Efficient collimation of light with optical wedge
First Claim
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1. An optical collimator comprising:
- an optical waveguide havinga first end comprising a first light interface;
a second end opposite the first end;
a viewing surface comprising a second light interface extending at least partially between the first end and the second end and having a first critical angle of internal reflection with respect to a normal of the viewing surface;
a back surface opposing the viewing surface; and
a collimating end reflector arranged at the second end of the optical waveguide, wherein the collimating end reflector comprises a faceted lens structure.
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Abstract
Embodiments of optical collimators are disclosed. For example, one disclosed embodiment comprises an optical waveguide having a first end, a second end opposing the first end, a viewing surface extending at least partially between the first end and the second end, and a back surface opposing the viewing surface. The viewing surface comprises a first critical angle of internal reflection, and the back surface is configured to be reflective at the first critical angle of internal reflection. Further, a collimating end reflector comprising a faceted lens structure having a plurality of facets is disposed at the second end of the optical waveguide.
178 Citations
15 Claims
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1. An optical collimator comprising:
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an optical waveguide having a first end comprising a first light interface; a second end opposite the first end; a viewing surface comprising a second light interface extending at least partially between the first end and the second end and having a first critical angle of internal reflection with respect to a normal of the viewing surface; a back surface opposing the viewing surface; and a collimating end reflector arranged at the second end of the optical waveguide, wherein the collimating end reflector comprises a faceted lens structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of displaying an image with light collimated via an optical waveguide, the optical waveguide comprising a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a collimating end reflector, a viewing surface extending between the first end and the second end, and a back surface opposing the viewing surface, the method comprising:
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injecting light into the first end of the optical waveguide; delivering the light to the collimating end reflector via total internal reflection; internally reflecting the light off of the collimating end reflector thereby forming collimated light; emitting a first portion of collimated light from the viewing surface at a critical angle of reflection; internally reflecting a second portion of collimated light from the back surface at an angle equal to the critical angle of reflection; emitting the second portion of collimated light from the viewing surface after internally reflecting the second portion of collimated light from the back surface; and directing the first portion of collimated light and the second portion of collimated light through a light modulator. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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Specification