Modifying a focus of virtual images through a variable focus element

• US 9,939,643 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2015
• Issued: 04/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magic Leap, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Magic Leap, Inc.
• Inventors: Schowengerdt, Brian T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Xiao
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lhymn, Sarah
• Application Number:
  US14/705,741
• Publication Number:
  US 20160110920A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,070 Days
• Field of Search: 345619, 345632, 345633
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 17/08 Catadioptric systems used in non-imaging applications G02B19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2006/0098 for scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0118 comprising devices for improving the contrast of the display / brillance control visibility
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0123 comprising devices increasing the field of view
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0125 Field-of-view increase by wavefront division
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0134 of stereoscopic type
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/014 comprising information/image processing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0163 Electric or electronic control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0808 by means of one or more diffracting elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0087 Phased arrays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0093 with means for monitoring data relating to the user, e.g. head-tracking, eye-tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/01 Head-up displays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0176 characterised by mechanical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/4205 having a diffractive optical element [DOE] contributing to image formation, e.g. whereby modulation transfer function MTF or optical aberrations are relevant
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/0006 Arrays G02B3/02, G02B5/188 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/0037 characterized by the distribution or form of lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/24 involving temporal multiplexing, e.g. using sequentially activated left and right shutters
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/005 : Diaphragms for cameras G03B9/02
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/1814 : structurally combined with one or more further optical elements, e.g. lenses, mirrors, prisms or other diffraction gratings G02B5/189 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/1828 : having means for producing variable diffraction controlling the direction of light by means of one or more diffracting elements G02B26/0808; acousto-optical elements G02F1/11, G02F1/33; electro- or magneto-optical diffraction G02F1/292, G02F1/2955
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/20 : Filters polarising elements G02B5/30
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/00 : Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/02042 : Multicore optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/06 : the relative position of the fibres being the same at both ends, e.g. for transporting images
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/32 : having lens focusing means positioned between opposed fibre ends with lens being an integral part of the single fibre end G02B6/262
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/34 : utilising prism or grating G02B6/293 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/40 : having fibre bundle mating means
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 2202/16 : Laminated or compound lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/049 : Contact lenses having special fitting or structural features achieved by special materials or material structures
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/104 : having spectral characteristics for purposes other than sun-protection
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/0105 : Illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1334 : based on polymer dispersed liquid crystals, e.g. microencapsulated liquid crystals
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/17 : based on variable-absorption elements not provided for in groups G02F1/015 - G02F1/169
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/29 : for the control of the position or the direction of light beams, i.e. deflection
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/292 : by controlled diffraction or phased-array beam steering controlled diffraction for optical switching G02F1/31
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/294 : Variable focal length devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/31 : Digital deflection, i.e. optical switchingG02F1/33 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 : Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/013 : Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 : Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1423 : controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 13/40 : of characters, e.g. humans, animals or virtual beings
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/00 : 3D [Three Dimensional] image rendering
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/10 : Geometric effects
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/506 : Illumination models
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/10 : Constructive solid geometry [CSG] using solid primitives, e.g. cylinders, cubes
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/003 : Navigation within 3D models or images
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/006 : Mixed reality object pose determination, tracking or camera calibration for mixed reality G06T7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/20 : Editing of 3D images, e.g. changing shapes or colours, aligning objects or positioning parts
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10021 : Stereoscopic video; Stereoscopic image sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30201 : Face
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2213/08 : Animation software package
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/50 : using two or more images, e.g. averaging or subtraction
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/70 : Denoising; Smoothing
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/73 : Deblurring; Sharpening
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/50 : Depth or shape recovery
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/73 : using feature-based methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/193 : Preprocessing; Feature extraction
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/003 : Details of a display terminal, the details relating to the control arrangement of the display terminal and to the interfaces thereto specific for a CRT G09G1/165; for a flat panel G09G3/2092
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/02 : characterised by the way in which colour is displayed details of colour display specific for CRTs G09G1/28; specific for flat matrix panels other than liquid crystal displays G09G3/2003; specific for liquid crystal displays G09G3/3607
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/10 : Intensity circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/18 : Timing circuits for raster scan displays specially adapted for television H04N ; synchronisation between the display unit and other display units, videodisc player G09G5/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/117 : the virtual viewpoint locations being selected by the viewers or determined by viewer tracking
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/239 : using two 2D image sensors having a relative position equal to or related to the interocular distance H04N13/243 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/286 : having separate monoscopic and stereoscopic modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/341 : using temporal multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/344 : with head-mounted left-right displays
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/361 : Reproducing mixed stereoscopic images; Reproducing mixed monoscopic and stereoscopic images, e.g. a stereoscopic image overlay window on a monoscopic image background
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/363 : using image projection screens volumetric display H04N13/388
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/366 : using viewer tracking
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/383 : for tracking with gaze detection, i.e. detecting the lines of sight of the viewer's eyes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2013/0085 : Motion estimation from stereoscopic image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/00 : Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/21 : Circuitry for suppressing or minimising disturbance, e.g. moiré or halo
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/74 : Projection arrangements for image reproduction, e.g. using eidophor

Abstract

Configurations are disclosed for presenting virtual reality and augmented reality experiences to users. The system may comprise an image-generating source to provide one or more frames of image data in a time-sequential manner, a light modulator configured to transmit light associated with the one or more frames of image data, a substrate to direct image information to a user'"'"'s eye, wherein the substrate houses a plurality of reflectors, a first reflector of the plurality of reflectors to reflect transmitted light associated with a first frame of image data at a first angle to the user'"'"'s eye, and a second reflector to reflect transmitted light associated with a second frame of the image data at a second angle to the user'"'"'s eye.

Claims

1. A system for displaying virtual content to a user, comprising:

a light source to multiplex one or more light patterns associated with one or more frames of image data in a time-sequential manner;

a waveguide to receive the one or more light patterns at a first focus level;

a variable focus element (VFE) coupled to and located on a first side external to the waveguide and defining a first plurality of focus levels to place at least some of the light patterns at a second focus level of the plurality of focus levels; and

a second VFE that is located on a second side external to the waveguide and defines a second plurality of focus levels to adjust a focus of light from an outside world such that the user'"'"'s view of the outside world is substantially undistorted as the second VFE varies the focus of the light from the outside world.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the VFE does not substantially change image magnification while adjusting focus level.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the VFE does change image magnification while adjusting focus level.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the image data is scaled by a processor in accordance with and to compensate for changing optical image magnification, before the waveguide receives the one or more light patterns, such that the image magnification appears to remain substantially fixed while adjusting focus level.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein a plurality of frames are presented to the user at a high frequency such that the user perceives the frames as part of a single coherent scene, wherein the VFE varies the focus from a first frame to a second frame.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the light source is a scanned light display, and wherein the VFE varies the focus in a line-by-line manner.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the light source is a scanned light display, and wherein the VFE varies the focus in a pixel-by-pixel manner.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the VFE is a diffractive lens, and the second VFE varies a focal distance of a focal plane on which the light from the outside world is to be rendered in focus.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the VFE is a refractive lens.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the VFE is a reflective mirror.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the reflective mirror is partially reflective.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the partially reflective mirror has relatively high reflectance for the polarization of light provided by the light source, and relative low reflectance for the other polarization states of light provided by the outside world.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the partially reflective mirrors comprises a dielectric coating.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the reflective mirrors has relatively high reflectance for the waveguides for the wavelengths of light provided by the light source, and relatively low reflectance for the other waveguides of light provided by the outside world.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the reflective mirror is opaque.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the VFE is a deformable mirror, the surface shape of which can be varied over time.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the VFE is an electrostatically actuated membrane mirror, and wherein the waveguide or an additional transparent layer comprises one or more substantially transparent electrodes, and wherein a voltage applied to the one or more electrodes electrostatically deforms the membrane mirror.

18. The system of claim 1, further comprising an accommodation module to track an accommodation of a user'"'"'s eyes, and wherein the VFE varies the focus of the light patterns based at least in part on the accommodation of the user'"'"'s eyes.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the accommodation module tracks accommodation indirectly, by tracking the vergence or gaze of the user'"'"'s eyes.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the light source is a scanned light display, and wherein the VFE varies the focus on a line segment basis.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the waveguide comprises an exit pupil expansion function, wherein an input ray of light is split and outcoupled as multiple rays of light exiting the waveguide at multiple locations.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the first focus level is collimated.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein the VFE is integrated into the waveguide.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein the VFE is separate from the waveguide.

25. The system of claim 1, wherein the VFE and the second VFE are disposed on opposite sides of the waveguide.