Projection optical system for coupling image light to a near-eye display
First Claim
1. A projection optical system of a projection light engine for coupling image light from an image source of the projection light engine to a near-eye display comprising:
- a support structure of a near-eye display device which may be worn by a user;
a high index glass region supported by the support structure;
a birdbath reflective optical element immersed in the high index glass region and positioned by the support structure for optically coupling image light from the image source; and
the birdbath reflective optical element collimating and reflecting the image light through the high index glass region to an external exit pupil which is external to the projection light engine.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Technology is described for a projection optical system which optically couples image light from an image source to a near-eye display (NED) of a wearable near-eye display device. The projection optical system and the image source make up a projection light engine. Light from the image source is directed to a birdbath reflective optical element which is immersed in high index glass. The image light is reflected and collimated by the birdbath element and travels outside a housing of the projection light engine forming an external exit pupil, meaning the exit pupil is external to the projection light engine. A waveguide optically couples the image light of the external exit pupil. An example of a waveguide which can be used is a surface relief grating waveguide.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A projection optical system of a projection light engine for coupling image light from an image source of the projection light engine to a near-eye display comprising:
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a support structure of a near-eye display device which may be worn by a user; a high index glass region supported by the support structure; a birdbath reflective optical element immersed in the high index glass region and positioned by the support structure for optically coupling image light from the image source; and the birdbath reflective optical element collimating and reflecting the image light through the high index glass region to an external exit pupil which is external to the projection light engine. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A near-eye display device comprising:
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a near-eye support structure; a near-eye display (NED) supported by the near-eye support structure, the near-eye display including a waveguide; a projection light engine, including an image source and a projection optical system, supported by the near-eye support structure and having an external exit pupil which is external to the projection light engine; the projection optical system comprising a high index glass region in which a birdbath reflective optical element is immersed, the birdbath optical element collimates and reflects image light from the image source to the external exit pupil; and the near-eye support structure positions the waveguide for optically coupling the image light of the external exit pupil. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for coupling image light from an image source of a projection light engine to a near-eye display comprising:
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optically directing image light from the image source along a first optical path in a high index glass region within a projection optical system housing to a birdbath reflective optical element in the high index glass region; collimating and reflecting the image light by the birdbath reflective optical element along a second optical path extending through the high index glass region to an external exit pupil outside the projection optical system housing; polarizing the image light in at least one of the first optical path and the second optical path; and an input grating of a waveguide of the near-eye display optically coupling at least the image light of the exit pupil into the waveguide. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification