Optical system having a return planar waveguide

• US 9,541,383 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2015
• Issued: 01/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magic Leap, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Magic Leap, Inc.
• Inventors: Abovitz, Rony, Schowengerdt, Brian T., Watson, Mathew D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Doan, Jennifer
• Application Number:
  US14/707,354
• Publication Number:
  US 20150247975A1
• Time in Patent Office: 613 Days
• Field of Search: 385/15, 385/31, 385/37, 385/39, 385/129
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/101 Computer-aided simulation of surgical operations
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0204 Acoustic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0247 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/0008 provided with illuminating means A61B3/117 takes precedence; goniolenses used for laser treatment A61F9/009; illuminating means for optical instruments G02B27/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/022 for testing contrast sensitivity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/024 for determining the visual field, e.g. perimeter types
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/028 for testing visual acuity; for determination of refraction, e.g. phoropters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/063 for testing light sensitivity, i.e. adaptation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/066 for testing colour vision
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/08 for testing binocular or stereoscopic vision, e.g. strabismus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/085 for testing strabismus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/10 Objective types, i.e. instruments for examining the eyes independent of the patients' perceptions or reactions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/1015 for wavefront analysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/102 for optical coherence tomography [OCT]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/1035 for measuring astigmatism testing astigmatism A61B3/036
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/113 for determining or recording eye movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/12 for looking at the eye fundus, e.g. ophthalmoscopes A61B3/13 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/1216 for diagnostics of the iris
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/13 Ophthalmic microscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/14 : Arrangements specially adapted for eye photography apparatus or arrangements for taking photographs per se G03B
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/165 : Non-contacting tonometers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/10 : Computer-aided planning, simulation or modelling of surgical operations
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0059 : using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence A61B5/0093, A61B5/1455, A61B5/02416 and A61B5/0261 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0066 : Optical coherence imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0077 : Devices for viewing the surface of the body, e.g. camera, magnifying lens
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 : Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 : for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 : using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14555 : specially adapted for the eye fundus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/369 : Electroencephalography [EEG] devices for psychotechnics A61B5/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/398 : Electrooculography [EOG], e.g. detecting nystagmus; Electroretinography [ERG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6803 : Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/00 : Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions gaming systems which provide a financial reward G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/213 : comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/428 : involving motion or position input signals, e.g. signals representing the rotation of an input controller or a player's arm motions sensed by accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/303 : using photoelectric detection means
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0105 : Holograms with particular structures
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0127 : comprising devices increasing the depth of field
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 : comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/014 : comprising information/image processing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 : Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0185 : Displaying image at variable distance
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0187 : slaved to motion of at least a part of the body of the user, e.g. head, eye
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0101 : characterised by optical features G02B27/0172 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 : Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 : characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0179 : Display position adjusting means not related to the information to be displayed
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/42 : Diffraction optics , i.e. systems including a diffractive element being designed for providing a diffractive effectG02B27/60 takes precedence
• 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 27/4227 : in image scanning systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/10 : of the optical waveguide type G02B6/02, G02B6/24 take precedence; devices or arrangements for the control of light by electric, magnetic, electro-magnetic or acoustic means G02F1/00; transferring the modulation of modulated light G02F2/00; optical logic elements G02F3/00; optical analogue/digital converters G02F7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/34 : utilising prism or grating G02B6/293 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/7837 : using objects detected or recognised in the video content
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 18/22 : Matching criteria, e.g. proximity measures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/005 : Input arrangements through a video camera
• 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 3/0304 : Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means constructional details of pointing devices not related to the detection arrangement using opto-electronic means G06F3/033; optical digitisers G06F3/042
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04815 : Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 : Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 : for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 : Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0487 : using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 : for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 : Graphical representation of items or shoppers
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/006 : Mixed reality object pose determination, tracking or camera calibration for mixed reality G06T7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2200/04 : involving 3D image data
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2200/24 : involving graphical user interfaces [GUIs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10004 : Still image; Photographic image
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10024 : Color image
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10148 : Varying focus
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10152 : Varying illumination
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30041 : Eye; Retina; Ophthalmic
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30196 : Human being; Person
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2210/41 : Medical
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2219/024 : Multi-user, collaborative environment
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/60 : Analysis of geometric attributes
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/20 : Image preprocessing
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/40 : Extraction of image or video features
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/758 : Involving statistics of pixels or of feature values, e.g. histogram matching
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/10 : Terrestrial scenes scenes under surveillance with static cameras G06V20/52; scenes perceived from the exterior of a vehicle G06V20/56; scenes perceived from the interior of a vehicle G06V20/59
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/20 : in augmented reality scenes
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/40 : in video content extracting overlay text G06V20/62; video retrieval G06F16/70; processing of video elementary streams in video servers H04N21/234; processing of video elementary streams in video clients H04N21/44
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/653 : by matching three-dimensional models, e.g. conformal mapping of Riemann surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/113 : Recognition of static hand signs
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/28 : Recognition of hand or arm movements, e.g. recognition of deaf sign language static hand signs G06V40/113
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/00 : ICT specially adapted for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities; ICT specially adapted for the management or operation of medical equipment or devices
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 : for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 : for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/25891 : Transmission components H04B10/40 takes precedence

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.

Claims

1. A waveguide apparatus, comprising:

a first planar waveguide having a first end, a second end, a first face, and a second face; and

a diffractive optical element operatively coupled to the first planar waveguide; and

a second planar waveguide having a first end, a second end, a first face, and a second face;

wherein the respective first ends of the first and second planar waveguides are adjacent each other,

wherein the respective second ends of the first and second planar waveguides are adjacent each other,

wherein the respective first and second ends of the first and second planar waveguides are opposed to each other along respective lengths of the first and second planar waveguides,

wherein the respective first and the second faces of the first and second planar waveguides form respective first and second at least partially internally reflective optical paths along respective portions of the lengths of the first and second planar waveguides,

wherein the diffractive optical element is configured to interrupt the first at least partially internally reflective optical paths to provide a plurality of optical paths between an exterior and an interior of the first planar waveguide via the first face thereof at respective positions along a portion of the length of the first planar waveguide, and

wherein the first and second planar at least partially internally reflective optical paths are oriented in opposite directions.

2. The waveguide apparatus of claim 1, wherein the diffractive optical element is integral with the first planar waveguide.

3. The waveguide apparatus of claim 1, wherein the diffractive optical element is disposed between the first face and the second face of the first planar waveguide.

4. The waveguide apparatus of claim 1, wherein the diffractive optical element is disposed at one of the first face or the second face of the first planar waveguide.

5. The waveguide apparatus of claim 1, wherein the diffractive optical element is a Bragg grating.

6. The waveguide apparatus of claim 1, wherein the diffractive optical element combines a linear diffraction function and a radially circular lens function.

7. The waveguide apparatus of claim 1, wherein the diffractive optical element has a phase profile that is a combination of a linear diffraction grating and a radially symmetric lens.

8. The waveguide apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a first reflector disposed adjacent the respective first ends of the first and second planar waveguides; and

a second reflector disposed adjacent the respective second ends of the first and second planar waveguides.

9. The waveguide apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first reflector is a dichroic prism configured to allow light to enter the waveguide apparatus and to reflect light from the second optical path.

10. The waveguide apparatus of claim 8, wherein the second reflector is a mirror configured to reflect light from the first optical path.

11. The waveguide apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second waveguides are generally parallel to each other.

12. The waveguide apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second waveguides are configured to recirculate light across the diffractive optical element such that the light interacts with the diffractive optical element at different locations during two consecutive passes.