Imaging structure with embedded light sources

• US 9,368,546 B2
• Filed: 02/15/2012
• Issued: 06/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Fleck, Rod G., Bohn, David D., Nowatzyk, Andreas G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai, Anh
• Assistant Examiner(s): APENTENG, JESSICA MCMILLAN
• Application Number:
  US13/397,516
• Publication Number:
  US 20130207964A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,581 Days
• Field of Search: 362/235, 362/249.01, 362/249.02, 362/231
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/004 using microlenses
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/10 comprising a linear array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0112 comprising device for genereting colour display
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/15 including semiconductor components having potential barriers, specially adapted for light emission
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/153 in a repetitive configuration, e.g. LED bars
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/156 two-dimensional arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2933/0058 relating to optical field-shaping elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/005 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/58 Optical field-shaping elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/60 Reflective elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/4025 Array arrangements, e.g. constituted by discrete laser diodes or laser bar H01S5/42 takes precedence

Abstract

In embodiments of an imaging structure with embedded light sources, an imaging structure includes a silicon backplane with a driver pad array. The embedded light sources are formed on the driver pad array in an emitter material layer, and the embedded light sources can be individually controlled at the driver pad array to generate and emit light. A conductive material layer over the embedded light sources forms a p-n junction between the emitter material layer and the conductive material layer. Micro lens optics can be positioned over the conductive material layer to direct the light that is emitted from the embedded light sources. Further, the micro lens optics may be implemented as parabolic optics to concentrate the light that is emitted from the embedded light sources.

Claims

1. An imaging structure, comprising:

a silicon backplane with a driver pad array;

embedded light sources formed on the driver pad array in sections of an emitter material layer, the embedded light sources configured for individual control at the driver pad array to generate and emit light, the emitter material layer having a same length and width as the silicon backplane with the driver pad array; and

a conductive material layer over the embedded light sources forms a p-n junction between the emitter material layer and the conductive material layer, the conductive material layer having the same length and width as the silicon backplane with the driver pad array and the emitter material layer.

2. An imaging structure as recited in claim 1, wherein the embedded light sources are formed in inorganic material as one of lasers or LEDs for direct light emission.

3. An imaging structure as recited in claim 2, wherein the LEDs are individual emitters formed in the emitter material layer and the LEDs approximate parabolic reflection that directs reflected light from within the inorganic material.

4. An imaging structure as recited in claim 1, wherein the embedded light sources are individual emitters formed in the emitter material layer and configured for individual current-based control.

5. An imaging structure as recited in claim 4, wherein the conductive material layer is formed around the individual emitters.

6. An imaging structure as recited in claim 1, wherein the embedded light sources are emitter cells formed in the emitter material layer, and wherein the emitter material layer includes a reflective structure configured to reflect the light to exit the emitter cells.

7. An imaging structure as recited in claim 1, wherein the embedded light sources comprise red, green, and blue (RGB) direct emitters that form the imaging structure as one of a one-dimensional array or a two-dimensional array of the embedded light sources.

8. An imaging structure as recited in claim 1, wherein the imaging structure is a fault-tolerant array of sections of the embedded light sources, and wherein a section of the fault-tolerant array includes redundant embedded light sources configured for increased illumination in an event that one of the redundant embedded light sources fails.

9. An imaging structure as recited in claim 1, further comprising micro lens optics positioned over the conductive material layer and configured to direct the light that is emitted from the embedded light sources.

10. An imaging structure as recited in claim 9, wherein the micro lens optics are formed as parabolic optics configured to concentrate the light that is emitted from the embedded light sources.

11. A method, comprising:

forming a silicon backplane with a driver pad array that individually controls embedded light sources;

forming the embedded light sources as direct emitters on the driver pad array in sections of an emitter material layer, the embedded light sources formed as individual emitters in the emitter material layer to approximate parabolic reflection that directs reflected light from within an individual emitter, the emitter material layer having a same length and width as the silicon backplane with the driver pad array;

forming a conductive material layer over the embedded light sources, the conductive material layer having the same length and width as the silicon backplane with the driver pad array and the emitter material layer; and

directing light that is emitted from the embedded light sources with micro lens optics that are positioned over the conductive material layer.

12. A method as recited in claim 11, further comprising controlling individual embedded light sources with current modulation.

13. A method as recited in claim 11, further comprising forming a p-n junction between the emitter material layer and the conductive material layer.

14. A method as recited in claim 11, wherein the embedded light sources are formed in inorganic material as one of lasers or LEDs for direct light emission.

15. A method as recited in claim 11, wherein the emitter material layer includes a reflective structure that reflects the light to exit the embedded light sources.

16. A method as recited in claim 11, wherein the embedded light sources comprise red, green, and blue (RGB) direct emitters that form an imaging structure as one of a one-dimensional array or a two-dimensional array of the embedded light sources.

17. A method as recited in claim 11, wherein the micro lens optics are parabolic optics that concentrate the light that is emitted from the embedded light sources.

18. A wearable display device, comprising:

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;

each of the left and right imaging units including an imaging structure that comprises;

a silicon backplane with a driver pad array configured to individually control embedded light sources that are formed as direct emitters on the driver pad array in sections of an emitter material layer;

a conductive material layer over the embedded light sources, the conductive material layer forming a p-n junction between the emitter material layer and the conductive material layer, the conductive material layer having a same length and width as the silicon backplane, the driver pad array, and the emitter material layer; and

micro lens optics over the conductive material layer to direct light that is emitted from the embedded light sources.

19. A wearable display device as recited in claim 18, further comprising an imaging application configured to control individual embedded light sources in the imaging structure with current modulation.

20. A wearable display device as recited in claim 18, wherein the embedded light sources are formed as individual emitters in the emitter material layer to approximate parabolic reflection that directs reflected light from within an individual emitter.