Planar waveguide apparatus configured to return light therethrough
First Claim
1. A waveguide apparatus, comprising:
- a planar waveguide having a first end, a second end, a first face, and a second face;
a diffractive optical element operatively coupled to the planar waveguide; and
first and second reflectors disposed adjacent the respective first and second ends of the planar waveguide,wherein the first and second ends of the planar waveguide are opposed to each other along a length of the planar waveguide,wherein the first and the second faces of the planar waveguide form an at least partially internally reflective optical path along a portion of the length of the planar waveguide, andwherein the diffractive optical element is configured to interrupt the at least partially internally reflective optical paths to provide a plurality of optical paths between an exterior and an interior of the planar waveguide via the first face thereof at respective positions along a portion of the length of the planar waveguide.
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Accused Products
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
10 Claims
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1. A waveguide apparatus, comprising:
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a planar waveguide having a first end, a second end, a first face, and a second face; a diffractive optical element operatively coupled to the planar waveguide; and first and second reflectors disposed adjacent the respective first and second ends of the planar waveguide, wherein the first and second ends of the planar waveguide are opposed to each other along a length of the planar waveguide, wherein the first and the second faces of the planar waveguide form an at least partially internally reflective optical path along a portion of the length of the planar waveguide, and wherein the diffractive optical element is configured to interrupt the at least partially internally reflective optical paths to provide a plurality of optical paths between an exterior and an interior of the planar waveguide via the first face thereof at respective positions along a portion of the length of the planar waveguide. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification