Description:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to systems and methods configured to facilitate interactive virtual or augmented reality environments for one or more users.

BACKGROUND

A light field encompasses all the light rays at every point in space traveling in every direction. Light fields are considered four dimensional because every point in a three-dimensional space also has an associated direction, which is the fourth dimension.

Wearable three-dimensional displays may include a substrate guided optical device, also known as the light-guide optical element (LOE) system. Such devices are manufactured by, for example Lumus Ltd. However, these LOE systems only project a single depth plane, focused at infinity, with a spherical wave front curvature of zero.

One prior art system (Lumus) comprises multiple angle-dependent reflectors embedded in a waveguide to outcouple light from the face of the waveguide. Another prior art system (BAE) embeds a linear diffraction grating within the waveguide to change the angle of incident light propagating along the waveguide. By changing the angle of light beyond the threshold of TIR, the light escapes from one or more lateral faces of the waveguide. The linear diffraction grating has a low diffraction efficiency, so only a fraction of the light energy is directed out of the waveguide, each time the light encounters the linear diffraction grating. By outcoupling the light at multiple locations along the grating, the exit pupil of the display system is effectively increased.

A primary limitation of the prior art systems is that they only relay collimated images to the eyes (i.e., images at optical infinity). Collimated displays are adequate for many applications in avionics, where pilots are frequently focused upon very distant objects (e.g., distant terrain or other aircraft). However, for many other head-up or augmented reality applications, it is desirable to allow users to focus their eyes upon (i.e., “accommodate” to) objects closer than optical infinity.

The wearable 3D displays may be used for so called “virtual reality” or “augmented reality” experiences, wherein digitally reproduced images or portions thereof are presented to a user in a manner wherein they seem to be, or may be perceived as, real. A virtual reality, or “VR”, scenario typically involves presentation of digital or virtual image information without transparency to other actual real-world visual input; an augmented reality, or “AR”, scenario typically involves presentation of digital or virtual image information as an augmentation to visualization of the actual world around the user.

The U.S. patent applications listed above present systems and techniques to work with the visual configuration of a typical human to address various challenges in virtual reality and augmented reality applications. The design of these virtual reality and/or augmented reality systems (AR systems) presents numerous challenges, including the speed of the system in delivering virtual content, quality of virtual content, eye relief of the user, size and portability of the system, and other system and optical challenges.

The systems and techniques described herein are configured to work with the visual configuration of the typical human to address these challenges.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to devices, systems and methods for facilitating virtual reality and/or augmented reality interaction for one or more users.

Light that is coupled into a planar waveguide (e.g., pane of glass, pane of fused silica, pane of polycarbonate), will propagate along the waveguide by total internal reflection (TIR). Planar waveguides may also be referred to as “substrate-guided optical elements,” or “light guides.”

If that light encounters one or more diffraction optical elements (DOE) in or adjacent to the planar waveguide, the characteristics of that light (e.g., angle of incidence, wavefront shape, wavelength, etc.) can be altered such that a portion of the light escapes TIR and emerges from one or more faces of the waveguide.

If the light coupled into the planar waveguide is varied spatially and/or temporally to contain or encode image data that image data can propagate along the planar waveguide by TIR. Examples of elements that spatially vary light include LCDs, LCoS panels, OLEDs, DLPs, and other image arrays. Typically, these spatial light modulators may update image data for different cells or sub-elements at different points in time, and thus may produce sub-frame temporal variation, in addition to changing image data on a frame-by-frame basis to produce moving video. Examples of elements that temporally vary light include acousto-optical modulators, interferometric modulators, optical choppers, and directly modulated emissive light sources such as LEDs and laser diodes. These temporally varying elements may be coupled to one or more elements to vary the light spatially, such as scanning optical fibers, scanning mirrors, scanning prisms, and scanning cantilevers with reflective elements—or these temporally varying elements may be actuated directly to move them through space. Such scanning systems may utilize one or more scanned beams of light that are modulated over time and scanned across space to display image data.

If image data contained in spatially and/or temporally varying light that propagates along a planar waveguide by TIR encounters one or more DOEs in or adjacent to the planar waveguide, the characteristics of that light can be altered such that the image data encoded in light will escape TIR and emerge from one or more faces of the planar waveguide. Inclusion of one or more DOEs which combine a linear diffraction grating function or phase pattern with a radially symmetric or circular lens function or phase pattern, may advantageously allow steering of beams emanating from the face of the planar waveguide and control over focus or focal depth.

By incorporating such a planar waveguide system into a display system, the waveguide apparatus (e.g., planar waveguide and associated DOE) can be used to present images to one or more eyes. Where the planar waveguide is constructed of a partially or wholly transparent material, a human may view real physical objects through the waveguide. The waveguide display system can, thus, comprise an optically see-through mixed reality (or “augmented reality”) display system, in which artificial or remote image data can be superimposed, overlaid, or juxtaposed with real scenes.

The structures and approaches described herein may advantageously produce a relatively large eye box, readily accommodating viewer's eye movements.

In another aspect, a method of rendering virtual content to a user is disclosed. The method comprises detecting a location of a user, retrieving a set of data associated with a part of a virtual world model that corresponds to the detected location of the user, wherein the virtual world model comprises data associated with a set of map points of the real world, and rendering, based on the set of retrieved data, virtual content to a user device of the user, such that the virtual content, when viewed by the user, appears to be placed in relation to a set of physical objects in a physical environment of the user.

In another aspect, a method of recognizing objects is disclosed. The method comprises capturing an image of a field of view of a user, extracting a set of map points based on the captured image, recognizing an object based on the extracted set of map points, retrieving semantic data associated with the recognized objects and attaching the semantic data to data associated with the recognized object and inserting the recognized object data attached with the semantic data to a virtual world model such that virtual content is placed in relation to the recognized object.

In another aspect, a method comprises capturing an image of a field of view of a user, extracting a set of map points based on the captured image, identifying a set of sparse points and dense points based on the extraction, performing point normalization on the set of sparse points and dense points, generating point descriptors for the set of sparse points and dense points, and combining the sparse point descriptors and dense point descriptors to store as map data.

In another aspect, a method of determining user input is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises capturing an image of a field of view of a user, the image comprising a gesture created by the user, analyzing the captured image to identify a set of points associated with the gesture, comparing the set of identified points to a set of points associated with a database of predetermined gestures, generating a scoring value for the set of identified points based on the comparison, recognizing the gesture when the scoring value exceeds a threshold value, and determining a user input based on the recognized gesture.

In another aspect, a method of determining user input is disclosed. The method comprises detecting a movement of a totem in relation to a reference frame, recognizing a pattern based on the detected movement, comparing the recognizing pattern to a set of predetermined patterns, generating a scoring value for the recognized pattern based on the comparison, recognizing the movement of the totem when the scoring value exceeds a threshold value, and determining a user input based on the recognized movement of the totem.

In another aspect, a method of generating a virtual user interface is disclosed. The method comprises identifying a virtual user interface to be displayed to a user, generating a set of data associated with the virtual user interface, tethering the virtual user interface to a set of map points associated with at least one physical entity at the user's location, and displaying the virtual user interface to the user, such that the virtual user interface, when viewed by the user, moves in relation to a movement of the at least one physical entity.

In another aspect, a method comprises detecting a movement of a user's fingers or a totem, recognizing, based on the detected movement, a command to create a virtual user interface, determining, from a virtual world model, a set of map points associated with a position of the user's fingers or the totem, and rendering, in real-time, a virtual user interface at the determined map points associated with the position of the user's fingers or the totem such that the user views the virtual user interface being created simultaneously as the user's fingers or totem move to define a location or outline of the virtual user interface.

In another aspect, a method comprises identifying a real-world activity of a user; retrieving a knowledge base associated with the real-world activity, creating a virtual user interface in a field of view of the user, and displaying, on the virtual user interface, a set of information associated with the real-world activity based on the retrieved knowledge base.

In yet another aspect, a method comprises uploading a set of data associated with a physical environment of a first user to a virtual world model residing in a cloud server, updating the virtual world model based on the uploaded data, transmitting a piece of the virtual world model associated with the physical environment of the first user to a second user located at a different location than the first user, and displaying, at a user device of the second user, a virtual copy of the physical environment of the first user based on the transmitted piece of the virtual world model.

Additional and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention are described in the detail description, figures and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an optical system including a waveguide apparatus, a subsystem to couple light to or from the waveguide apparatus, and a control subsystem, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 2 an elevational view showing a waveguide apparatus including a planar waveguide and at least one diffractive optical element positioned within the planar waveguide, illustrating a number of optical paths including totally internally reflective optical paths and optical paths between an exterior and an interior of the planar waveguide, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 3A a schematic diagram showing a linear diffraction or diffractive phase function, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 3B a schematic diagram showing a radially circular lens phase function, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 3C a schematic diagram showing a linear diffraction or diffractive phase function of a diffractive optical element that combines the linear diffraction and the radially circular lens phase functions, the diffractive optical element associated with a planar waveguide.

FIG. 4A an elevational view showing a waveguide apparatus including a planar waveguide and at least one diffractive optical element carried on an outer surface of the planar waveguide, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 4B an elevational view showing a waveguide apparatus including a planar waveguide and at least one diffractive optical element positioned internally immediately adjacent an outer surface of the planar waveguide, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 4C an elevational view showing a waveguide apparatus including a planar waveguide and at least one diffractive optical element formed in an outer surface of the planar waveguide, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 5A is a schematic diagram showing an optical system including a waveguide apparatus, an optical coupler subsystem to optically couple light to or from the waveguide apparatus, and a control subsystem, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 5B is a schematic diagram of the optical system of FIG. 5A illustrating generation of a single focus plane that is capable of being positioned closer than optical infinity, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 5C is a schematic diagram of the optical system of FIG. 5A illustrating generation of a multi-focal volumetric display, image or light field, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing an optical system including a waveguide apparatus, an optical coupler subsystem including a plurality of projectors to optically couple light to a primary planar waveguide, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an elevational view of a planar waveguide apparatus including a planar waveguide with a plurality of DOEs, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an elevational view showing a portion of an optical system including a plurality of planar waveguide apparati in a stacked array, configuration or arrangement, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a top plan view showing a portion of the optical system of FIG. 8, illustrating a lateral shifting and change in focal distance in an image of a virtual object, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 10 is an elevational view showing a portion of an optical system including a planar waveguide apparatus with a return planar waveguide, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 11 is an elevational view showing a portion of an optical system including a planar waveguide apparatus with at least partially reflective mirrors or reflectors at opposed ends thereof to return light through a planar waveguide, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a contour plot of a function for an exemplary diffractive element pattern, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIGS. 13A-13E illustrate a relationship between a substrate index and a field of view, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 14 illustrates an internal circuitry of an exemplary AR system, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 15 illustrates hardware components of a head mounted AR system, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 16 illustrates an exemplary physical form of the head mounted AR system of FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 illustrates multiple user devices connected to each other through a cloud server of the AR system.

FIG. 18 illustrates capturing 2D and 3D points in an environment of the user, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 19 illustrates an overall system view depicting multiple AR systems interacting with a passable world model, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram showing multiple keyframes that capture and transmit data to the passable world model, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 21 is a process flow diagram illustrating an interaction between a user device and the passable world model, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 22 is a process flow diagram illustrating recognition of objects by object recognizers, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 23 is a schematic diagram illustrating a topological map, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 24 is a process flow diagram illustrating an identification of a location of a user through the topological map of FIG. 23, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 25 is a schematic diagram illustrating a network of keyframes and a point of stress on which to perform a bundle adjust, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 26 is a schematic diagram that illustrates performing a bundle adjust on a set of keyframes, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 27 is a process flow diagram of an exemplary method of performing a bundle adjust, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 28 is a schematic diagram illustrating determining new map points based on a set of keyframes, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 29 is a process flow diagram of an exemplary method of determining new map points, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 30 is a system view diagram of an exemplary AR system, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 31 is a process flow diagram of an exemplary method of rendering virtual content in relation to recognized objects, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 32 is a plan view of another embodiment of the AR system, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 33 is a process flow diagram of an exemplary method of identifying sparse and dense points, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 34 is a schematic diagram illustrating system components to project textured surfaces, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 35 is a plan view of an exemplary AR system illustrating an interaction between cloud servers, error correction module and a machine learning module, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIGS. 36A-36I are schematic diagrams illustrating gesture recognition, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 37 is a process flow diagram of an exemplary method of performing an action based on a recognized gesture, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 38 is a plan view illustrating various finger gestures, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 39 is a process flow diagram of an exemplary method of determining user input based on a totem, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 40 illustrates an exemplary totem in the form of a virtual keyboard, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIGS. 41A-41C illustrates another exemplary totem in the form of a mouse, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIGS. 42A-42C illustrates another exemplary totem in the form of a lotus structure, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIGS. 43A-43D illustrates other exemplary totems.

FIGS. 44A-44C illustrates exemplary totems in the form of rings, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIGS. 45A-45C illustrates exemplary totems in the form of a haptic glove, a pen and a paintbrush, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIGS. 46A-46B illustrated exemplary totems in the form of a keychain and a charm bracelet, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 47 is a process flow diagram of an exemplary method of generating a virtual user interface, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIGS. 48A-48C illustrate various user interfaces through which to interact with the AR system, according to the illustrated embodiments.

FIG. 49 is a process flow diagram of an exemplary method of constructing a customized user interface, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIGS. 50A-50C illustrate users creating user interfaces, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIGS. 51A-51C illustrate interacting with a user interface created in space, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIGS. 52A-52C are schematic diagrams illustrating creation of a user interface on a palm of the user, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 53 is a process flow diagram of an exemplary method of retrieving information from the passable world model and interacting with other users of the AR system, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 54 is a process flow diagram of an exemplary method of retrieving information from a knowledge based in the cloud based on received input, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 55 is a process flow diagram of an exemplary method of recognizing a real-world activity, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIGS. 56A-56B illustrate a user scenario of a user interacting with the AR system in an office environment, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 57 is another user scenario diagram illustrating creating an office environment in the user's living room, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 58 is another user scenario diagram illustrating a user watching virtual television in the user's living room, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 59 is another user scenario diagram illustrating the user of FIG. 54 interacting with the virtual television through hand gestures, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIGS. 60A-60B illustrates the user of FIGS. 58 and 59 interacting with the AR system using other hand gestures, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIGS. 61A-61E illustrate other applications opened by the user of FIGS. 58-60 by interacting with various types of user interfaces, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIGS. 62A-62D illustrate the user of FIGS. 58-61 changing a virtual skin of the user's living room, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 63 illustrates the user of FIGS. 58-61 using a totem to interact with the AR system, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 64A-64B illustrates the user of FIGS. 58-63 using a physical object as a user interface, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIGS. 65A-65C illustrates the user of FIGS. 58-64 selecting a movie to watch on a virtual television screen, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIGS. 66A-66J illustrate a user scenario of a mother and daughter on a shopping trip and interacting with the AR system, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 67 illustrates another user scenario of a user browsing through a virtual bookstore, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIGS. 68A-68F illustrates user scenario of using the AR system in various healthcare and recreational settings, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 69 illustrates yet another user scenario of a user interacting with the AR system at a golf course, according to one illustrated embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various embodiments will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings, which are provided as illustrative examples of the invention so as to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Notably, the figures and the examples below are not meant to limit the scope of the present invention. Where certain elements of the present invention may be partially or fully implemented using known components (or methods or processes), only those portions of such known components (or methods or processes) that are necessary for an understanding of the present invention will be described, and the detailed descriptions of other portions of such known components (or methods or processes) will be omitted so as not to obscure the invention. Further, various embodiments encompass present and future known equivalents to the components referred to herein by way of illustration. Disclosed are methods and systems for generating virtual and/or augmented reality.

In the following description, certain specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of various disclosed embodiments. However, one skilled in the relevant art will recognize that embodiments may be practiced without one or more of these specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures associated with computer systems, server computers, and/or communications networks have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring descriptions of the embodiments.

Unless the context requires otherwise, throughout the specification and claims which follow, the word “comprise” and variations thereof, such as, “comprises” and “comprising” are to be construed in an open, inclusive sense, that is as “including, but not limited to.”

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, the appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.

As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. It should also be noted that the term “or” is generally employed in its sense including “and/or” unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.

Numerous implementations are shown and described. To facilitate understanding, identical or similar structures are identified with the same reference numbers between the various drawings, even though in some instances these structures may not be identical.

The headings and Abstract of the Disclosure provided herein are for convenience only and do not interpret the scope or meaning of the embodiments.

In contrast to the conventional approaches, at least some of the devices and/or systems described herein enable: (1) a waveguide-based display that produces images at single optical viewing distance closer than infinity (e.g., arm's length); (2) a waveguide-based display that produces images at multiple, discrete optical viewing distances; and/or (3) a waveguide-based display that produces image layers stacked at multiple viewing distances to represent volumetric 3D objects. These layers in the light field may be stacked closely enough together to appear continuous to the human visual system (i.e., one layer is within the cone of confusion of an adjacent layer). Additionally or alternatively, picture elements may be blended across two or more layers to increase perceived continuity of transition between layers in the light field, even if those layers are more sparsely stacked (i.e., one layer is outside the cone of confusion of an adjacent layer). The display system may be monocular or binocular.

Embodiments of the described volumetric 3D displays may advantageously allow digital content superimposed over the user's view of the real world to be placed at appropriate viewing distances that do not require the user to draw his or her focus away from relevant real world objects. For example, a digital label or “call-out” for a real object can be placed at the same viewing distance as that object, so both label and object are in clear focus at the same time.

Embodiments of the described volumetric 3D displays may advantageously result in stereoscopic volumetric 3D displays that mitigate or entirely resolve the accommodation-vergence conflict produced in the human visual system by conventional stereoscopic displays. A binocular stereoscopic embodiment can produce 3D volumetric scenes in which the optical viewing distance (i.e., the focal distance) matches the fixation distance created by the stereoscopic imagery—i.e., the stimulation to ocular vergence and ocular accommodation are matching, allowing users to point their eyes and focus their eyes at the same distance.

FIG. 1 showing an optical system 100 including a primary waveguide apparatus 102, an optical coupler subsystem 104, and a control subsystem 106, according to one illustrated embodiment.

The primary waveguide apparatus 102 includes one or more primary planar waveguides 1 (only one show in FIG. 1), and one or more diffractive optical elements (DOEs) 2 associated with each of at least some of the primary planar waveguides 1.

As best illustrated in FIG. 2, the primary planar waveguides 1 each have at least a first end 108a and a second end 108b, the second end 108b opposed to the first end 108a along a length 110 of the primary planar waveguide 1. The primary planar waveguides 1 each have a first face 112a and a second face 112b, at least the first and the second faces 112a, 112b (collectively 112) forming an at least partially internally reflective optical path (illustrated by arrow 114a and broken line arrow 114b, collectively 114) along at least a portion of the length 110 of the primary planar waveguide 1. The primary planar waveguide(s) 1 may take a variety of forms which provides for substantially total internal reflection (TIR) for light striking the faces 112 at less than a defined critical angle. The planar waveguides 1 may, for example, take the form of a pane or plane of glass, fused silica, acrylic, or polycarbonate.

The DOEs 4 (illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 by dash-dot double line) may take a large variety of forms which interrupt the TIR optical path 114, providing a plurality of optical paths (illustrated by arrows 116a and broken line arrows 116b, collectively 116) between an interior 118 and an exterior 120 of the planar waveguide 1 extending along at least a portion of the length 110 of the planar waveguide 1. As explained below in reference to FIGS. 3A-3C, the DOEs 4 may advantageously combine the phase functions of a linear diffraction grating with that of a circular or radial symmetric lens, allowing positioning of apparent objects and focus plane for apparent objects. Such may be achieved on a frame-by-frame, subframe-by-subframe, or even pixel-by-pixel basis.

With reference to FIG. 1, the optical coupler subsystem 104 optically couples light to, or from, the waveguide apparatus 102. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the optical coupler subsystem may include an optical element 5, for instance a reflective surface, mirror, dichroic mirror or prism to optically couple light to, or from, an edge 122 of the primary planar waveguide 1. The optical coupler subsystem 104 may additionally or alternatively include a collimation element 6 that collimates light.

The control subsystem 106 includes one or more light sources 11 and drive electronics 12 that generate image data that is encoded in the form of light that is spatially and/or temporally varying. As noted above, a collimation element 6 may collimate the light, and the collimated light optically s coupled into one or more primary planar waveguides 1 (only one illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2).

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the light propagates along the primary planar waveguide with at least some reflections or “bounces” resulting from the TIR propagation. It is noted that some implementations may employ one or more reflectors in the internal optical path, for instance thin-films, dielectric coatings, metalized coatings, etc., which may facilitate reflection. Light propagates along the length 110 of the waveguide 1 intersects with one or more DOEs 4 at various positions along the length 110.

As explained below in reference to FIGS. 4A-4C, the DOE(s) 4 may be incorporated within the primary planar waveguide 1 or abutting or adjacent one or more of the faces 112 of the primary planar waveguide 1. The DOE(s) 4 accomplishes at least two functions. The DOE(s) 4 shift an angle of the light, causing a portion of the light to escape TIR, and emerge from the interior 118 to the exterior 120 via one or more faces 112 of the primary planar waveguide 1. The DOE(s) 4 focus the out-coupled light at one or more viewing distances. Thus, someone looking through a face 112a of the primary planar waveguide 1 can see digital imagery at one or more viewing distances.

FIG. 3A shows a linear diffraction or diffractive phase function 300, according to one illustrated embodiment. The linear diffraction or diffractive function 300 may be that of a linear diffractive grating, for example a Bragg grating.

FIG. 3B showings a radially circular or radially symmetric lens phase function 310, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 3B shows a phase pattern 320 for at least one diffractive optical element that combines the linear diffraction and the radially circular lens functions 300, 310, according to one illustrated embodiment, at least one diffractive optical element associated with at least one planar waveguide. Notably, each band has a curved wavefront.

While FIGS. 1 and 2 show the DOE 2 positioned in the interior 118 of the primary planar waveguide 1, spaced from the faces 112, the DOE 2 may be positioned at other locations in other implementations, for example as illustrated in FIGS. 4A-4C.

FIG. 4A shows a waveguide apparatus 102a including a primary planar waveguide 1 and at least one DOE 2 carried on an outer surface or face 112 of the primary planar waveguide 1, according to one illustrated embodiment. For example, the DOE 2 may be deposited on the outer surface or face 112 of the primary planar waveguide 1, for instance as a patterned metal layer.

FIG. 4B shows a waveguide apparatus 102b including a primary planar waveguide 1 and at least one DOE 2 positioned internally immediately adjacent an outer surface or face 112 of the primary planar waveguide 1, according to one illustrated embodiment. For example, the DOE 2 may be formed in the interior 118 via selective or masked curing of material of the primary planar waveguide 1. Alternatively, the DOE 2 may be a distinct physical structure incorporated into the primary planar waveguide 1.

FIG. 4C shows a waveguide apparatus 102c including a primary planar waveguide 1 and at least one DOE 2 formed in an outer surface of the primary planar waveguide 1, according to one illustrated embodiment. The DOE 2 may, for example be etched, patterned, or otherwise formed in the outer surface or face 112 of the primary planar waveguide 1, for instances as grooves. For example, the DOE 2 may take the form of linear or saw tooth ridges and valleys which may be spaced at one or more defined pitches (i.e., space between individual elements or features extending along the length 110). The pitch may be a linear function or may be a non-linear function.

The primary planar waveguide 1 is preferably at least partially transparent. Such allows one or more viewers to view the physical objects (i.e., the real world) on a far side of the primary planar waveguide 1 relative to a vantage of the viewer. This may advantageously allow viewers to view the real world through the waveguide and simultaneously view digital imagery that is relayed to the eye(s) by the waveguide.

In some implementations a plurality of waveguides systems may be incorporated into a near-to-eye display. For example, a plurality of waveguides systems may be incorporated into a head-worn, head-mounted, or helmet-mounted display—or other wearable display.

In some implementations, a plurality of waveguides systems may be incorporated into a head-up display (HUD), that is not worn (e.g., an automotive HUD, avionics HUD). In such implementations, multiple viewers may look at a shared waveguide system or resulting image field. Multiple viewers may, for example see or optically perceive a digital or virtual object from different viewing perspectives that match each viewer's respective locations relative to the waveguide system.

The optical system 100 is not limited to use of visible light, but may also employ light in other portions of the electromagnetic spectrum (e.g., infrared, ultraviolet) and/or may employ electromagnetic radiation that is outside the band of “light” (i.e., visible, UV, or IR), for example employing electromagnetic radiation or energy in the microwave or X-ray portions of the electromagnetic spectrum.

In some implementations, a scanning light display is used to couple light into a plurality of primary planar waveguides. The scanning light display can comprise a single light source that forms a single beam that is scanned over time to form an image. This scanned beam of light may be intensity-modulated to form pixels of different brightness levels. Alternatively, multiple light sources may be used to generate multiple beams of light, which are scanned either with a shared scanning element or with separate scanning elements to form imagery.

These light sources may comprise different wavelengths, visible and/or non-visible, they may comprise different geometric points of origin (X, Y, or Z), they may enter the scanner(s) at different angles of incidence, and may create light that corresponds to different portions of one or more images (flat or volumetric, moving or static).

The light may, for example, be scanned to form an image with a vibrating optical fiber, for example as discussed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/915,530, International Patent Application Serial No. PCT/US2013/045267, and U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/658,355. The optical fiber may be scanned biaxially by a piezoelectric actuator. Alternatively, the optical fiber may be scanned uniaxially or triaxially. As a further alternative, one or more optically components (e.g., rotating polygonal reflector or mirror, oscillating reflector or mirror) may be employed to scan an output of the optical fiber.

The optical system 100 is not limited to use in producing images or as an image projector or light field generation. For example, the optical system 100 or variations thereof may optical, be employed as an image capture device, such as a digital still or digital moving image capture or camera system.

FIG. 5A shows an optical system 500 including a waveguide apparatus, an optical coupler subsystem to optically couple light to or from the waveguide apparatus, and a control subsystem, according to one illustrated embodiment.

Many of the structures of the optical system 500 of FIG. 5A are similar or even identical to those of the optical system 100 of FIG. 1. In the interest of conciseness, in many instances only significant differences are discussed below.

The optical system 500 may employ a distribution waveguide apparatus, to relay light along a first axis (vertical or Y-axis in view of FIG. 5A), and expand the light's effective exit pupil along the first axis (e.g., Y-axis). The distribution waveguide apparatus, may, for example include a distribution planar waveguide 3 and at least one DOE 4 (illustrated by double dash-dot line) associated with the distribution planar waveguide 3. The distribution planar waveguide 3 may be similar or identical in at least some respects to the primary planar waveguide 1, having a different orientation therefrom. Likewise, the at least one DOE 4 may be similar or identical in at least some respects to the DOE 2. For example, the distribution planar waveguide 3 and/or DOE 4 may be comprised of the same materials as the primary planar waveguide 1 and/or DOE 2, respectively

The relayed and exit-pupil expanded light is optically coupled from the distribution waveguide apparatus into one or more primary planar waveguide 1. The primary planar waveguide 1 relays light along a second axis, preferably orthogonal to first axis, (e.g., horizontal or X-axis in view of FIG. 5A). Notably, the second axis can be a non-orthogonal axis to the first axis. The primary planar waveguide 1 expands the light's effective exit pupil along that second axis (e.g. X-axis). For example, a distribution planar waveguide 3 can relay and expand light along the vertical or Y-axis, and pass that light to the primary planar waveguide 1 which relays and expands light along the horizontal or X-axis.

FIG. 5B shows the optical system 500, illustrating generation thereby of a single focus plane that is capable of being positioned closer than optical infinity.

The optical system 500 may include one or more sources of red, green, and blue laser light 11, which may be optically coupled into a proximal end of a single mode optical fiber 9. A distal end of the optical fiber 9 may be threaded or received through a hollow tube 8 of piezoelectric material. The distal end protrudes from the tube 8 as fixed-free flexible cantilever 7. The piezoelectric tube 8 is associated with 4 quadrant electrodes (not illustrated). The electrodes may, for example, be plated on the outside, outer surface or outer periphery or diameter of the tube 8. A core electrode (not illustrated) is also located in a core, center, inner periphery or inner diameter of the tube 8.

Drive electronics 12, for example electrically coupled via wires 11, drive opposing pairs of electrodes to bend the piezoelectric tube 8 in two axes independently. The protruding distal tip of the optical fiber 7 has mechanical modes of resonance. The frequencies of resonance which depend upon a diameter, length, and material properties of the optical fiber 7. By vibrating the piezoelectric tube 8 near a first mode of mechanical resonance of the fiber cantilever 7, the fiber cantilever 7 is caused to vibrate, and can sweep through large deflections.

By stimulating resonant vibration in two axes, the tip of the fiber cantilever 7 is scanned biaxially in an area filling 2D scan. By modulating an intensity of light source(s) 11 in synchrony with the scan of the fiber cantilever 7, light emerging from the fiber cantilever 7 forms an image. Descriptions of such a set up are provide in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/915,530, International Patent Application Serial No. PCT/US2013/045267, and U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/658,355, all of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.

A component of an optical coupler subsystem 104 collimates the light emerging from the scanning fiber cantilever 7. The collimated light is reflected by mirrored surface 5 into a narrow distribution planar waveguide 3 which contains at least one diffractive optical element (DOE) 4. The collimated light propagates vertically (i.e., relative to view of FIG. 5B) along the distribution planar waveguide 3 by total internal reflection, and in doing so repeatedly intersects with the DOE 4. The DOE 4 preferably has a low diffraction efficiency. This causes a fraction (e.g., 10%) of the light to be diffracted toward an edge of the larger primary planar waveguide 1 at each point of intersection with the DOE 4, and a fraction of the light to continue on its original trajectory down the length of the distribution planar waveguide 3 via TIR.

At each point of intersection with the DOE 4, additional light is diffracted toward the entrance of the primary waveguide 1. By dividing the incoming light into multiple outcoupled sets, the exit pupil of the light is expanded vertically by the DOE 4 in the distribution planar waveguide 3. This vertically expanded light coupled out of distribution planar waveguide 3 enters the edge of the primary planar waveguide 1.

Light entering primary waveguide 1 propagates horizontally (i.e., relative to view of FIG. 5B) along the primary waveguide 1 via TIR. As the light intersects with DOE 2 at multiple points as it propagates horizontally along at least a portion of the length of the primary waveguide 1 via TIR. The DOE 2 may advantageously be designed or configured to have a phase profile that is a summation of a linear diffraction grating and a radially symmetric diffractive lens. The DOE 2 may advantageously have a low diffraction efficiency.

At each point of intersection between the propagating light and the DOE 2, a fraction of the light is diffracted toward the adjacent face of the primary waveguide 1 allowing the light to escape the TIR, and emerge from the face of the primary waveguide 1. The radially symmetric lens aspect of the DOE 2 additionally imparts a focus level to the diffracted light, both shaping the light wavefront (e.g., imparting a curvature) of the individual beam as well as steering the beam at an angle that matches the designed focus level. FIG. 5B illustrates four beams 18, 19, 20, 21 extending geometrically to a focus point 13, and each beam is advantageously imparted with a convex wavefront profile with a center of radius at focus point 13 to produce an image or virtual object 22 at a given focal plane.

FIG. 5C shows the optical system 500 illustrating generation thereby of a multi-focal volumetric display, image or light field. The optical system 500 may include one or more sources of red, green, and blue laser light 11, optically coupled into a proximal end of a single mode optical fiber 9. A distal end of the optical fiber 9 may be threaded or received through a hollow tube 8 of piezoelectric material. The distal end protrudes from the tube 8 as fixed-free flexible cantilever 7. The piezoelectric tube 8 is associated with 4 quadrant electrodes (not illustrated). The electrodes may, for example, be plated on the outside or outer surface or periphery of the tube 8. A core electrode (not illustrated) is positioned in a core, center, inner surface, inner periphery or inner diameter of the tube 8.

Drive electronics 12, for example coupled via wires 11, drive opposing pairs of electrodes to bend the piezoelectric tube 8 in two axes independently. The protruding distal tip of the optical fiber 7 has mechanical modes of resonance. The frequencies of resonance of which depend upon the a diameter, length, and material properties of the fiber cantilever 7. By vibrating the piezoelectric tube 8 near a first mode of mechanical resonance of the fiber cantilever 7, the fiber cantilever 7 is caused to vibrate, and can sweep through large deflections.

By stimulating resonant vibration in two axes, the tip of the fiber cantilever 7 is scanned biaxially in an area filling 2D scan. By modulating the intensity of light source(s) 11 in synchrony with the scan of the fiber cantilever 7, the light emerging from the fiber cantilever 7 forms an image. Descriptions of such a set up are provide in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/915,530, International Patent Application Serial No. PCT/US2013/045267, and U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/658,355, all of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.

A component of an optical coupler subsystem 104 collimates the light emerging from the scanning fiber cantilever 7. The collimated light is reflected by mirrored surface 5 into a narrow distribution planar waveguide 3, which contains diffractive optical element (DOE) 4. The collimated light propagates along the distribution planar waveguide by total internal reflection (TIR), and in doing so repeatedly intersects with the DOE 4. The DOE has a low diffraction efficiency.

This causes a fraction (e.g., 10%) of the light to be diffracted toward an edge of a larger primary planar waveguide 1 at each point of intersection with the DOE 4, and a fraction of the light to continue on its original trajectory down the distribution planar waveguide 3 via TIR. At each point of intersection with the DOE 4, additional light is diffracted toward the entrance of the primary planar waveguide 1. By dividing the incoming light into multiple out-coupled sets, the exit pupil of the light is expanded vertically by DOE 4 in distribution planar waveguide 3. This vertically expanded light coupled out of the distribution planar waveguide 3 enters the edge of the primary planar waveguide 1.

Light entering primary waveguide 1 propagates horizontally (i.e., relative to view of FIG. 5C) along the primary waveguide 1 via TIR. As the light intersects with DOE 2 at multiple points as it propagates horizontally along at least a portion of the length of the primary waveguide 1 via TIR. The DOE 2 may advantageously be designed or configured to have a phase profile that is a summation of a linear diffraction grating and a radially symmetric diffractive lens. The DOE 2 may advantageously have a low diffraction efficiency. At each point of intersection between the propagating light and the DOE 2, a fraction of the light is diffracted toward the adjacent face of the primary waveguide 1 allowing the light to escape the TIR, and emerge from the face of the primary waveguide 1.

The radially symmetric lens aspect of the DOE 2 additionally imparts a focus level to the diffracted light, both shaping the light wavefront (e.g., imparting a curvature) of the individual beam as well as steering the beam at an angle that matches the designed focus level. FIG. 5C illustrates a first set of four beams 18, 19, 20, 21 extending geometrically to a focus point 13, and each beam 18, 19, 20, 21 is advantageously imparted with a convex wavefront profile with a center of radius at focus point 13 to produce another portion of the image or virtual object 22 at a respective focal plane. FIG. 5C illustrates a second set of four beams 24, 25, 26, 27 extending geometrically to a focus point 23, and each beam 24, 25, 26, 27 is advantageously imparted with a convex wavefront profile with a center of radius at focus point 23 to produce another portion of the image or virtual object 22 at a respective focal plane.

FIG. 6 shows an optical system 600, according to one illustrated embodiment. The optical system 600 is similar in some respects to the optical systems 100, 500. In the interest of conciseness, only some of the difference are discussed.

The optical system 600 includes a waveguide apparatus 102, which as described above may comprise one or more primary planar waveguides 1 and associated DOE(s) 2 (not illustrated in FIG. 6). In contrast to the optical system 500 of FIGS. 5A-5C, the optical system 600 employs a plurality of microdisplays or projectors 602a-602e (only five shown, collectively 602) to provide respective image data to the primary planar waveguide(s) 1. The microdisplays or projectors 602 are generally arrayed or arranged along are disposed along an edge 122 of the primary planar waveguide 1.

There may, for example, be a one to one (1:1) ratio or correlation between the number of planar waveguides 1 and the number of microdisplays or projectors 602. The microdisplays or projectors 602 may take any of a variety of forms capable of providing images to the primary planar waveguide 1. For example, the microdisplays or projectors 602 may take the form of light scanners or other display elements, for instance the cantilevered fiber 7 previously described. The optical system 600 may additionally or alternatively include a collimation element 6 that collimates light provided from microdisplay or projectors 602 prior to entering the primary planar waveguide(s) 1.

The optical system 600 can enable the use of a single primary planar waveguide 1, rather using two or more primary planar waveguides 1 (e.g., arranged in a stacked configuration along the Z-axis of FIG. 6). The multiple microdisplays or projectors 602 can be disposed, for example, in a linear array along the edge 122 of a primary planar waveguide that is closest to a temple of a viewer's head. Each microdisplay or projector 602 injects modulated light encoding sub-image data into the primary planar waveguide 1 from a different respective position, thus generating different pathways of light.

These different pathways can cause the light to be coupled out of the primary planar waveguide 1 by a multiplicity of DOEs 2 at different angles, focus levels, and/or yielding different fill patterns at the exit pupil. Different fill patterns at the exit pupil can be beneficially used to create a light field display. Each layer in the stack or in a set of layers (e.g., 3 layers) in the stack may be employed to generate a respective color (e.g., red, blue, green). Thus, for example, a first set of three adjacent layers may be employed to respectively produce red, blue and green light at a first focal depth. A second set of three adjacent layers may be employed to respectively produce red, blue and green light at a second focal depth. Multiple sets may be employed to generate a full 3D or 4D color image field with various focal depths.

FIG. 7 shows a planar waveguide apparatus 700 including a planar waveguide 1 with a plurality of DOEs 2a-2d (four illustrated, each as a double dash-dot line, collectively 2), according to one illustrated embodiment.

The DOEs 2 are stacked along an axis 702 that is generally parallel to the field-of-view of the planar waveguide 700. While illustrated as all being in the interior 118, in some implementations one, more or even all of the DOEs may be on an exterior of the planar waveguide 1.

In some implementations, each DOE 2 may be capable of being independently switched ON and OFF. That is each DOE 2 can be made active such that the respective DOE 2 diffracts a significant fraction of light that intersects with the respective DOE 2, or it can be rendered inactive such that the respective DOE 2 either does not diffract light intersecting with the respective DOE 2 at all, or only diffracts an insignificant fraction of light. “Significant” in this context means enough light to be perceived by the human visual system when coupled out of the planar waveguide 1, and “insignificant” means not enough light to be perceived by the human visual system, or a low enough level to be ignored by a viewer.

The switchable DOEs 2 may be switched on one at a time, such that only one DOE 2 in the primary planar waveguide 1 is actively diffracting the light in the primary planar waveguide 1, to emerge from one or more faces 112 of the primary planar waveguide 1 in a perceptible amount. Alternatively, two or more DOEs 2 may be switched ON simultaneously, such that their diffractive effects are combined.

The phase profile of each DOE 2 is advantageously a summation of a linear diffraction grating and a radially symmetric diffractive lens. Each DOE 2 preferably has a low (e.g., less than 50%) diffraction efficiency.

The light intersects with the DOEs at multiple points along the length of the planar waveguide 1 as the light propagates horizontally in the planar waveguide 1 via TIR. At each point of intersection between the propagating light and a respective one of the DOEs 2, a fraction of the light is diffracted toward the adjacent face 112 of the planar waveguide 1, allowing the light to escape TIR and emerge from the face 112 of the planar waveguide 1.

The radially symmetric lens aspect of the DOE 2 additionally imparts a focus level to the diffracted light, both shaping the light wavefront (e.g., imparting a curvature) of the individual beam, as well as steering the beam at an angle that matches the designed focus level. Such is best illustrated in FIG. 5B where the four beams 18, 19, 20, 21, if geometrically extended from the far face 112b of the planar waveguide 1, intersect at a focus point 13, and are imparted with a convex wavefront profile with a center of radius at focus point 13.

Each DOE 2 in the set of DOEs can have a different phase map. For example, each DOE 2 can have a respective phase map such that each DOE 2, when switched ON, directs light to a different position in X, Y, or Z. The DOEs 2 may, for example, vary from one another in their linear grating aspect and/or their radially symmetric diffractive lens aspect. If the DOEs 2 vary from one another in their diffractive lens aspect, different DOEs 2 (or combinations of DOEs 2) will produce sub-images at different optical viewing distances—i.e., different focus distances.

If the DOEs 2 vary from one another in their linear grating aspect, different DOEs 2 will produce sub-images that are shifted laterally relative to one another. Such lateral shifts can be beneficially used to create a foveated display, to steer a display image with non-homogenous resolution or other non-homogenous display parameters (e.g., luminance, peak wavelength, polarization, etc.) to different lateral positions, to increase the size of the scanned image, to produce a variation in the characteristics of the exit pupil, and/or to generate a light field display. Lateral shifts may be advantageously employed to preform tiling or realize a tiling effect in generated images.

For example, a first DOE 2 in the set, when switched ON, may produce an image at an optical viewing distance of 1 meter (e.g., focal point 23 in FIG. 5C) for a viewer looking into the primary or emission face 112a of the planar waveguide 1. A second DOE 2 in the set, when switched ON, may produce an image at an optical viewing distance of 1.25 meters (e.g., focal point 13 in FIG. 5C) for a viewer looking into the primary or emission face 112a of the planar waveguide 1.

By switching exemplary DOEs 2 ON and OFF in rapid temporal sequence (e.g., on a frame-by-frame basis, a sub-frame basis, a line-by-line basis, a sub-line basis, pixel-by-pixel basis, or sub-pixel-by-sub-pixel basis) and synchronously modulating the image data being injected into the planar waveguide 1, for instance by a scanning fiber display sub-system, a composite multi-focal volumetric image is formed that is perceived to a be a single scene to the viewer. By rendering different objects or portions of objects to sub-images relayed to the eye of the viewer (at location 22 in FIG. 5C) by the different DOEs 2, virtual objects or images are placed at different optical viewing distances, or a virtual object or image can be represented as a 3D volume that extends through multiple planes of focus.

FIG. 8 shows a portion of an optical system 800 including a plurality of planar waveguide apparati 802a-802d (four shown, collectively 802), according to one illustrated embodiment.

The planar waveguide apparati 802 are stacked, arrayed, or arranged along an axis 804 that is generally parallel to the field-of-view of the portion of the optical system 800. Each of the planar waveguide apparati 802 includes at least one planar waveguide 1 (only one called out in FIG. 8) and at least one associated DOE 2 (illustrated by dash-dot double line, only one called out in FIG. 8). While illustrated as all being in the interior 118, in some implementations one, more or even all of the DOEs 2 may be on an exterior of the planar waveguide 1. Additionally or alternatively, while illustrated with a single linear array of DOEs 2 per planar waveguide 1, one or more of the planar waveguides 1 may include two or more stacked, arrayed or arranged DOEs 2, similar to the implementation described with respect to FIG. 7.

Each of the planar waveguide apparati 802a-802d may function analogously to the operation of the DOEs 2 of the optical system 7 (FIG. 7), That is the DOEs 2 of the respective planar waveguide apparati 802 may each have a respective phase map, the phase maps of the various DOEs 2 being different from one another. While dynamic switching (e.g., ON/OFF) of the DOEs 2 was employed in the optical system 700 (FIG. 7), such can be avoided in the optical system 800. Instead of, or in additional to dynamic switching, the optical system 800 may selectively route light to the planar waveguide apparati 802a-802d based on the respective phase maps. Thus, rather than turning ON a specific DOE 2 having a desired phase map, the optical system 800 may route light to a specific planar waveguide 802 that has or is associated with a DOE 2 with the desired phase mapping. Again, the may be in lieu of, or in addition to, dynamic switching of the DOEs 2.

In one example, the microdisplays or projectors may be selectively operated to selectively route light to the planar waveguide apparati 802a-802d based on the respective phase maps. In another example, each DOE 4 may be capable of being independently switched ON and OFF, similar to as explained with reference to switching DOEs 2 ON and OFF. The DOEs 4 may be switched ON and OFF to selectively route light to the planar waveguide apparati 802a-802d based on the respective phase maps.

FIG. 8 also illustrated outward emanating rays from two of the planar waveguide apparati 802a, 802d. For sake of illustration, a first one of the planar waveguide apparatus 802a produces a plane or flat wavefront (illustrated by flat lines 804 about rays 806, only one instance of each called out for sake of drawing clarity) at an infinite focal distance. In contrast, another one of the planar waveguide apparatus 802d produces a convex wavefront (illustrated by arc 808 about rays 810, only one instance of each called out for sake of drawing clarity) at a defined focal distance less than infinite (e.g., 1 meter).

As illustrated in FIG. 9, the planar waveguide apparati 802a-802d may laterally shift the appearance and/or optical viewing distances—i.e., different focus distances of a virtual object 900a-900c with respect to an exit pupil 902.

FIG. 10 shows a portion of an optical system 1000 including a planar waveguide apparatus 102 with a return planar waveguide 1002, according to one illustrated embodiment.

The planar waveguide apparatus 102 may be similar to those described herein, for example including one or more planar waveguides 1 and one or more associated DOEs 2.

In contrast to previously described implementations, the optical system 1000 includes the return planar waveguide 1002, which provides a TIR optical path for light to return from one end 108b of the planar waveguide 1 to the other end 108a of the planar waveguide 1 for recirculation. The optical system 1000 also include is a first mirror or reflector 1004, located at a distal end 108a (i.e., end opposed to end at which light first enters). The mirror or reflector 1004 at the distal end 108a may be completely reflecting. The optical system 1000 optionally includes is a second mirror or reflector 1006, located at a proximate end 108b (i.e., end at which light first enters as indicated by arrow 1010). The second mirror or reflector 1006 may be a dichroic mirror or prism, allowing light to initially enter the optical system, and then reflecting light returned from the distal end 108a.

Thus, light may enter at the proximate end 108b as indicated by arrow 1010. The light may traverse or propagate along the planar waveguide 1 in a first pass, as illustrated by arrow 1012, exiting at the distal end 112b. The first mirror or reflector 1004 may reflect the light to propagate via the return planar waveguide 1002, as illustrated by arrow 1014. The second mirror or reflector 1006 may reflect the remaining light back to the planar waveguide 1 for a second pass, as illustrated by arrow 1016. This may repeat until there is no appreciable light left to recirculate. This recirculation of light may advantageously increase luminosity or reduce system luminosity requirements.

FIG. 11 shows a portion of an optical system 1100 including a planar waveguide apparatus 102 with at least partially reflective mirrors or reflectors 1102a, 1102b at opposed ends 112a, 112b thereof to return light through a planar waveguide 1, according to one illustrated embodiment.

Light may enter at the proximate end 108b as indicated by arrow 1110. The light may traverse or propagate along the planar waveguide 1 in a first pass, as illustrated by arrow 1112, exiting at the distal end 112b. The first mirror or reflector 1102a may reflect the light to propagate the planar waveguide 1, as illustrated by arrow 1114. The second mirror or reflector 1006 may optionally reflect the remaining light back to the planar waveguide 1 for a second pass (not illustrated). This may repeat until there is no appreciable light left to recirculate. This recirculation of light may advantageously increase luminosity or reduce system luminosity requirements.

In some implementations, an optical coupling system collimates the light emerging from a multiplicity of displays or projectors, prior to optically coupling the light to a planar waveguide. This optical coupling system may include, but is not limited to, a multiplicity of DOEs, refractive lenses, curved mirrors, and/or freeform optical elements. The optical coupling subsystem may serve multiple purposes, such as collimating the light from the multiplicity of displays and coupling the light into a waveguide. The optical coupling subsystem may include a mirrored surface or prism to reflect or deflect the collimated light into a planar waveguide.

In some implementations the collimated light propagates along a narrow planar waveguide via TIR, and in doing so repeatedly intersects with a multiplicity of DOEs 2. As described above, the DOEs 2 may comprise or implement respective different phase maps, such that the DOEs 2 steer the light in the waveguide along respective different paths. For example, if the multiple DOEs 2 contain linear grating elements with different pitches, the light is steered at different angles, which may beneficially be used to create a foveated display, steer a non-homogenous display laterally, increase the lateral dimensions of the out-coupled image, increase effective display resolution by interlacing, generate different fill patterns at the exit pupil, and/or generate a light field display.

As previously described, a multiplicity of DOEs 2 may be arrayed or arranged or configured in a stack within or on a respective planar waveguide 1, 3.

The DOEs 2 in the distribution planar waveguide 3 may have a low diffraction efficiency, causing a fraction of the light to be diffracted toward the edge of the larger primary planar waveguide 1, at each point of intersection, and a fraction of the light to continue on its original trajectory down the distribution planar waveguide 3 via TIR. At each point of intersection, additional light is diffracted toward an edge or entrance of the primary planar waveguide 1. By dividing the incoming light into multiple out-coupled sets, the exit pupil of the light is expanded vertically by multiplicity of DOEs 4 in distribution planar waveguide 3.

As described above, vertically expanded light coupled out of the distribution planar waveguide 3 enters an edge of larger primary planar waveguide 1, and propagates horizontally along the length of the primary planar waveguide 1 via TIR.

The multiplicity of DOEs 4 in the narrow distribution planar waveguide 3 can have a low diffraction efficiency, causing a fraction of the light to be diffracted toward the edge of the larger primary planar waveguide 1 at each point of intersection, and a fraction of the light to continue on its original trajectory down the distribution planar waveguide 3 by TIR. At each point of intersection, additional light is diffracted toward the entrance of larger primary planar waveguide 1. By dividing the incoming light into multiple out-coupled sets, the exit pupil of the light is expanded vertically by the multiplicity of DOEs 4 in distribution planar waveguide 3. A low diffraction efficiency in the multiplicity of DOEs in the primary planar waveguide 1 enables viewers to see through the primary planar waveguide 1 to view real objects, with a minimum of attenuation or distortion.

In at least one implementation, the diffraction efficiency of the multiplicity of DOEs 2 is low enough to ensure that any distortion of real world is not perceptible to a human looking through the waveguide at the real world.

Since a portion or percentage of light is diverted from the internal optical path as the light transits the length of the planar waveguide(s) 1, 3, less light may be diverted from one end to the other end of the planar waveguide 1, 3 if the diffraction efficiency is constant along the length of the planar waveguide 1, 3. This change or variation in luminosity or output across the planar waveguide 1, 3 is typically undesirable. The diffraction efficiency may be varied along the length to accommodate for this undesired optical effect. The diffraction efficiency may be varied in a fixed fashion, for example by fixedly varying a pitch of the DOEs 2, 4 along the length when the DOEs 2, 4 and/or planar waveguide 1, 3 is manufactured or formed. Intensity of light output may be advantageously be increased or varied as a function of lateral offset of pixels in the display or image.

Alternatively, the diffraction efficiency may be varied dynamically, for example by fixedly varying a pitch of the DOEs 2, 4 along the length when the DOEs 2, 4 and/or planar waveguide 1, 3 is in use. Such may employ a variety of techniques, for instance varying an electrical potential or voltage applied to a material (e.g., liquid crystal). For example, voltage changes could be applied, for instance via electrodes, to liquid crystals dispersed in a polymer host or carrier medium.

The voltage may be used to change the molecular orientation of the liquid crystals to either match or not match a refractive index of the host or carrier medium. As explained herein, a structure which employs a stack or layered array of switchable layers (e.g., DOEs 2, planer waveguides 1), each independently controllable may be employed to advantageous affect.

In at least one implementation, the summed diffraction efficiency of a subset of simultaneously switched on DOEs 2 of the multiplicity of DOEs 2 is low enough to enable viewers to see through the waveguide to view real objects, with a minimum of attenuation or distortion.

It may be preferred if the summed diffraction efficiency of a subset of simultaneously switched on DOEs 2 of the multiplicity of DOEs 2 is low enough to ensure that any distortion of real world is not perceptible to a human looking through the waveguide at the real world.

As described above, each DOE 2 in the multiplicity or set of DOEs 2 may be capable of being switched ON and OFF—i.e., it can be made active such that the respective DOE 2 diffracts a significant fraction of light that intersects with the respective DOE 2, or can be rendered inactive such that the respective DOE 2 either does not diffract light intersecting with it at all, or only diffracts an insignificant fraction of light. “Significant” in this context means enough light to be perceived by the human visual system when coupled out of the waveguide, and “insignificant” means not enough light to be perceived by the human visual system, or a low enough level to be ignored by a viewer.

The switchable multiplicity of DOEs 2 may be switched ON one at a time, such that only one DOE 2 associated with the large primary planar waveguide 1 is actively diffracting the light in the primary planar waveguide 1 to emerge from one or more faces 112 of the primary planar waveguide 1 in a perceptible amount. Alternatively, two or more DOEs 2 in the multiplicity of DOEs 2 may be switched ON simultaneously, such that their diffractive effects are advantageously combined. It may thus be possible to realize 2N combinations, where N is the number of DOEs 2 in associated with a respective planar waveguide 1, 3.

In at least some implementations, the phase profile or map of each DOE 2 in at least the large or primary planar waveguide 1 is or reflects a summation of a linear diffraction grating and a radially symmetric diffractive lens, and has a low (less than 50%) diffraction efficiency. Such is illustrated in FIGS. 3A-3C. In particular, the hologram phase function comprises a linear function substantially responsible for coupling the light out of the waveguide, and a lens function substantially responsible for creating a virtual image

⁢ p ⁡ ( x , y ) = p ⁢ ⁢ 1 ⁢ ( x , y ) + p ⁢ ⁢ 2 ⁢ ( x , y ) , ⁢ ⁢ where ⁢ p ⁢ ⁢ 1 ⁢ ( x , y ) = x ⁢ ⁢ 0 ⁢ ⁢ y ⁢ ⁢ 1 ⁢ ⁢ y nr , ⁢ ⁢ and p ⁢ ⁢ 2 ⁢ ( x , y ) = x ⁢ ⁢ 2 ⁢ ⁢ y ⁢ ⁢ 0 ⁢ ( x nr ) 2 + x ⁢ ⁢ 2 ⁢ ⁢ y ⁢ ⁢ 2 ⁢ ( x nr ) 2 ⁢ ( y nr ) 2 + x ⁢ ⁢ 2 ⁢ ⁢ y ⁢ ⁢ 4 ⁢ ( x nr ) 2 ⁢ ( y nr ) 4 + x ⁢ ⁢ 4 ⁢ ⁢ y ⁢ ⁢ 0 ⁢ ( x nr ) 4 + x ⁢ ⁢ 4 ⁢ ⁢ y ⁢ ⁢ 2 ⁢ ( x nr ) 4 ⁢ ( y nr ) 2 + x ⁢ ⁢ 6 ⁢ ⁢ y ⁢ ⁢ 0 ⁢ ( x nr ) 6 + x ⁢ ⁢ 0 ⁢ ⁢ y ⁢ ⁢ 2 ⁢ ( y nr ) 2 + x ⁢ ⁢ 0 ⁢ ⁢ y ⁢ ⁢ 4 ⁢ ( y nr ) 4 + x ⁢ ⁢ 0 ⁢ ⁢ y ⁢ ⁢ 6 ⁢ ( y nr ) 6

In this example, the coefficients of p2 are constrained to produce a radially symmetric phase function.

An example EDGE element was designed for a 40 degree diagonal field of view having a 16×9 aspect ratio. The virtual object distance is 500 mm (2 diopters). The design wavelength is 532 nanometers. The substrate material is fused silica, and the y angles of incidence in the substrate lie between 45 and 72 degrees. The y angle of incidence required to generate an on axis object at is 56 degrees. The phase function defining the example element is:

Φ ⁢ ⁢ g = 12.4113 ⁢ ⁢ x 2 mm 2 - 0.00419117 ⁢ ⁢ x 4 mm 4 - 14315. ⁢ y mm - 12.4113 ⁢ ⁢ y 2 mm 2 - 0.00838233 ⁢ ⁢ x 2 ⁢ y 2 mm 4 - 0.00419117 ⁢ ⁢ y 4 mm 4

The diffractive element pattern is generated by evaluating the 2 pi phase contours. FIG. 12 shows a contour plot 4000 illustrating the function evaluated over a 20×14 mm element area (required to provide a 4 mm eye box at a 25 mm eye relief. The contour interval was chosen to make the groove pattern visible. The actual groove spacing in this design is approximately 0.5 microns.

The relationship between substrate index and field of view is described in FIGS. 13A-13E. The relationship is non-trivial, but a higher substrate index always allows for a large field of view. One should always prefer higher index of refraction materials if all other considerations are equal.

Referring to FIG. 13A, plot 4002 describes a relationship between the substrate index and field of view according to one embodiment. Referring to the following equation,

k j = 2 ⁢ π λ j

where j is the region index. The index 0 is used to indicate free space (air).

k 2 ⁢ d ⁢ ⁢ sin ⁡ ( θ 2 ) - k 1 ⁢ d ⁢ ⁢ sin ⁡ ( θ 1 ) = m ⁢ ⁢ 2 ⁢ ⁢ π 2 ⁢ π λ 1 ⁢ sin ⁡ ( θ 2 ) - 2 ⁢ π λ 2 ⁢ sin ⁡ ( θ 1 ) = m ⁢ ⁢ 2 ⁢ π d 2 ⁢ π λ 2 ⁢ sin ⁡ ( θ 2 ) = m ⁢ 2 ⁢ π d + 2 ⁢ π λ 1 ⁢ sin ⁡ ( θ 1 ) k 2 ⁢ sin ⁡ ( θ 2 ) = m ⁢ 2 ⁢ π d + k 1 ⁢ sin ⁡ ( θ 1 ) k 2 ⁢ ⁢ y = m ⁢ 2 ⁢ π d + k 1 ⁢ ⁢ y k 2 ⁢ ⁢ y = m ⁢ ⁢ k g + k 1 ⁢ ⁢ y

Alternative formulation normalized using the free space wavelength may be the following:

h ⇀ j = k ⇀ j k θ h j = k j k θ = n j h g = k g k θ = λ θ d h 2 ⁢ ⁢ y = m ⁢ ⁢ h g + h 1 ⁢ y , ⁢ where ⁢ ⁢ h jy = h j ⁢ sin ⁡ ( θ j )

If |h 2y |≦h 2 , then the wave associated with {right arrow over (h)} 2 (vector h2) is not evanescent.

For the substrate guided wave, the rectangle in the following diagram indicates the region of allowed projections of {right arrow over (h)} (vector h) into the X Y plane. The outer circle has radius n, and indicates a wave vector parallel to the X Y plane. The inner circle has radius 1 and indicates the TIR (total internal reflection) boundary.

Referring now to FIG. 13B (plot 4004) in the normalized representation, {right arrow over (h)} (vector h) is a vector of magnitude n independent of free space wavelength. When the index is 1, the components are the direction of cosines of {right arrow over (k)} (vector k).

k x 2+k y 2+k x 2=k 0 2

h x 2+h y 2+h z 2=n2

The wavelengths used to design an earlier fiber scanner lens (ref. sfe-06aa.zmx) were 443, 532, and 635 nm. The red and blue wavelengths are used in the following calculation.

Referring now to FIG. 13C-13E, FIGS. 13C-13E show plots (4006-4010) of normalized wave vector regions projected into the x y plane (i.e. parallel to the substrate). The rectangle in the middle represents the eye field of view. The top two rectangles represent the waveguide vector projections required to produce the eye field of view. The arrows indicate the deflection provided by the grating.

The unit radius circle represents the TIR (total internal reflection) constraint for a guided wave in the substrate, and the 1.5 radius circle represents a wave propagating parallel to the substrate when the index n=1.5. Wave vectors propagating between the two circles are allowed. This plot is for the substrate oriented vertically, a 50° diagonal (16×9 format) eye field of view, and a 0.36 micron grating line spacing. Note that the rectangle in the concentric circle lies inside the region of allowed region, whereas the topmost rectangle lies in the evanescent region.

By increasing the groove spacing to 5.2 microns, the vector from the outer circle (red) can be brought inside the allowed region, but then a majority of the vectors in the concentric circle (blue) do not totally internally reflect (FIG. 13D)

Tilting the substrate with respect to the eye is equivalent to biasing the eye field of view with respect to the substrate. This plot shows the effect of tilting the waveguide 45° and increasing the groove width to 0.85 mm. Note that the difference between the grating arrows is less, and that both the vectors fall substantially within the allowed region (FIG. 13E).

First order diffraction efficiencies should be in the neighborhood of 0.01 to 0.20. Lower values require higher input energy to create specified image brightness, while larger values lead to increased pupil non-uniformity. The particular value chosen depends on the particular application requirements.

It may be advantageous to vary one or more characteristics of the DOEs 2, for example along a longitudinal or axial dimension thereof. For instance, a pitch may be varied, or a height of a groove or angle (e.g., 90 degree, 60 degree) of a structure forming the DOE 2 or portion thereof. Such may advantageously address higher order aberrations.

Two beams of mutually coherent light may be employed to dynamically vary the properties of the DOEs 2. The beams of mutually coherent light may, for example, be generated via a single laser and a beam splitter. The beams may interact with a liquid crystal film to create a high interference pattern on or in the liquid crystal film to dynamically generate at least one diffraction element, e.g., a grating such as a Bragg grating. The DOEs 2 may be addressable on a pixel-by-pixel basis. Thus, for example, a pitch of the elements of the DOEs 2 may be varied dynamically. The interference patterns are typically temporary, but may be held sufficiently long to affect the diffraction of light.

Further, diffraction gratings may be employed to split lateral chromatic aberrations. For example, a relative difference in angle can be expected for light of different colors when passed through a DOE 2. Where a pixel is being generated via three different colors, the colors may not be perceived as being in the same positions due to the difference in bending of the respective colors of light. This may be addressed by introducing a very slight delay between the signals used to generate each color for any given pixel. One way of addressing this is via software, where image data is “pre-misaligned” or pre-wrapped, to accommodate the differences in location of the various colors making up each respective pixel. Thus, the image data for generating a blue component of a pixel in the image may be offset spatially and/or temporally with respect to a red component of the pixel to accommodate a known or expected shift due to diffraction. Likewise, a green component may be offset spatially and/or temporally with respect to a red and blue components of the pixel.

The image field may be generated to have a higher concentration of light or image information proximal to the viewer in contrast to portions that are relatively distal to the viewer. Such may advantageously take into account the typically higher sensitivity of the vision system for relative close objects or images as compared to more distal objects of images. Thus, virtual objects in the foreground of an image field may be rendered at a higher resolution (e.g., higher density of focal planes) than objects in the background of the image field. The various structures and approaches described herein advantageously allow such non-uniform operation and generation of the image field.

In at least some implementations, the light intersects with the multiplicity of DOEs 2 at multiple points as it propagates horizontally via TIR. At each point of intersection between the propagating light and the multiplicity of DOEs 2, a fraction of the light is diffracted toward the adjacent face of the planar waveguide 1, 3 allowing the light to escape TIR and emerge from the face 112 of the planar waveguide 1, 3.

In at least some implementations, the radially symmetric lens aspect of the DOE 2 additionally imparts a focus level to the diffracted light, both shaping the light wavefront (e.g., imparting a curvature) of the individual beam as well as steering the beam at an angle that matches the designed focus level. In FIG. 5B, the four beams 18, 19, 20, 21, if geometrically extended from the far face of the primary planar waveguide 1, intersect at a focus point 13, and are imparted with a convex wavefront profile with a center of radius at focus point 13.

In at least some implementations, each DOE 2 in the multiplicity or set of DOEs 2 can have a different phase map, such that each DOE 2, when switched ON or when fed light, directs light to a different position in X, Y, or Z. The DOEs 2 may vary from one another in their linear grating aspect and/or their radially symmetric diffractive lens aspect. If the DOEs 2 vary in their diffractive lens aspect, different DOEs 2 (or combinations of DOEs) will produce sub-images at different optical viewing distances—i.e., different focus distances. If the DOEs 2 vary in their linear grating aspect, different DOEs 2 will produce sub-images that are shifted laterally relative to one another.

In at least some implementations, lateral shifts generated by the multiplicity of DOEs can be beneficially used to create a foveated display. In at least some implementations, lateral shifts generated by the multiplicity of DOEs 2 can be beneficially used to steer a display image with non-homogenous resolution or other non-homogenous display parameters (e.g., luminance, peak wavelength, polarization, etc.) to different lateral positions. In at least some implementations, lateral shifts generated by the multiplicity of DOEs can be beneficially used to increase the size of the scanned image.

In at least some implementations, lateral shifts generated by the multiplicity of DOEs can be beneficially used to produce a variation in the characteristics of the exit pupil. In at least some implementations, lateral shifts generated by the multiplicity of DOEs can be beneficially used, to produce a variation in the characteristics of the exit pupil and generate a light field display.

In at least some implementations, a first DOE 2, when switched ON, may produce an image at a first optical viewing distance 23 (FIG. 5C) for a viewer looking into the face of the primary planar waveguide 1. A second DOE 2 in the multiplicity, when switched ON, may produce an image at a second optical viewing distance 13 (FIG. 5C) for a viewer looking into the face of the waveguide.

In at least some implementations, DOEs 2 are switched ON and OFF in rapid temporal sequence. In at least some implementations, DOEs 2 are switched ON and OFF in rapid temporal sequence on a frame-by-frame basis. In at least some implementations, DOEs 2 are switched ON and OFF in rapid temporal sequence on a sub-frame basis. In at least some implementations, DOEs 2 are switched ON and OFF in rapid temporal sequence on a line-by-line basis.

In at least some implementations, DOEs 2 are switched ON and OFF in rapid temporal sequence on a sub-line basis. In at least some implementations, DOEs 2 are switched ON and OFF in rapid temporal sequence on a pixel-by-pixel basis. In at least some implementations, DOEs 2 are switched ON and OFF in rapid temporal sequence on a sub-pixel-by-sub-pixel basis. In at least some implementations, DOEs 2 are switched ON and OFF in rapid temporal sequence on some combination of a frame-by-frame basis, a sub-frame basis, a line-by-line basis, a sub-line basis, pixel-by-pixel basis, and/or sub-pixel-by-sub-pixel basis.

In at least some implementations, while DOEs 2 are switched ON and OFF the image data being injected into the waveguide by the multiplicity of microdisplays is simultaneously modulated. In at least some implementations, while DOEs 2 are switched ON and OFF the image data being injected into the waveguide by the multiplicity of microdisplays is simultaneously modulated to form a composite multi-focal volumetric image that is perceived to a be a single scene to the viewer.

In at least some implementations, by rendering different objects or portions of objects to sub-images relayed to the eye (position 22 in FIG. 5C) by the different DOEs 2, objects are placed at different optical viewing distances, or an object can be represented as a 3D volume that extends through multiple planes of focus.

In at least some implementations, the multiplicity of switchable DOEs 2 is switched at a fast enough rate to generate a multi-focal display that is perceived as a single scene.

In at least some implementations, the multiplicity of switchable DOEs 2 is switched at a slow rate to position a single image plane at a focal distance. The accommodation state of the eye is measured and/or estimated either directly or indirectly. The focal distance of the single image plane is modulated by the multiplicity of switchable DOEs in accordance with the accommodative state of the eye. For example, if the estimated accommodative state of the eye suggests that the viewer is focused at a 1 meter viewing distance, the multiplicity of DOEs is switched to shift the displayed image to approximate at 1 meter focus distance. If the eye's accommodative state is estimated to have shifted to focus at, e.g., a 2 meter viewing distance, the multiplicity of DOEs 2 is switched to shift the displayed image to approximate at 2 meter focus distance.

In at least some implementations, the multiplicity of switchable DOEs 2 is switched at a slow rate to position a single image plane at a focal distance. The accommodation state of the eye is measured and/or estimated either directly or indirectly. The focal distance of the single image plane is modulated by the multiplicity of switchable DOEs in accordance with the accommodative state of the eye, and the image data presented by the multiplicity of display elements is switched synchronously.

For example, if the estimated accommodative state of the eye suggests that the viewer is focused at a 1 meter viewing distance, the multiplicity of DOEs 2 is switched to shift the displayed image to approximate at 1 meter focus distance, and the image data is updated to render the virtual objects at a virtual distance of 1 meter in sharp focus and to render virtual objects at a virtual distance other than 1 meter with some degree of blur, with greater blur for objects farther from the 1 meter plane.

If the eye's accommodative state is estimated to have shifted to focus at, e.g., a 2 meter viewing distance, the multiplicity of DOEs is switched to shift the displayed image to approximate at 2 meter focus distance and the image data is updated to render the virtual objects at a virtual distance of 2 meters in sharp focus and to render virtual objects at a virtual distance other than 2 meters with some degree of blur, with greater blur for objects farther from the 2 meter plane.

In at least some implementations, the DOEs 2 may be used to bias rays outwardly to create a large field of view, at least up to a limit at which light leaks from the planar waveguide(s) 1. For example, varying a pitch of a grating may achieve a desired change in angle sufficient to modify the angles associated with or indicative of a field of view. In some implements, pitch may be tuned to achieve a lateral or side-to-side movement or scanning motion along at least one lateral (e.g., Y-axis). Such may be done in two dimensions to achieve a lateral or side-to-side movement or scanning motion along both the Y-axis and X-axis. One or more acousto-optic modulators may be employed, changing frequency, period, or angle of deflection.

Various standing surface wave techniques (e.g., standing plane wave field) may be employed, for example to dynamically adjust the characteristics of the DOEs 2. For instance standing waves may be generated in a liquid crystal medium trapped between two layers, creating an interference pattern with desired frequency, wavelength and/or amplitude characteristics.

The DOEs 2 may be arranged to create a toe in effect, creating an eye box that tapers from larger to smaller as the light approaches the viewer from the planar waveguide 1. The light box may taper in one or two dimensions (e.g., Y-axis, X-axis, as function of position along the Z-axis). Concentrating light may advantageously reduce luminosity requires or increase brightness. The light box should still be maintain sufficiently large to accommodate expected eye movement.

While various embodiments have located the DOEs 2 in or on the primary planar waveguide 1, other implementations may located one or more DOEs 2 spaced from the primary planar waveguide 1. For example, a first set of DOEs 2 may be positioned between the primary planar waveguide 1 and the viewer, spaced from the primary planar waveguide 1. Additionally, a second set of DOEs 2 may be positioned between the primary planar waveguide 1 and background or real world, spaced from the primary planar waveguide 1. Such may be used to cancel light from the planar waveguides with respect to light from the background or real world, in some respects similar to noise canceling headphones.

The various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. To the extent that they are not inconsistent with the specific teachings and definitions herein, all of the U.S. patents, U.S. patent application publications, U.S. patent applications, foreign patents, foreign patent applications and non-patent publications referred to in this specification and/or listed in the Application Data Sheet, including but not limited to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/915,530, International Patent Application Serial No. PCT/US2013/045267, and U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/658,355, are incorporated herein by reference, in their entirety. Aspects of the embodiments can be modified, if necessary, to employ systems, circuits and concepts of the various patents, applications and publications to provide yet further embodiments.

System Components

The DOEs described above may be incorporated into an augmented reality (AR) system. The DOE elements or volumetric 3D displays allow for the creation of multiple focal planes based on which numerous virtual reality or augmented virtual reality applications may be realized. Methods and systems of the overall AR system will be described. Various applications of the AR system will also be described further below. It should be appreciated that the systems below may use the volumetric 3D displays in their optical components, or any other suitable optical components (e.g., birdbath optics, free form optics, etc.) may be similarly used. The AR system may be a stationary system or a portable system that may have a body or head worn component. For illustrative purposes, the following discussion will focus on portable AR systems, but it should be appreciated that stationary systems may also be used.

FIG. 14 shows an architecture 1000 for the electronics for a body or head worn component, according to one illustrated embodiment. It should be appreciated that the following system architecture may be used for optical elements apart from volumetric 3D displays.

The body or head worn component may include one or more printed circuit board components, for instance left and right printed circuit board assemblies (PCBA). As illustrated, the left PCBA includes most of the active electronics, while the right PCBA supports principally supports the display or projector elements.

The right PCBAs may include a number of projector driver structures which provide image information and control signals to image generation components. For example, the right PCBA may carry a first or left projector driver structure and a second or right projector driver structure. The first or left projector driver structure join a first or left projector fiber and a set of signal lines (e.g., piezo driver wires).

The second or right projector driver structure join a second or right projector fiber and a set of signal lines (e.g., piezo driver wires). The first or left projector driver structure is communicatively coupled to a first or left image projector, while the second or right projector drive structure is communicatively coupled to the second or right image projector.

In operation, the image projectors render virtual content to the left and right eyes (e.g., retina) of the user via respective optical components (e.g., the volumetric 3D display described above, for example), for instance waveguides and/or compensation lenses. The image projectors may, for example, include left and right projector assemblies. The projector assemblies may use a variety of different image forming or production technologies, for example, fiber scan projectors, liquid crystal displays (LCD), digital light processing (DLP) displays.

Where a fiber scan projector is employed, images may be delivered along an optical fiber, to be projected therefrom via a tip of the optical fiber (e.g., as shown in FIG. 1). The tip may be oriented to feed into the waveguide. An end of the optical fiber with the tip from which images project may be supported to flex or oscillate. A number of piezoelectric actuators may control an oscillation (e.g, frequency, amplitude) of the tip. The projector driver structures provide images to respective optical fiber and control signals to control the piezoelectric actuators, to project images to the user's eyes.

Continuing with the right PCBA, a button board connector may provide communicative and physical coupling a button board which carries various user accessible buttons, keys, switches or other input devices. The right PCBA may include a right earphone or speaker connector, to communicatively couple audio signals to a right earphone or speaker of the head worn component. The right PCBA may also include a right microphone connector to communicatively couple audio signals from a microphone of the head worn component. The right PCBA may further include a right occlusion driver connector to communicatively couple occlusion information to a right occlusion display of the head worn component. The right PCBA may also include a board-to-board connector to provide communications with the left PCBA via a board-to-board connector thereof.

The right PCBA may be communicatively coupled to one or more right outward facing or world view cameras which are body or head worn, and optionally a right cameras visual indicator (e.g., LED) which illuminates to indicate to others when images are being captured. The right PCBA may be communicatively coupled to one or more right eye cameras, carried by the head worn component, positioned and orientated to capture images of the right eye to allow tracking, detection, or monitoring of orientation and/or movement of the right eye. The right PCBA may optionally be communicatively coupled to one or more right eye illuminating sources (e.g., LEDs), which as explained herein, illuminates the right eye with a pattern (e.g., temporal, spatial) of illumination to facilitate tracking, detection or monitoring of orientation and/or movement of the right eye.

The left PCBA may include a control subsystem, which may include one or more controllers (e.g., microcontroller, microprocessor, digital signal processor, graphical processing unit, central processing unit, application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), field programmable gate array (FPGA), and/or programmable logic unit (PLU)). The control system may include one or more non-transitory computer- or processor readable medium that stores executable logic or instructions and/or data or information. The non-transitory computer- or processor readable medium may take a variety of forms, for example volatile and nonvolatile forms, for instance read only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM, DRAM, SD-RAM), flash memory, etc. The non-transitory computer- or processor readable medium may be formed as one or more registers, for example of a microprocessor, FPGA or ASIC.

The left PCBA may include a left earphone or speaker connector, to communicatively couple audio signals to a left earphone or speaker of the head worn component. The left PCBA may include an audio signal amplifier (e.g., stereo amplifier), which is communicative coupled to the drive earphones or speakers The left PCBA may also include a left microphone connector to communicatively couple audio signals from a microphone of the head worn component. The left PCBA may further include a left occlusion driver connector to communicatively couple occlusion information to a left occlusion display of the head worn component.

The left PCBA may also include one or more sensors or transducers which detect, measure, capture or otherwise sense information about an ambient environment and/or about the user. For example, an acceleration transducer (e.g., three axis accelerometer) may detect acceleration in three axis, thereby detecting movement. A gyroscopic sensor may detect orientation and/or magnetic or compass heading or orientation. Other sensors or transducers may be employed,

The left PCBA may be communicatively coupled to one or more left outward facing or world view cameras which are body or head worn, and optionally a left cameras visual indicator (e.g., LED) which illuminates to indicate to others when images are being captured. The left PCBA may be communicatively coupled to one or more left eye cameras, carried by the head worn component, positioned and orientated to capture images of the left eye to allow tracking, detection, or monitoring of orientation and/or movement of the left eye. The left PCBA may optionally be communicatively coupled to one or more left eye illuminating sources (e.g., LEDs), which as explained herein, illuminates the left eye with a pattern (e.g., temporal, spatial) of illumination to facilitate tracking, detection or monitoring of orientation and/or movement of the left eye.

The PCBAs are communicatively coupled with the distinct computation component (e.g., belt pack) via one or more ports, connectors and/or paths. For example, the left PCBA may include one or more communications ports or connectors to provide communications (e.g., bi-directional communications) with the belt pack. The one or more communications ports or connectors may also provide power from the belt pack to the left PCBA The left PCBA may include power conditioning circuitry (e.g., DC/DC power converter, input filter), electrically coupled to the communications port or connector and opera