitter and a first illumination source of the head-mounted display device;

or

a fourth imager to generate a second right image for the right eye of the user, the fourth imager disposed optically between the first polarizing beam splitter and a second illumination source of the head-mounted display device.