Systems for and methods of using fold gratings for dual axis expansion

• US 10,795,160 B1
• Filed: 09/25/2014
• Issued: 10/06/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Stanley, James H., Waldern, Jonathan David, Popovich, Milan Momcilo, Grant, Alastair John, Robbins, Steven J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kakalec, Kimberly N.
• Application Number:
  US14/497,280
• Time in Patent Office: 2,203 Days
• Field of Search: 359 13- 15, 359 34, 359320, 359566, 359569, 359572, 359573, 359575, 359576, 359630-633, 345 7- 9, 385 10, 385 37, 385129-131, 353 28, 353 39
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0123 comprising devices increasing the field of view
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0147 comprising a device modifying the resolution of the displayed image
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0174 holographic
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0081 with means for altering, e.g. enlarging, the entrance or exit pupil
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/1066 for enhancing image performance, like resolution, pixel numbers, dual magnifications or dynamic range, by tiling, slicing or overlapping fields of view
• 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 5/1842 Gratings for image generation G02B5/1847 takes precedence

Abstract

A near eye optical display includes a waveguide comprising a first surface and a second surface, an input coupler, a fold grating, and an output grating. The input coupler is configured to receive collimated light from a display source and to cause the light to travel within the waveguide via total internal reflection between the first surface and the second surface to the fold grating; the fold grating is configured to provide pupil expansion in a first direction and to direct the light to the output grating via total internal reflection between the first surface and the second surface; and the output grating is configured to provide pupil expansion in a second direction different than the first direction and to cause the light to exit the waveguide from the first surface or the second surface.

Claims

1. A near eye optical display, comprising:

a waveguide comprising a first surface and a second surface, an input coupler, a first fold grating, and a first output grating, wherein the input coupler is configured to receive collimated light from a first display source and to cause the light to travel within the waveguide via total internal reflection between the first surface and the second surface to the first fold grating, the first fold grating disposed on a diagonal with respect to a direction of propagation of the light received by the first fold grating, and wherein the first fold grating is configured to provide pupil expansion in a first direction and to direct the light to the first output grating via total internal reflection between the first surface and the second surface, and wherein the first output grating is configured to provide pupil expansion in a second direction different than the first direction and to cause the light to exit the waveguide from the first surface or the second surface, wherein the light associated with the first fold grating and the first output grating exits the waveguide to form a first image tile, wherein light associated with a second fold grating and a second output grating exits the waveguide to form a second image tile, wherein the first image tile and the second image tile are equal-sized image tiles that form a first part of a single composite image, wherein a second part of the single composite image is formed by two additional equal-sized image tiles provided by a second display source, one of the additional equal-size image tiles being expanded by a third fold grating corresponding with a third output grating, the other additional equal-sized image tile being expanded by a fourth fold grating corresponding with a fourth output grating, and wherein a perceivable display size of the single composite image is greater than a perceivable display size of any one of the first image tile, the second image tile, the two additional equal-sized image tiles, the first part of the single composite image, and the second part of the single composite image.

2. The display of claim 1, wherein the first direction is orthogonal to the second direction.

3. The display of claim 1, wherein the first surface and the second surface are planar surfaces, wherein the waveguide comprises a plurality of layers, and wherein a first layer of the plurality of layers comprises the input coupler, a second layer of the plurality of layers comprises the fold grating, and a third layer of the plurality of layers comprises the output grating.

4. The display of claim 1, further comprising:

a collimating lens system for providing light from the first display source to the input coupler.

5. The display of claim 1, further comprising:

a quarter wave plate on the first surface or the second surface of the waveguide.

6. The display of claim 1, wherein the input coupler, the fold grating, and the output grating are liquid crystal-based gratings, and wherein the input coupler comprises a first switchable Bragg grating, the fold grating comprises a second switchable Bragg grating, and the output grating comprises a non-switchable Bragg grating.

7. The display of claim 1, wherein the fold grating comprises one or more of Bragg gratings or gratings recorded in holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal.

8. The display of claim 1, wherein the first direction is horizontal and the second direction is vertical.

9. The display of claim 1, wherein the display provides a field of view of at least 20 by 15 degrees.

10. The display of claim 1, wherein the first direction is vertical and the second direction is horizontal.

11. A method of displaying information, the method comprising:

receiving, from a first display source, collimated light in a waveguide having a first surface and a second surface;

providing the collimated light to a first fold grating via total internal reflection between the first surface and the second surface, the first fold grating disposed on a diagonal with respect to a direction of propagation of the light received by the first fold grating;

providing pupil expansion in a first direction using the first fold grating and directing the light to a first output grating via total internal reflection between the first surface and the second surface; and

providing pupil expansion in a second direction different than the first direction and causing the light to exit the waveguide from the first surface or the second surface;

wherein the light associated with the first fold grating and the first output grating exits the waveguide to form a first image tile, wherein light associated with a second fold grating and a second output grating exits the waveguide to form a second image tile, wherein the first image tile and the second image tile are equal-sized image tiles forming a first part of a single composite image, wherein a second part of the single composite image is formed by two additional equal-sized image tiles provided by a second display source, one of the additional equal-size image tiles being expanded by a third fold grating corresponding with a third output grating, the other additional equal-sized image tile being expanded by a fourth fold grating corresponding with a fourth output grating; and

wherein a perceivable display size of the single composite image is greater than a perceivable display size of any one of the first image tile, the second image tile, the two additional equal-sized image tiles, the first part of the single composite image, and the second part of the single composite image.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first surface and the second surface are planar.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the fold grating and the output grating are switchable or non-switchable Bragg gratings.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the input coupler is a switchable or non-switchable Bragg grating.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the fold grating is a first set of gratings and the output grating is a second set of gratings.

16. An apparatus for providing an optical display, comprising:

a first image source for a first image for a first field of view;

a second image source for a second image for a second field of view;

a waveguide comprising a first surface, a second surface, a first input coupler, a second input coupler, a first fold grating, a second fold grating, a first output grating, and a second output grating, wherein the first input coupler is configured to receive the first image and to cause the first image to travel within the waveguide by total internal reflection between the first surface and the second surface to the first fold grating, the first fold grating disposed on a diagonal with respect to a direction of propagation of the light received by the first fold grating, wherein the first fold grating is configured to provide pupil expansion in a first direction and to direct the first image to the first output grating via total internal reflection between the first surface and the second surface, wherein the first output grating is configured to provide pupil expansion in a second direction different than the first direction and to cause the first image to exit the waveguide from the first surface or the second surface, wherein the second input coupler is configured to receive the second image and to cause the second image to travel within the waveguide by total internal reflection between the first surface and the second surface to the second fold grating, the second fold grating disposed on the diagonal, wherein the second fold grating is configured to provide pupil expansion in the first direction and to direct the second image to the second output grating via total internal reflection between the first surface and the second surface, and wherein the second output grating is configured to provide pupil expansion in the second direction different than the first direction and to cause the second image to exit the waveguide from the first surface or the second surface;

wherein the first image and the second image are a first image tile and a second image tile, respectively, of at least four equal-sized image tiles forming a single composite image, a third image tile of the single composite image is provided by the first image source and is expanded by a third fold grating corresponding with a third output grating, and a fourth image tile of the single composite image is provided by the second display source and is expanded by a fourth fold grating corresponding with a fourth output grating; and

wherein a perceivable display size of the single composite image is greater than a perceivable display size of any one of the first image tile, the second image tile, the third image tile, and the fourth image tile.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the first direction is orthogonal to the second direction.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the first field of view is at least 15 by 20 degrees.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the third output grating receiving a third image from the first fold grating, and the fourth output grating receiving a fourth image from the second fold grating, the first and third images being provided by the first image source sequentially and the second and fourth images being provided by the second image source sequentially.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the first and third output gratings are switched sequentially to appropriately output the first image and the third image from the waveguide.