Waveguide optics focus elements
First Claim
1. An imaging structure, comprising:
- a waveguide configured for viewing of an environment that is viewable, by a user, with the imaging structure, the waveguide further configured to transmit light of a virtual image that is generated by an image microdisplay to appear as part of the environment; and
two or more focus elements integrated within the waveguide such that the environment is viewable by the user through the two or more focus elements,wherein individual focus elements are configured to be electronically switchable to an on state where the individual focus elements focus the light of the virtual image while the light of the virtual image is within the waveguide or an off state where the individual focus elements do not focus the light of the virtual image within the waveguide,wherein electronic switching of the two or more focus elements is effective to variably focus the light of the virtual image at a plurality of virtual image focus depths while the light of the virtual image is within the waveguide,wherein the plurality of virtual image focus depths approximately correlate to environment focus depths as perceived by the user, the environment focus depths determined by information from one or more sensors.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In embodiments of waveguide optics focus elements, an imaging structure includes a waveguide for viewing of an environment that is viewable with the imaging structure. The waveguide transmits light of a virtual image that is generated to appear as part of the environment for augmented-reality imaging or virtual-reality imaging. The imaging structure also includes one or more focus elements that are integrated in the waveguide and switchable to focus the virtual image at a focus depth that approximately correlates to a focal distance of the environment. The focus elements can each be implemented for a different focus depth of the virtual image, and the focus depth is adjustable based on a combination of the focus elements being switched-on or switched-off.
472 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An imaging structure, comprising:
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a waveguide configured for viewing of an environment that is viewable, by a user, with the imaging structure, the waveguide further configured to transmit light of a virtual image that is generated by an image microdisplay to appear as part of the environment; and two or more focus elements integrated within the waveguide such that the environment is viewable by the user through the two or more focus elements, wherein individual focus elements are configured to be electronically switchable to an on state where the individual focus elements focus the light of the virtual image while the light of the virtual image is within the waveguide or an off state where the individual focus elements do not focus the light of the virtual image within the waveguide, wherein electronic switching of the two or more focus elements is effective to variably focus the light of the virtual image at a plurality of virtual image focus depths while the light of the virtual image is within the waveguide, wherein the plurality of virtual image focus depths approximately correlate to environment focus depths as perceived by the user, the environment focus depths determined by information from one or more sensors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method, comprising:
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transmitting light of a virtual image in a waveguide, the virtual image generated by an image microdisplay to appear as part of an environment that is viewable by a user through the waveguide; and variably focusing the light of the virtual image to a plurality of different virtual image focus depths as the light of the virtual image travels through the waveguide, the variably focusing comprising controlling two or more focus elements that are contained within the waveguide and sequentially in a path of the light of the virtual image. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A wearable display device, comprising:
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left and right display lens systems configured for augmented reality imaging; left and right imaging units of the respective left and right display lens systems configured to generate an augmented reality image; and
a processor or controller,each of the left and right imaging units comprising; a waveguide configured for see-through viewing of an environment that is viewable by a user through the waveguide, the waveguide further configured to transmit light of a virtual image that is generated by an image microdisplay to appear as part of the environment; and two or more focus elements that are; integrated within the waveguide such that the environment is viewable by the user through the two or more focus elements; and each electronically switchable as on to focus the light of the virtual image or off so as not to focus the light of the virtual image, the two or more focus elements being switchable effective to variably focus the light of the virtual image while the light of the virtual image is travelling through the waveguide at a plurality of virtual image focus depths, wherein the processor or controller is configured to control the two or more focus elements so that the variable focus of the light of the virtual image approximately correlates to focal distances of the environment perceived by the user. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification