Optical system having a return planar waveguide
First Claim
1. A waveguide apparatus, comprising:
- a first planar waveguide having a first end, a second end, a first face, and a second face; and
a diffractive optical element operatively coupled to the first planar waveguide; and
a second planar waveguide having a first end, a second end, a first face, and a second face;
wherein the respective first ends of the first and second planar waveguides are adjacent each other,wherein the respective second ends of the first and second planar waveguides are adjacent each other,wherein the respective first and second ends of the first and second planar waveguides are opposed to each other along respective lengths of the first and second planar waveguides,wherein the respective first and the second faces of the first and second planar waveguides form respective first and second at least partially internally reflective optical paths along respective portions of the lengths of the first and second planar waveguides,wherein the diffractive optical element is configured to interrupt the first at least partially internally reflective optical paths to provide a plurality of optical paths between an exterior and an interior of the first planar waveguide via the first face thereof at respective positions along a portion of the length of the first planar waveguide, andwherein the first and second planar at least partially internally reflective optical paths are oriented in opposite directions.
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Abstract
A waveguide apparatus includes a planar waveguide and at least one optical diffraction element (DOE) that provides a plurality of optical paths between an exterior and interior of the planar waveguide. A phase profile of the DOE may combine a linear diffraction grating with a circular lens, to shape a wave front and produce beams with desired focus. Waveguide apparati may be assembled to create multiple focal planes. The DOE may have a low diffraction efficiency, and planar waveguides may be transparent when viewed normally, allowing passage of light from an ambient environment (e.g., real world) useful in AR systems. Light may be returned for temporally sequentially passes through the planar waveguide. The DOE(s) may be fixed or may have dynamically adjustable characteristics. An optical coupler system may couple images to the waveguide apparatus from a projector, for instance a biaxially scanning cantilevered optical fiber tip.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A waveguide apparatus, comprising:
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a first planar waveguide having a first end, a second end, a first face, and a second face; and a diffractive optical element operatively coupled to the first planar waveguide; and a second planar waveguide having a first end, a second end, a first face, and a second face; wherein the respective first ends of the first and second planar waveguides are adjacent each other, wherein the respective second ends of the first and second planar waveguides are adjacent each other, wherein the respective first and second ends of the first and second planar waveguides are opposed to each other along respective lengths of the first and second planar waveguides, wherein the respective first and the second faces of the first and second planar waveguides form respective first and second at least partially internally reflective optical paths along respective portions of the lengths of the first and second planar waveguides, wherein the diffractive optical element is configured to interrupt the first at least partially internally reflective optical paths to provide a plurality of optical paths between an exterior and an interior of the first planar waveguide via the first face thereof at respective positions along a portion of the length of the first planar waveguide, and wherein the first and second planar at least partially internally reflective optical paths are oriented in opposite directions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification