Substrate guided relay with polarization rotating apparatus

• US 7,653,268 B1
• Filed: 07/03/2008
• Issued: 01/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microvision, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Microvision, Inc.
• Inventors: DeJong, Christian Dean
• Primary Examiner(s): Petkovsek; Daniel
• Application Number:
  US12/167,923
• Publication Number:
  US 20100002991A1
• Time in Patent Office: 572 Days
• Field of Search: 385/11, 385/27, 385/31, 385/33, 385/39, 359483-502, 359/618, 359/629, 359/630, 359/633, 359/636, 359/850
• US Class Current: 385/11
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0081 with means for altering, e.g. enlarging, the entrance or exit pupil
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0988 Diaphragms, spatial filters, masks for removing or filtering a part of the beam
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/286 for controlling or changing the state of polarisation, e.g. transforming one polarisation state into another G02B5/3083 takes precedence; light guide coupling means utilising polarising elements G02B6/34
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0028 Light guide, e.g. taper
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0031 Reflecting element, sheet or layer

Abstract

A substrate guided relay (600) includes an input coupler (601), an output coupler (603), and an optical substrate (602). Light is delivered from the input coupler (601) to the optical substrate (602), and then to the output coupler (603). Partially reflective coatings can be used at interfaces (606,607) between components. Partially reflective coatings or other devices (501) can be also used to create one or more copies of light. Light polarization alteration devices (661,662,663,664,665) can be used within the substrate guided relay (600), alone or in combination, to tailor the polarization of light to the designer'"'"'s needs. Such devices, such as half-wave plates, provide the designer with increased flexibility regarding the design and manufacture of the substrate guided relay (600).

Claims

1. An optical substrate guided relay, comprising:

an input coupler configured to receive light from a source;

an optical substrate coupled to the input coupler and configured to receive the light from the input coupler and transmit the light across the optical substrate; and

an output coupler coupled to the optical substrate, configured to receive the light from the optical substrate and deliver the light away from the optical substrate guided relay with one or more partially reflective layers;

a light homogenizing layer coupled to the input coupler in an offset configuration, wherein the light homogenizing layer is configured to make at least one copy of the light and to deliver the light and the at least one copy of the light to the optical substrate; and

a light polarization alteration device, integral with the optical substrate guided relay, configured to convert a first polarization light to a second polarization light, wherein the light polarization alteration device is disposed between the light homogenizing layer and the input coupler.

2. The optical substrate guided relay of claim 1, wherein the light polarization alteration device comprises a phase retarding device.

3. The optical substrate guided relay of claim 2, wherein the phase retarding device is disposed between the optical substrate and the output coupler.

4. The optical substrate guided relay of claim 2, wherein the phase retarding device is disposed atop the output coupler.

5. The optical substrate guided relay of claim 4, the light polarization alteration device comprises one of a half-wave plate, a quarter-wave plate, or a three-quarter wave plate.

6. The optical substrate guided relay of claim 2, wherein the phase retarding device comprises a polymer wave plate.

7. The optical substrate guided relay of claim 6, wherein the light polarization alteration device is disposed substantially parallel with the first interface.

8. The optical substrate guided relay of claim 6, wherein the light polarization alteration device is disposed substantially parallel with a width-wise cross section of the optical substrate.

9. The optical substrate guided relay of claim 2, wherein the phase retarding device comprises a crystalline wave plate.

10. The optical substrate guided relay of claim 1, wherein the input coupler comprises an input for receiving the light from the source, further wherein the input coupler and the optical substrate are coupled together at a first interface, wherein the light polarization alteration device is integral with the input coupler and disposed between the input and the first interface.

11. The optical substrate guided relay of claim 1, wherein the input coupler and the optical substrate are coupled together at a first interface, further wherein the output coupler is coupled to the optical substrate distally from the input coupler at a second interface.

12. The optical substrate guided relay of claim 1, wherein the first polarization light comprises one of s-polarized light or p-polarized light.

13. The optical substrate guided relay of claim 12, wherein the second polarization light comprises another of s-polarized light or p-polarized light.

14. The optical substrate guided relay of claim 1, wherein the input coupler comprises a multi-layer input coupler configured to homogenize the light by creating at least one copy of the light.

15. The optical substrate guided relay of claim 1, wherein the input coupler and the optical substrate are coupled together such that an input coupler major axis and an optical substrate major axis are between 30 and 60 degrees.

16. An optical substrate guided relay system, comprising:

a scanned light source;

an input coupler configured to receive light from the scanned light source;

an optical substrate coupled to the input coupler and configured to receive the light from the input coupler and transmit the light across the optical substrate; and

an output coupler coupled to the optical substrate, configured to receive the light from the optical substrate and deliver the light away from the optical substrate guided relay system;

a light homogenizing layer coupled to the input coupler in an offset configuration, wherein the light homogenizing layer is configured to make at least one copy of the light and to deliver the light and the at least one copy of the light to the optical substrate; and

a light polarization alteration device, integral with the optical substrate guided relay system, configured to convert a first polarization light to a second polarization light, wherein the light polarization alteration device is disposed between the light homogenizing layer and the input coupler.

17. An eyewear device having lens assemblies coupled to a frame and being capable of presenting visible images to a wearer, the eyewear device comprising:

an image-producing source integrated with the frame; and

a substrate guided relay integrated with at least one of the lens assemblies;

wherein the substrate guided relay comprises;

an input coupler configured to receive light from the image-producing source;

an optical substrate coupled to the input coupler and configured to receive the light from the input coupler and transmit the light across the optical substrate;

an output coupler coupled to the optical substrate, configured to receive the light from the optical substrate and deliver the light away from the substrate guided relay;

a light homogenizing layer coupled to the input coupler in an offset configuration, wherein the light homogenizing layer is configured to make at least one copy of the light and to deliver the light and the at least one copy of the light to the optical substrate; and

a light polarization alteration device, integral with the optical substrate guided relay, configured to convert a first polarization light to a second polarization light, wherein the light polarization alteration device is disposed between the light homogenizing layer and the input coupler.