ARCHITECTURES AND METHODS FOR OUTPUTTING DIFFERENT WAVELENGTH LIGHT OUT OF WAVEGUIDES

• US 20170322419A1
• Filed: 07/21/2017
• Published: 11/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magic Leap, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Magic Leap, Inc.
• Inventors: TeKolste, Robert Dale, Klug, Michael Anthony, Schowengerdt, Brian T.
• Granted Patent: US 10,156,725 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0112 comprising device for genereting colour display
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0114 comprising dichroic elements
• 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 2027/014 comprising information/image processing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0174 holographic
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0194 with combiner of laminated type, for optical or mechanical aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0081 with means for altering, e.g. enlarging, the entrance or exit pupil
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/4205 having a diffractive optical element [DOE] contributing to image formation, e.g. whereby modulation transfer function MTF or optical aberrations are relevant
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0025 Diffusing sheet or layer; Prismatic sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0026 Wavelength selective element, sheet or layer, e.g. filter or grating
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/005 provided by one optical element, or plurality thereof, placed on the light output side of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0076 Stacked arrangements of multiple light guides of the same or different cross-sectional area

Abstract

Architectures are provided for selectively outputting light for forming images, the light having different wavelengths and being outputted with low levels of crosstalk. In some embodiments, light is incoupled into a waveguide and deflected to propagate in different directions, depending on wavelength. The incoupled light then outcoupled by outcoupling optical elements that outcouple light based on the direction of propagation of the light. In some other embodiments, color filters are between a waveguide and outcoupling elements. The color filters limit the wavelengths of light that interact with and are outcoupled by the outcoupling elements. In yet other embodiments, a different waveguide is provided for each range of wavelengths to be outputted. Incoupling optical elements selectively incouple light of the appropriate range of wavelengths into a corresponding waveguide, from which the light is outcoupled.

Claims

1. An optical system comprising:

a waveguide comprising a first major surface and a second major surface, the waveguide configured to propagate light by total internal reflection between the first and the second major surfaces;

an incoupling optical element configured to incouple incident light into the waveguide at a first plurality of wavelengths along a first direction and incouple incident light into the waveguide at one or more second wavelengths along a second direction, wherein incoupled light of the first plurality of wavelengths propagate through the waveguide along the first direction by total internal reflection and incoupled light of the one or more second wavelengths propagate through the waveguide along the second direction by total internal reflection; and

first and second outcoupling optical elements configured to outcouple the incoupled light out of the waveguide.