U.S. patent application number 16/736716 was filed with the patent office on 2020-05-07 for waveguide display with a small form factor, a large field of view, and a large eyebox.
The applicant listed for this patent is Facebook Technologies, LLC. Invention is credited to Wanli Chi, Hee Yoon Lee, Pasi Saarikko.
Application Number | 20200142202 16/736716 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 62556903 |
Filed Date | 2020-05-07 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20200142202 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lee; Hee Yoon ; et
al. |
May 7, 2020 |
WAVEGUIDE DISPLAY WITH A SMALL FORM FACTOR, A LARGE FIELD OF VIEW,
AND A LARGE EYEBOX
Abstract
A waveguide display is used for presenting media to a user. The
waveguide display includes light source assembly, an output
waveguide, and a controller. The light source assembly includes one
or more projectors projecting an image light at least along one
dimension. The output waveguide includes a waveguide body with two
opposite surfaces. The output waveguide includes a first grating
receiving an image light propagating along an input wave vector, a
second grating, and a third grating positioned opposite to the
second grating and outputting an expanded image light with wave
vectors matching the input wave vector. The controller controls the
scanning of the one or more source assemblies to form a
two-dimensional image.
Inventors: |
Lee; Hee Yoon; (Kirkland,
WA) ; Chi; Wanli; (Sammamish, WA) ; Saarikko;
Pasi; (Kirkland, WA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Facebook Technologies, LLC |
Menlo Park |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
62556903 |
Appl. No.: |
16/736716 |
Filed: |
January 7, 2020 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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16213839 |
Dec 7, 2018 |
10585287 |
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16736716 |
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15704190 |
Sep 14, 2017 |
10185151 |
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16213839 |
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62436717 |
Dec 20, 2016 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G02B 27/0172 20130101;
G02B 2027/015 20130101; G02B 6/0016 20130101; G02B 2027/0125
20130101; G02B 6/0035 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G02B 27/01 20060101
G02B027/01; F21V 8/00 20060101 F21V008/00 |
Claims
1. A system comprising: a coupling element for in-coupling light
into a waveguide; a first decoupling grating of the waveguide
configured to receive the in-coupled light; and a second decoupling
grating of the waveguide opposite the first decoupling grating, the
first decoupling grating and the second decoupling grating
configured such that the light exiting the waveguide has a
wavevector direction matching that of the light in-coupled by the
coupling element.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first decoupling grating and
the second decoupling grating are configured to expand the
in-coupled light along a different dimension and to out-couple the
light along a third dimension.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein a pitch of at least one of the
coupling element, the first decoupling grating, and the second
decoupling grating is in a range of 300-600 nm.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the waveguide is configured to
expand the in-coupled light in at least one dimension parallel to
the surface of the waveguide.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first decoupling grating and
the second decoupling grating are located on a surface of the
waveguide with an interfacial layer between the first decoupling
grating and the second decoupling grating.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first decoupling grating
includes one or more cascaded reflectors configured to deflect the
in-coupled light over an angular range, and the second decoupling
grating includes one or more cascaded reflectors configured to
output the deflected light to the eyebox.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the coupling element changes the
wavevector direction by a first amount, the first decoupling
grating is further configured to change the wavevector direction by
a second amount by diffracting at least a first portion of the
in-coupled light, and the second decoupling grating is further
configured to change the wavevector direction by a third amount by
diffracting at least a second portion of the in-coupled light and
to output the redirected light to an eyebox.
8. The system of claim 7, wherein changing the wavevector direction
by the first amount, the second amount, and the third amount result
in the light exiting the waveguide having the wavevector direction
matching that of the light in-coupled by the coupling element.
9. The system of claim 7, wherein the first portion of the
in-coupled light is based on an incident location of the in-coupled
light.
10. The system of claim 7, wherein the first decoupling grating is
further configured to adjust the first portion of the in-coupled
light based on an output angle of inclination of the diffracted
first portion of the in-coupled light.
11. A system comprising: a coupling element for in-coupling light
into a waveguide; a first decoupling grating of the waveguide
configured to receive the in-coupled light; and a second decoupling
grating of the waveguide opposite the first decoupling grating, the
first decoupling grating and the second decoupling grating
configured to expand the in-coupled light along a different
dimension and to out-couple the light along a third dimension.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein the first decoupling grating
and the second decoupling grating are configured such that the
light exiting the waveguide has a wavevector direction matching
that of the light in-coupled by the coupling element.
13. The system of claim 12, wherein the coupling element changes
the wavevector direction by a first amount, the first decoupling
grating is further configured to change the wavevector direction by
a second amount by diffracting at least a first portion of the
in-coupled light, and the second decoupling grating is further
configured to change the wavevector direction by a third amount by
diffracting at least a second portion of the in-coupled light and
to output the redirected light to an eyebox.
14. The system of claim 13, wherein changing the wavevector
direction by the first amount, the second amount, and the third
amount result in the light exiting the waveguide having the
wavevector direction matching that of the light in-coupled by the
coupling element.
15. The system of claim 13, wherein the first portion of the
in-coupled light is based on an incident location of the in-coupled
light.
16. The system of claim 13, wherein the first decoupling grating is
further configured to adjust the first portion of the in-coupled
light based on an output angle of inclination of the diffracted
first portion of the in-coupled light.
17. The system of claim 11, wherein a pitch of at least one of the
coupling element, the first decoupling grating, and the second
decoupling grating is in a range of 300-600 nm.
18. The system of claim 11, wherein the waveguide is configured to
expand the in-coupled light in at least one dimension parallel to
the surface of the waveguide.
19. The system of claim 11, wherein the first decoupling grating
and the second decoupling grating are located on a surface of the
waveguide with an interfacial layer between the first decoupling
grating and the second decoupling grating.
20. The system of claim 11, wherein the first decoupling grating
includes one or more cascaded reflectors configured to deflect the
in-coupled light over an angular range, and the second decoupling
grating includes one or more cascaded reflectors configured to
output the deflected light to the eyebox.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of co-pending U.S.
application Ser. No. 16/213,839, filed Dec. 7, 2018, which is a
continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/704,190, filed Sep.
14, 2017, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,185,155 which claims the benefit of
U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/436,717, filed Dec. 20, 2016,
each of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The disclosure relates generally to near-eye-display
systems, and more specifically to waveguide displays with a small
form factor, a large field of view, and a large eyebox.
[0003] Near-eye light field displays project images directly into a
user's eye, encompassing both near-eye displays (NEDs) and
electronic viewfinders. Conventional near-eye displays (NEDs)
generally have a display element that generates image light that
passes through one or more lenses before reaching the user's eyes.
Additionally, NEDs in virtual reality systems and/or augmented
reality systems have a design criteria to be compact and light
weight, and to provide a two-dimensional expansion with a large
eyebox and a wide field-of-view (FOV) for ease of use. In typical
NEDs, the limit for the FOV is based on satisfying two physical
conditions: (1) an occurrence of total internal reflection of image
light coupled into a waveguide and (2) an existence of a first
order diffraction caused by a diffraction grating element.
Conventional methods used by the NEDs based on a diffraction
grating rely on satisfying the above two physical conditions in
order to achieve a large FOV (e.g. above 40 degrees) by using
materials with a high refractive index, and thus, adds
significantly heavy and expensive components to the NEDs.
Furthermore, designing a conventional NED with two-dimensional
expansion involving two different output grating elements that are
spatially separated often result in a large form factor.
Accordingly, it is very challenging to design NEDs using
conventional methods to achieve a small form factor, a large FOV,
and a large eyebox.
SUMMARY
[0004] A waveguide display is used for presenting media to a user.
The waveguide display includes a light source assembly, an output
waveguide, and a controller. The light source assembly includes one
or more projectors projecting an image light at least along one
dimension. In some configurations, each projector extends a first
angular range on a first plane along a first dimension and a second
dimension, and a second angular range on a second plane along the
second dimension and the third dimension. The output waveguide
receives the image light emitted from at least one of the
projectors and outputs an expanded image light to an eyebox (e.g.,
a location in space occupied by an eye of a user of the waveguide
display) with a rectangular area of at least 20 mm by 10 mm. The
output waveguide provides a diagonal FOV of at least 60 degrees.
The controller controls the scanning of the light source assembly
to form a two-dimensional image. In some embodiments, the waveguide
display includes a source waveguide that receives the image light
from the light source assembly along a first dimension and expand
the emitted image light along a second dimension orthogonal to the
first dimension.
[0005] Light from the source assembly is in-coupled into the output
waveguide through an in-coupling area located at one end of the
output waveguide. The output waveguide includes a waveguide body
with two opposite surfaces. The output waveguide includes at least
an input diffraction grating on at least one of the opposite
surfaces. The input diffraction grating in-couples the image light
(propagating along an input wave vector) emitted from the light
source assembly into the output waveguide, and the input
diffraction grating has an associated first grating vector. In some
configurations, there is a single projector, and the single
projector is at a center of the first grating. In alternate
configurations, the light source assembly includes a first
projector and a second projector located along the same dimension
with a threshold distance of separation.
[0006] The output waveguide expands the image light in two
dimensions. The output waveguide includes a second and third
grating (that are associated with a second and third grating
vector, respectively) that together direct and decouple the
expanded image light from the output waveguide. The output
waveguide includes at least a first grating that receives the image
light emitted from at least one of the one or more projectors and
couples the received image light into the waveguide body, and the
waveguide body expands the received image light in at least one
dimension to transmit a first expanded image light. Each of the
second grating and the third grating expands the first expanded
image light along a different dimension to form a second expanded
image light, and output the second expanded image light to an
eyebox. In some configurations, the output expanded image light has
a wave vector that matches the input wave vector and encompasses
the first angular range and the second angular range throughout the
eyebox along the first dimension and the second dimension. The
input diffraction grating, the second grating, and the third
grating are designed such that the vector sum of all their
associated grating vectors is less than a threshold value, and the
threshold value is close to or equal to zero.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a NED, in accordance with an
embodiment.
[0008] FIG. 2 is a cross-section of the NED illustrated in FIG. 1,
in accordance with an embodiment.
[0009] FIG. 3 illustrates an isometric view of a waveguide display
with a single source assembly, in accordance with an
embodiment.
[0010] FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-section of the waveguide display,
in accordance with an embodiment.
[0011] FIG. 5A illustrates an isometric view of a first design of
the waveguide display shown in FIG. 4, in accordance with an
embodiment.
[0012] FIG. 5B illustrates a top view of the first design of the
waveguide display shown in FIG. 4, in accordance with an
embodiment.
[0013] FIG. 5C illustrates an example path of grating vectors
associated with a plurality of diffraction gratings of the first
design of the waveguide display shown in FIG. 4, in accordance with
an embodiment.
[0014] FIG. 5D illustrates an isometric view of a second design of
the waveguide display shown in FIG. 4, in accordance with an
embodiment.
[0015] FIG. 5E illustrates a top view of the second design of the
waveguide display shown in FIG. 4, in accordance with an
embodiment.
[0016] FIG. 5F illustrates an example path of grating vectors
associated with a plurality of diffraction gratings of the second
design of the waveguide display shown in FIG. 4, in accordance with
an embodiment.
[0017] FIG. 5G illustrates an isometric view of a third design of
the waveguide display shown in FIG. 4, in accordance with an
embodiment.
[0018] FIG. 5H illustrates a top view of the third design of the
waveguide display shown in FIG. 4, in accordance with an
embodiment.
[0019] FIG. 5I illustrates an example path of grating vectors
associated with a plurality of diffraction gratings of the third
design of the waveguide display shown in FIG. 4, in accordance with
an embodiment.
[0020] FIG. 5J illustrates an isometric view of a fourth design of
the waveguide display shown in FIG. 4, in accordance with an
embodiment.
[0021] FIG. 5K illustrates a top view of the fourth design of the
waveguide display shown in FIG. 4, in accordance with an
embodiment.
[0022] FIG. 5L illustrates an example path of grating vectors
associated with a plurality of diffraction gratings of the fourth
design of the waveguide display shown in FIG. 4, in accordance with
an embodiment.
[0023] FIG. 5M illustrates an isometric view of a fifth design of
the waveguide display shown in FIG. 4, in accordance with an
embodiment.
[0024] FIG. 5N illustrates a top view of the fifth design of the
waveguide display shown in FIG. 4, in accordance with an
embodiment.
[0025] FIG. 5O illustrates an example path of grating vectors
associated with a plurality of diffraction gratings of the fifth
design of the waveguide display shown in FIG. 4, in accordance with
an embodiment.
[0026] FIG. 6A illustrates an isometric view of a sixth design of
the waveguide display shown in FIG. 4, in accordance with an
embodiment.
[0027] FIG. 6B illustrates a top view of the sixth design of the
waveguide display shown in FIG. 4, in accordance with an
embodiment.
[0028] FIG. 6C illustrates an example path of grating vectors
associated with a plurality of diffraction gratings of the sixth
design of the waveguide display shown in FIG. 4, in accordance with
an embodiment.
[0029] FIG. 7 illustrates an isometric view of a waveguide display
with two source assemblies, in accordance with an embodiment.
[0030] FIG. 8 illustrates a cross-section of waveguide display
including two source assemblies, a portion of two decoupling
elements, and two coupling elements, in accordance with an
embodiment.
[0031] FIG. 9A illustrates an isometric view of a seventh design of
the waveguide display shown in FIG. 7, in accordance with an
embodiment.
[0032] FIG. 9B illustrates a top view of the seventh design of the
waveguide display shown in FIG. 7, in accordance with an
embodiment.
[0033] FIG. 9C illustrates an example path of grating vectors
associated with a plurality of diffraction gratings of the seventh
design of the waveguide display shown in FIG. 7, in accordance with
an embodiment.
[0034] FIG. 10A illustrates an isometric view of an eighth design
of the waveguide display shown in FIG. 7, in accordance with an
embodiment.
[0035] FIG. 10B illustrates a top view of the eighth design of the
waveguide display shown in FIG. 7, in accordance with an
embodiment.
[0036] FIG. 10C illustrates an example path of grating vectors
associated with a plurality of diffraction gratings of the eighth
design of the waveguide display shown in FIG. 7, in accordance with
an embodiment.
[0037] FIG. 11A illustrates an isometric view of a ninth design of
the waveguide display shown in FIG. 7, in accordance with an
embodiment.
[0038] FIG. 11B illustrates a top view of the ninth design of the
waveguide display shown in FIG. 7, in accordance with an
embodiment.
[0039] FIG. 11C illustrates an example path of grating vectors
associated with a plurality of diffraction gratings of the ninth
design of the waveguide display shown in FIG. 7, in accordance with
an embodiment.
[0040] FIG. 12A illustrates an isometric view of a tenth design of
the waveguide display shown in FIG. 7, in accordance with an
embodiment.
[0041] FIG. 12B illustrates a top view of the tenth design of the
waveguide display shown in FIG. 7, in accordance with an
embodiment.
[0042] FIG. 12C illustrates an example path of grating vectors
associated with a plurality of diffraction gratings of the tenth
design of the waveguide display shown in FIG. 7, in accordance with
an embodiment.
[0043] FIG. 12D illustrates an isometric view of an eleventh design
of the waveguide display shown in FIG. 7, in accordance with an
embodiment.
[0044] FIG. 12E illustrates a top view of the eleventh design of
the waveguide display shown in FIG. 7, in accordance with an
embodiment.
[0045] FIG. 12F illustrates an example path of grating vectors
associated with a plurality of diffraction gratings of the eleventh
design of the waveguide display shown in FIG. 7, in accordance with
an embodiment.
[0046] FIG. 12G illustrates an isometric view of a twelfth design
of the waveguide display shown in FIG. 7, in accordance with an
embodiment.
[0047] FIG. 12H illustrates a top view of the twelfth design of the
waveguide display shown in FIG. 7, in accordance with an
embodiment.
[0048] FIG. 12I illustrates an example path of grating vectors
associated with a plurality of diffraction gratings of the twelfth
design of the waveguide display shown in FIG. 7, in accordance with
an embodiment.
[0049] FIG. 13 is a block diagram of a system including the NED of
FIG. 1, in accordance with an embodiment.
[0050] The figures depict embodiments of the present disclosure for
purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily
recognize from the following description that alternative
embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be
employed without departing from the principles, or benefits touted,
of the disclosure described herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0051] Embodiments of the invention may include or be implemented
in conjunction with an artificial reality system. Artificial
reality is a form of reality that has been adjusted in some manner
before presentation to a user, which may include, e.g., a virtual
reality (VR), an augmented reality (AR), a mixed reality (MR), a
hybrid reality, or some combination and/or derivatives thereof.
Artificial reality content may include completely generated content
or generated content combined with captured (e.g., real-world)
content. The artificial reality content may include video, audio,
haptic feedback, or some combination thereof, and any of which may
be presented in a single channel or in multiple channels (such as
stereo video that produces a three-dimensional effect to the
viewer). Additionally, in some embodiments, artificial reality may
also be associated with applications, products, accessories,
services, or some combination thereof, that are used to, e.g.,
create content in an artificial reality and/or are otherwise used
in (e.g., perform activities in) an artificial reality. The
artificial reality system that provides the artificial reality
content may be implemented on various platforms, including a
head-mounted display (HMD) connected to a host computer system, a
standalone HMD, a mobile device or computing system, or any other
hardware platform capable of providing artificial reality content
to one or more viewers
[0052] A waveguide display is used for presenting media to a user.
In some embodiments, the waveguide display is incorporated into,
e.g., a near-eye-display (NED) as part of an artificial reality
system. The waveguide display includes a light source assembly, an
output waveguide, and a controller. The light source assembly
includes one or more projectors projecting an image light at least
along one dimension. In some configurations, each of the projectors
extend a first angular range along a first dimension in the range
of -26 degrees to +10 degrees and along a second dimension in the
range of -15 degrees to +15 degrees, and a second angular range
along the first dimension in the range of -10 degree to +26 degree
and along the second dimension in the range of -15 degrees to +15
degrees. In one example, the total field-of-view (FOV) is 52
degrees along the first dimension and 30 degrees along the second
dimension, and a diagonal FOV is 60 degrees. The output waveguide
receives the image light emitted from at least one of the
projectors and outputs an expanded image light to an eyebox (e.g.,
a location in space occupied by an eye of a user of the waveguide
display) of at least 20 mm by 10 mm. The output waveguide also
provides a diagonal FOV of at least 60 degrees. The controller
controls the scanning of the light source assembly to form a
two-dimensional image. In some embodiments, the waveguide display
includes a source waveguide that receives the image light from the
light source assembly along a first dimension and expand the
emitted image light along the first dimension.
[0053] Light from the source assembly is in-coupled into the output
waveguide through an in-coupling area located at one end of the
output waveguide. The output waveguide outputs the image light at a
location offset from the entrance location, and the
location/direction of the emitted image light is based in part on
the orientation of the source assembly. The output waveguide
includes a waveguide body with two opposite surfaces. The output
waveguide includes at least an input diffraction grating on at
least one of the opposite surfaces. In some configurations, the
input diffraction gratings have substantially the same area along a
first and a second dimension, and are separated by a distance along
a third dimension (e.g. on first and second surface, or both on
first surface but separated with an interfacial layer, or on second
surface and separated with an interfacial layer or both embedded
into the waveguide body but separated with the interfacial layer).
The input diffraction grating in-couples the image light
(propagating along an input wave vector) emitted from the light
source assembly into the output waveguide, and the input
diffraction grating has an associated first grating vector. In some
configurations, the one or more projectors is a single projector
and is located at a center of the input diffraction grating. In
alternate configurations, the light source assembly includes a
first projector that projects light into a first input diffraction
grating and a second projector that projects light into a second
input diffraction grating.
[0054] A wave vector of a plane wave is a vector which points in
the direction in which the wave propagates (perpendicular to the
wave front associated with an image light) and its magnitude is
inversely proportional to the wavelength of the light, defined to
be 2.pi./.lamda., where .lamda. is the wavelength of the light. In
this disclosure, only the radial component of the wave vector
(parallel to the waveguide surface) is used. For example, a light
for a projector is associated with a radial wave vector (k.sub.r0)
which has a magnitude of zero for a normal incidence on a surface
of the output waveguide. Radial component does not change as the
light enters or exits the medium (e.g. waveguide). A grating vector
is a vector whose direction is normal to the grating grooves and
its vector size is inversely proportional to its pitch. In some
configurations, the grating vector (k.sub.grating) is defined to be
2.pi./p, where p is the pitch of the grating. Since grating (e.g.
surface relief grating) is on the waveguide surface, the grating
vector is always parallel to the surface, and thus it affects only
the radial component of the wave vector of the image light.
Accordingly, the radial component of the wave vector (k.sub.r) of
an image light bouncing back and forth in the output waveguide is
changed to k.sub.r=k.sub.r0+.SIGMA.k.sub.grating, where
.SIGMA.k.sub.grating is a vector sum of the grating vectors
associated with the gratings in a waveguide.
[0055] The output waveguide expands the image light in two
dimensions. The output waveguide includes a second and third
grating (that are associated with a second and third grating
vector, respectively) that together direct and decouple the
expanded image light from the output waveguide, the output expanded
image light having a wave vector that matches the input wave
vector. The output waveguide includes at least a first grating that
receives the image light emitted from at least one of the one or
more projectors and couples the received image light into the
waveguide body, and the waveguide body expands the received image
light in at least one dimension to transmit a first expanded image
light. Each of the second grating and the third grating expands the
first expanded image light along a different dimension to form a
second expanded image light, and outputs the second expanded image
light to an eyebox. The input diffraction grating, the second
diffraction grating, and the third diffraction grating are designed
such that the vector sum of all their associated grating vectors is
less than a threshold value, and the threshold value is close to or
equal to zero.
[0056] The orientation of each source assembly is determined by the
controller based on the display instructions provided to the light
source. Note that in some embodiments, the image light used in the
waveguide display is polychromatic for each of the primary colors
(red, green, and blue) with a finite bandwidth of wavelength. The
display acts as a two-dimensional image projector with an extended
pupil over two orthogonal dimensions.
[0057] Embodiments of the invention may include or be implemented
in conjunction with an artificial reality system. Artificial
reality is a form of reality that has been adjusted in some manner
before presentation to a user, which may include, e.g., a virtual
reality (VR), an augmented reality (AR), a mixed reality (MR), a
hybrid reality, or some combination and/or derivatives thereof.
Artificial reality content may include completely generated content
or generated content combined with captured (e.g., real-world)
content. The artificial reality content may include video, audio,
haptic feedback, or some combination thereof, and any of which may
be presented in a single channel or in multiple channels (such as
stereo video that produces a three-dimensional effect to the
viewer). Additionally, in some embodiments, artificial reality may
also be associated with applications, products, accessories,
services, or some combination thereof, that are used to, e.g.,
create content in an artificial reality and/or are otherwise used
in (e.g., perform activities in) an artificial reality. The
artificial reality system that provides the artificial reality
content may be implemented on various platforms, including a
head-mounted display (HMD) connected to a host computer system, a
standalone HMD, a mobile device or computing system, or any other
hardware platform capable of providing artificial reality content
to one or more viewers.
[0058] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a near-eye-display (NED) 100, in
accordance with an embodiment. In some embodiments, the NED 100 may
be referred to as a head-mounted display (HMD). The NED 100
presents media to a user. Examples of media presented by the NED
100 include one or more images, video, audio, or some combination
thereof. In some embodiments, audio is presented via an external
device (e.g., speakers and/or headphones) that receives audio
information from the NED 100, a console (not shown), or both, and
presents audio data based on the audio information. The NED 100 is
generally configured to operate as a VR NED. However, in some
embodiments, the NED 100 may be modified to also operate as an
augmented reality (AR) NED, a mixed reality (MR) NED, or some
combination thereof. For example, in some embodiments, the NED 100
may augment views of a physical, real-world environment with
computer-generated elements (e.g., images, video, sound, etc.).
[0059] The NED 100 shown in FIG. 1 includes a frame 105 and a
display 110. The frame 105 is coupled to one or more optical
elements which together display media to users. In some
embodiments, the frame 105 may represent a frame of eye-wear
glasses. The display 110 is configured for users to see the content
presented by the NED 100. As discussed below in conjunction with
FIG. 2, the display 110 includes at least one waveguide display
assembly (not shown) for directing one or more image light to an
eye of the user. The waveguide display assembly includes, e.g., a
waveguide display, a stacked waveguide display, a varifocal
waveguide display, or some combination thereof. The stacked
waveguide display is a polychromatic display created by stacking
waveguide displays whose respective monochromatic sources are of
different colors. The stacked waveguide display is also a
polychromatic display that can be projected on multiple planes
(e.g. multi-planar display). The varifocal waveguide display is a
display that can adjust a focal position of image light emitted
from the waveguide display.
[0060] FIG. 2 is a cross-section 200 of the NED 100 illustrated in
FIG. 1, in accordance with an embodiment. The display 110 includes
at least one waveguide display assembly 210. An exit pupil 230 is a
location where the eye 220 is positioned in an eyebox region when
the user wears the NED 100. For purposes of illustration, FIG. 2
shows the cross section 200 associated with a single eye 220 and a
single waveguide display assembly 210, but in alternative
embodiments not shown, another waveguide display assembly which is
separate from the waveguide display assembly 210 shown in FIG. 2,
provides image light to an eyebox located at an exit pupil of
another eye 220 of the user.
[0061] The waveguide display assembly 210, as illustrated below in
FIG. 2, is configured to direct the image light to an eyebox
located at an exit pupil 230 of the eye 220. The waveguide display
assembly 210 may be composed of one or more materials (e.g.,
plastic, glass, etc.) with one or more refractive indices that
effectively minimize the weight and widen a field of view
(hereinafter abbreviated as `FOV`) of the NED 100. In alternate
configurations, the NED 100 includes one or more optical elements
between the waveguide display assembly 210 and the eye 220. The
optical elements may act to, e.g., correct aberrations in image
light emitted from the waveguide display assembly 210, magnify
image light emitted from the waveguide display assembly 210, some
other optical adjustment of image light emitted from the waveguide
display assembly 210, or some combination thereof. The example for
optical elements may include an aperture, a Fresnel lens, a convex
lens, a concave lens, a filter, or any other suitable optical
element that affects image light.
[0062] In some embodiments, the waveguide display assembly 210
includes a stack of one or more waveguide displays including, but
not restricted to, a stacked waveguide display, a varifocal
waveguide display, etc. The stacked waveguide display is a
polychromatic display (e.g., a red-green-blue (RGB) display)
created by stacking waveguide displays whose respective
monochromatic sources are of different colors. The stacked
waveguide display is also a polychromatic display that can be
projected on multiple planes (e.g. multi-planar colored display).
In some configurations, the stacked waveguide display is a
monochromatic display that can be projected on multiple planes
(e.g. multi-planar monochromatic display). The varifocal waveguide
display is a display that can adjust a focal position of image
light emitted from the waveguide display. In alternate embodiments,
the waveguide display assembly 210 may include the stacked
waveguide display and the varifocal waveguide display.
[0063] FIG. 3 illustrates an isometric view of a waveguide display
300, in accordance with an embodiment. In some embodiments, the
waveguide display 300 is a component (e.g., waveguide display
assembly 210) of the NED 100. In alternate embodiments, the
waveguide display 300 is part of some other NED, or other system
that directs display image light to a particular location.
[0064] The waveguide display 300 includes a source assembly 310, an
output waveguide 320, and a controller 330. For purposes of
illustration, FIG. 3 shows the waveguide display 300 associated
with a single eye 220, but in some embodiments, another waveguide
display separate (or partially separate) from the waveguide display
300, provides image light to another eye of the user. In a
partially separate system, one or more components may be shared
between waveguide displays for each eye.
[0065] The source assembly 310 generates image light. The source
assembly 310 includes an optical source, and an optics system
(e.g., as further described below with regard to FIG. 4). The
source assembly 310 generates and outputs image light 355 to a
coupling element 350 located on a first side 370 of the output
waveguide 320. The image light 355 propagates along a dimension
with an input wave vector as described below with reference to FIG.
5C.
[0066] The output waveguide 320 is an optical waveguide that
outputs image light to an eye 220 of a user. The output waveguide
320 receives the image light 355 at one or more coupling elements
350 located on the first side 370, and guides the received input
image light to decoupling element 360A. In some embodiments, the
coupling element 350 couples the image light 355 from the source
assembly 310 into the output waveguide 320. The coupling element
350 may be, e.g., a diffraction grating, a holographic grating, one
or more cascaded reflectors, one or more prismatic surface
elements, an array of holographic reflectors, or some combination
thereof. In some configurations, each of the coupling elements 350
have substantially the same area along the X-axis and the Y-axis
dimension, and are separated by a distance along the Z-axis (e.g.
on the first side 370 and the second side 380, or both on the first
side 370 but separated with an interfacial layer (not shown), or on
the second side 380 and separated with an interfacial layer or both
embedded into the waveguide body of the output waveguide 320 but
separated with the interface layer). The coupling element 350 has a
first grating vector. The pitch of the coupling element 350 may be
300-600 nm.
[0067] The decoupling element 360A redirects the total internally
reflected image light from the output waveguide 320 such that it
may be decoupled via the decoupling element 360B. The decoupling
element 360A is part of, or affixed to, the first side 370 of the
output waveguide 320. The decoupling element 360B is part of, or
affixed to, the second side 380 of the output waveguide 320, such
that the decoupling element 360A is opposed to the decoupling
element 360B. Opposed elements are opposite to each other on a
waveguide. In some configurations, there may be an offset between
the opposed elements. For example, the offset can be one quarter of
the length of an opposed element. The decoupling elements 360A and
360B may be, e.g., a diffraction grating, or a holographic grating,
one or more cascaded reflectors, one or more prismatic surface
elements, an array of holographic reflectors. In some
configurations, each of the decoupling elements 360A have
substantially the same area along the X-axis and the Y-axis
dimension, and are separated by a distance along the Z-axis (e.g.
on the first side 370 and the second side 380, or both on the first
side 370 but separated with an interfacial layer (not shown), or on
the second side 380 and separated with an interfacial layer or both
embedded into the waveguide body of the output waveguide 320 but
separated with the interface layer). The decoupling element 360A
has an associated second grating vector, and the decoupling element
360B has an associated third grating vector. An orientation and
position of the image light exiting from the output waveguide 320
is controlled by changing an orientation and position of the image
light 355 entering the coupling element 350. The pitch of the
decoupling element 360A and/or the decoupling element 360B may be
300-600 nm. In some configurations, the coupling element 350
couples the image light into the output waveguide 320 and the image
light propagates along one dimension. The decoupling element 360A
receives image light from the coupling element 350 covering a first
portion of the first angular range emitted by the source assembly
310 and diffracts the received image light to another dimension.
Note that the received image light is expanded in 2D until this
state. The decoupling element 360B diffracts a 2-D expanded image
light toward the eyebox. In alternate configurations, the coupling
element 350 couples the image light into the output waveguide 320
and the image light propagates along one dimension. The decoupling
element 360B receives image light from the coupling element 350
covering a first portion of the first angular range emitted by the
source assembly 310 and diffracts the received image light to
another dimension. Note that the received image light is expanded
in 2D until this stage. The decoupling element 360A diffracts a 2-D
expanded image light toward the eyebox.
[0068] The coupling element 350, the decoupling element 360A, and
the decoupling element 360B are designed such that a sum of their
respective grating vectors is less than a threshold value, and the
threshold value is close to or equal to zero. Accordingly, the
image light 355 entering the output waveguide 320 is propagating in
the same direction when it is output as image light 340 from the
output waveguide 320. Moreover, in alternate embodiments,
additional coupling elements and/or de-coupling elements may be
added. And so long as the sum of their respective grating vectors
is less than the threshold value, the image light 355 and the image
light 340 propagate in the same direction. The location of the
coupling element 350 relative to the decoupling element 360A and
the decoupling element 360B as shown in FIG. 3 is only an example.
In other configurations, the location could be on any other portion
of the output waveguide 320 (e.g. a top edge of the first side 370,
a bottom edge of the first side 370). In some embodiments, the
waveguide display 300 includes a plurality of source assemblies 310
and/or a plurality of coupling elements 350 to increase the FOV
and/or eyebox further.
[0069] The output waveguide 320 includes a waveguide body with the
first side 370 and a second side 380 that are opposite to each
other. In the example of FIG. 3, the waveguide body includes the
two opposite sides- the first side 370 and the second side 380,
each of the opposite sides representing a plane along the
X-dimension and Y-dimension. The output waveguide 320 may be
composed of one or more materials that facilitate total internal
reflection of the image light 355. The output waveguide 320 may be
composed of e.g., silicon, plastic, glass, or polymers, or some
combination thereof. The output waveguide 320 has a relatively
small form factor. For example, the output waveguide 320 may be
approximately 50 mm wide along X-dimension, 30 mm long along
Y-dimension and 0.3-1 mm thick along Z-dimension.
[0070] The controller 330 controls the scanning operations of the
source assembly 310. The controller 330 determines display
instructions for the source assembly 310. The display instructions
are generated based at least on the one or more display
instructions generated by the controller 330. Display instructions
are instructions to render one or more images. In some embodiments,
display instructions may simply be an image file (e.g., bitmap).
The display instructions may be received from, e.g., a console of a
system (e.g., as described below in conjunction with FIG. 13).
Display instructions are instructions used by the source assembly
310 to generate image light 340. The display instructions may
include, e.g., a type of a source of image light (e.g.
monochromatic, polychromatic), a scanning rate, an orientation of a
scanning apparatus, one or more illumination parameters (described
below with reference to FIG. 4), or some combination thereof. The
controller 330 includes a combination of hardware, software, and/or
firmware not shown here so as not to obscure other aspects of the
disclosure.
[0071] In alternate configurations (not shown), the output
waveguide 320 includes the coupling element 350 on the first side
370 and a second coupling element (not shown here) on the second
side 380. The coupling element 350 receives an image light 355 from
the source assembly 310. The coupling element on the second side
380 receives an image light from the source assembly 310 and/or a
different source assembly. The controller 330 determines the
display instructions for the source assembly 310 based at least on
the one or more display instructions.
[0072] In alternate configurations, the output waveguide 320 may be
oriented such that the source assembly 310 generates the image
light 355 propagating along an input wave vector in the
Z-dimension. The output waveguide 320 outputs the image light 340
propagating along an output wave vector that matches the input wave
vector. In some configurations, the image light 340 is a
monochromatic image light that can be projected on multiple planes
(e.g. multi-planar monochromatic display). In alternate
configurations, the image light 340 is a polychromatic image light
that can be projected on multiple planes (e.g. multi-planar
polychromatic display).
[0073] In some embodiments, the output waveguide 320 outputs the
expanded image light 340 to the user's eye 220 with a very large
FOV. For example, the expanded image light 340 provided to the
user's eye 220 with a diagonal FOV (in x and y) of at least 60
degrees. The output waveguide 320 is configured to provide an
eyebox of with a length of at least 20 mm and a width of at least
10 mm. Generally, the horizontal FOV is larger than the vertical
FOV. If the aspect ratio is 16:9, the product of the horizontal FOV
and the vertical FOV will be .about.52.times.30 degrees whose
diagonal FOV is 60 degrees for instance.
[0074] FIG. 4 illustrates a cross section 400 of the waveguide
display 300, in accordance with an embodiment. The cross section
400 of the waveguide display 300 includes the source assembly 310
and an output waveguide 420.
[0075] The source assembly 310 generates light in accordance with
display instructions from the controller 330. The source assembly
310 includes a source 410, and an optics system 415. The source 410
is a source of light that generates at least a coherent or
partially coherent image light. The source 410 may be, e.g., laser
diode, a vertical cavity surface emitting laser, a light emitting
diode, a tunable laser, a MicroLED, a superluminous LED (SLED), or
some other light source that emits coherent or partially coherent
light. The source 410 emits light in a visible band (e.g., from
about 390 nm to 700 nm), and it may emit light that is continuous
or pulsed. In some embodiments, the source 410 may be a laser that
emits light at a particular wavelength (e.g., 532 nanometers). The
source 410 emits light in accordance with one or more illumination
parameters received from the controller 330. An illumination
parameter is an instruction used by the source 410 to generate
light. An illumination parameter may include, e.g., restriction of
input wave vector for total internal reflection, restriction of
input wave vector for maximum angle, source wavelength, pulse rate,
pulse amplitude, beam type (continuous or pulsed), other
parameter(s) that affect the emitted light, or some combination
thereof.
[0076] The optics system 415 includes one or more optical
components that condition the light from the source 410.
Conditioning light from the source 410 may include, e.g.,
expanding, collimating, adjusting orientation in accordance with
instructions from the controller 330, some other adjustment of the
light, or some combination thereof. The one or more optical
components may include, e.g., lenses, liquid lens, mirrors,
apertures, gratings, or some combination thereof. In some
configurations, the optics system 415 includes liquid lens with a
plurality of electrodes that allows scanning a beam of light with a
threshold value of scanning angle in order to shift the beam of
light to a region outside the liquid lens. In an alternate
configuration, the optics system 415 includes a voice coil motor
that performs one dimensional scanning of the light to a threshold
value of scanning angle. The voice coil motor performs a movement
of one or more lens to change a direction of the light outside the
one or more lens in order to fill in the gaps between each of the
multiple lines scanned. Light emitted from the optics system 415
(and also the source assembly 310) is referred to as image light
455. The optics system 415 outputs the image light 455 at a
particular orientation (in accordance with the display
instructions) toward the output waveguide 420. The image light 455
propagates along an input wave vector such that the restrictions
for both total internal reflection and maximum angle of propagation
are met.
[0077] The output waveguide 420 receives the image light 455. The
coupling element 450 at the first side 470 couples the image light
455 from the source assembly 310 into the output waveguide 420. In
embodiments where the coupling element 450 is diffraction grating,
the pitch of the diffraction grating is chosen such that total
internal reflection occurs, and the image light 455 propagates
internally toward the decoupling element 460A. For example, the
pitch of the coupling element 450 may be in the range of 300 nm to
600 nm. In alternate embodiments, the coupling element 450 is
located at the second side 480 of the output waveguide 420.
[0078] The decoupling element 460A redirects the image light 455
toward the decoupling element 460B for decoupling from the output
waveguide 420. In embodiments where the decoupling element 460A and
460B is a diffraction grating, the pitch of the diffraction grating
is chosen to cause incident image light 455 to exit the output
waveguide 420 at a specific angle of inclination to the surface of
the output waveguide 420. An orientation of the image light exiting
from the output waveguide 420 may be altered by varying the
orientation of the image light exiting the source assembly 310,
varying an orientation of the source assembly 310, or some
combination thereof. For example, the pitch of the diffraction
grating may be in the range of 300 nm to 600 nm. The coupling
element 450, the decoupling element 460A and the decoupling element
460B are designed such that a sum of their respective grating
vectors is less than a threshold value, and the threshold value is
close to or equal to zero.
[0079] In some configurations, the first decoupling element 460A
receives the image light 455 from the coupling element 450 after
total internal reflection in the waveguide body and transmits an
expanded image light to the second decoupling element 460B at the
second side 480. The second decoupling element 460B decouples the
expanded image light 440 from the second side 480 of the output
waveguide 420 to the user's eye 220. The first decoupling element
460A and the second decoupling element 460B are structurally
similar. In alternate configurations, the second decoupling element
460B receives the image light 455 after total internal reflection
in the waveguide body and transmits an expanded image light from
the first decoupling element 460A on the first side 470.
[0080] The image light 440 exiting the output waveguide 420 is
expanded at least along two dimension (e.g., may be elongated along
X-dimension). The image light 440 couples to the human eye 220. The
image light 440 exits the output waveguide 420 such that a sum of
the respective grating vectors of each of the coupling element 450,
the decoupling element 460A, and the decoupling element 460B is
less than a threshold value, and the threshold value is close to or
equal to zero. An exact threshold value is going to be system
specific, however, it should be small enough to not degrade image
resolution beyond acceptable standards (if non-zero dispersion
occurs and resolution starts to drop). In some configurations, the
image light 440 propagates along wave vectors along at least one of
X-dimension, Y-dimension, and Z-dimension.
[0081] In alternate embodiments, the image light 440 exits the
output waveguide 420 via the decoupling element 460A. Note the
decoupling elements 460A and 460B are larger than the coupling
element 450, as the image light 440 is provided to an eyebox
located at an exit pupil of the waveguide display.
[0082] In another embodiment, the waveguide display includes two or
more decoupling elements. For example, the decoupling element 460A
may include multiple decoupling elements located side by side with
an offset. In another example, the decoupling element 460A may
include multiple decoupling elements stacked together to create a
two-dimensional decoupling element.
[0083] The controller 330 controls the source assembly 310 by
providing display instructions to the source assembly 310. The
display instructions cause the source assembly 310 to render light
such that image light exiting the decoupling element 460A of the
output waveguide 420 scans out one or more 2D images. For example,
the display instructions may cause the source assembly 310 (via
adjustments to optical elements in the optics system 415) to scan
out an image in accordance with a scan pattern (e.g., raster,
interlaced, etc.). The display instructions control an intensity of
light emitted from the source 410, and the optics system 415 scans
out the image by rapidly adjusting orientation of the emitted
light. If done fast enough, a human eye integrates the scanned
pattern into a single 2D image.
[0084] A collimated beam of image light has one or more physical
properties, including, but not restricted to, wavelength, luminous
intensity, flux, etc. The wavelength of collimated beam of image
light from a source assembly strongly impacts, among several other
parameters, the FOV of the NED 100. The FOV would be very small in
cases where a source assembly emits image light across an entire
visible band of image light. However, the waveguide display 300 has
a relatively large FOV as the waveguide display includes a
mono-chromatic source in the example shown in FIG. 4. Accordingly,
to generate a polychromatic display that has a large FOV, one or
more monochromatic waveguide displays (with one or more image light
at different wavelengths) are stacked to generate a single
polychromatic stacked waveguide display.
[0085] The waveguide display of FIG. 4 shows an example with a
single output waveguide 420 receiving a monochromatic beam of image
light 455 from the source assembly 310. In alternate embodiments,
the waveguide display 300 includes a plurality of source assemblies
310 and a plurality of output waveguides 420. Each of the source
assemblies 310 emits a monochromatic image light of a specific band
of wavelength corresponding to one of the primary colors (red,
green, and blue). Each of the output waveguides 420 may be stacked
together with a distance of separation to output an expanded image
light 440 that is multi-colored. The output waveguides are stacked
such that image light (e.g., 440) from each of the stacked
waveguides occupies a same area of the exit pupil of the stacked
waveguide display. For example, the output waveguides may be
stacked such that decoupling elements from adjacent optical
waveguides are lined up and light from a rear output waveguide
would pass through the decoupling element of the waveguide adjacent
to and in front of the rear output waveguide. In some
configurations, the expanded image light 440 can couple to the
user's eye 220 as a multi-planar display. For example, the expanded
image light 440 may include a display along at least two different
depths along the Z-dimension.
[0086] In alternate embodiments, the location of the coupling
element 450 can be located on the second side 480. In some
configurations, the waveguide display of FIG. 4 may perform a
scanning operation of the source 410 inside the source assembly 310
to form a line image. The location of the coupling element 450
shown in FIG. 4 is only an example, and several other arrangements
are apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art.
[0087] FIG. 5A illustrates an isometric view 500 of a first design
of the waveguide display shown in FIG. 4, in accordance with an
embodiment. The isometric view 500 includes the source assembly 510
and an output waveguide 520. The source assembly 510 generates
image light, and provides the image light to the output waveguide
520.
[0088] The output waveguide 520 is an optical waveguide that
outputs image light to an eye 220 of a user. The output waveguide
520 receives image light from the source assembly 510 at one or
more coupling elements 550, and guides the received input image
light to the decoupling element 560A. The coupling element 550
couples the image light from the source assembly 510 into the
output waveguide 520. The coupling element 550 may be, e.g., a
diffraction grating, a holographic grating, or some combination
thereof. The coupling element 550 has a first grating vector. The
pitch of the coupling element 550 may be 300-600 nm.
[0089] In one configuration, the first design of the waveguide
display provides a horizontal field of view of 51.0 degrees, a
vertical field of view of 31.9 degrees, and a diagonal field of
view of 60.1 degrees. In another configuration, the coupling
element 550 includes a pitch in the range of 0.3 to 0.6 micron, and
the decoupling elements 560A and 560B include a pitch in the range
of 0.3 to 0.6 micron.
[0090] FIG. 5B illustrates a top view 505 of the first design of
the waveguide display shown in FIG. 4, in accordance with an
embodiment. The top view 505 includes the coupling element 550, the
decoupling element 560A, and the decoupling element 560B of the
output waveguide 520.
[0091] FIG. 5C illustrates an example path 515 of grating vectors
associated with a plurality of diffraction gratings of the first
design of the waveguide display shown in FIG. 4, in accordance with
an embodiment. The example path 515 is a path of a wave vector of
the image light that is affected by the grating vectors of the
coupling element 550, the first decoupling element 560A, and the
second decoupling element 560B that the image light meets. The
grating vectors are just added to change the path of the wave
vector. In the example path 515, image light from the source
assembly (not shown here) is associated with a projected radial
wave vector (not shown). The image light is coupled into the output
waveguide 520 via the coupling element 550 associated with an input
grating vector (not shown). The in-coupled light is then diffracted
by the first decoupling element 560A associated with a first
grating vector (not shown). The light is then diffracted (and out
coupled from the output waveguide 520) by the second decoupling
element 560B associated with a second grating vector (not shown).
In one embodiment, the example path 515 includes a summation point
565A. The summation of the input grating vector, the first grating
vector, and the second grating vector at the summation point 565A
is zero. In a second embodiment, the example path 515 includes a
summation point 565B. The summation of the input grating vector,
the first grating vector, and the second grating vector at the
summation point 565B is zero.
[0092] FIG. 5D illustrates an isometric view 525 of a second design
of the waveguide display shown in FIG. 4, in accordance with an
embodiment. The isometric view 525 includes the source assembly 510
and an output waveguide 522. The source assembly 510 generates
image light, and provides the image light to the output waveguide
522.
[0093] The output waveguide 522 is an optical waveguide that
outputs image light to an eye 220 of a user. The output waveguide
522 receives image light from the source assembly 510 at one or
more coupling elements 552, and guides the received input image
light to the decoupling element 562A or the decoupling element
562B. The coupling element 552 couples the image light from the
source assembly 510 into the output waveguide 522. The coupling
element 552 may be, e.g., a diffraction grating, a holographic
grating, or some combination thereof. The coupling element 552 has
a first grating vector. The pitch of the coupling element 552 may
be 300-600 nm.
[0094] FIG. 5E illustrates a top view 530 of the second design of
the waveguide display shown in FIG. 4, in accordance with an
embodiment. The top view 530 includes the coupling element 552, the
decoupling element 562A, and the decoupling element 562B of the
output waveguide 522.
[0095] FIG. 5F illustrates an example path 535 of grating vectors
associated with a plurality of diffraction gratings of the second
design of the waveguide display shown in FIG. 4, in accordance with
an embodiment. The example path 535 is a path of a wave vector of
the image light that is affected by the grating vectors of the
coupling element 552, the first decoupling element 562A, and the
second decoupling element 562B that the image light meets. The
grating vectors are just added to change the path of the wave
vector. In the example path 535, image light from the source
assembly (not shown here) is associated with a projected radial
wave vector (not shown). The image light is coupled into the output
waveguide 522 via the coupling element 552 associated with an input
grating vector (not shown). The in-coupled light is then diffracted
by the first decoupling element 562A associated with a first
grating vector (not shown). The light is then diffracted (and out
coupled from the output waveguide 522) by the second decoupling
element 562B associated with a second grating vector (not shown).
In alternate configurations, the image light is coupled into the
output waveguide 522 via the coupling element 552 associated with
an input grating vector (not shown). The in-coupled light is then
diffracted by the second decoupling element 562B associated with a
first grating vector (not shown). The light is then diffracted (and
out coupled from the output waveguide 522) by the first decoupling
element 562A associated with a second grating vector (not shown).
In one embodiment, the example path 535 includes a summation point
565D. The summation point 565D corresponds to the sum of the
k-vectors in the order corresponding to: a grating vector
associated with the coupling element 552, a grating vector
associated with the decoupling element 562A, the grating vector
associated with the decoupling element 562A, and the grating vector
associated with the decoupling element 562B. In a second
embodiment, the example path 535 includes a summation point 565E.
The summation point 565E corresponds to the sum of the k-vectors in
the order corresponding to: the grating vector associated with the
coupling element 552, a grating vector associated with the
decoupling element 562A, the grating vector associated with the
decoupling element 562B, and the grating vector associated with the
decoupling element 562A. In a third embodiment, the example path
535 includes a summation point 565F. The summation point 565F
corresponds to the sum of the k-vectors in the order corresponding
to: a grating vector associated with the coupling element 552, a
grating vector associated with the decoupling element 562B, the
grating vector associated with the decoupling element 562B, and the
grating vector associated with the decoupling element 562A. In a
fourth embodiment, the example path 535 includes a summation point
565G. The summation point 565G corresponds to the sum of the
k-vectors in the order corresponding to: a grating vector
associated with the coupling element 552, a grating vector
associated with the decoupling element 562B, the grating vector
associated with the decoupling element 562A, and the grating vector
associated with the decoupling element 562B.
[0096] FIG. 5G illustrates an isometric view of a third design of
the waveguide display shown in FIG. 4, in accordance with an
embodiment. The isometric view 540 includes the source assembly 510
and an output waveguide 524. The source assembly 510 generates
image light, and provides the image light to the output waveguide
524.
[0097] The output waveguide 524 is an optical waveguide that
outputs image light to an eye 220 of a user. The output waveguide
524 receives image light from the source assembly 510 at one or
more coupling elements 554, and guides the received input image
light to the decoupling element 564A. The coupling element 554
couples the image light from the source assembly 510 into the
output waveguide 524. The coupling element 554 may be, e.g., a
diffraction grating, a holographic grating, or some combination
thereof. The coupling element 554 has a first grating vector. The
pitch of the coupling element 554 may be 300-600 nm.
[0098] FIG. 5H illustrates a top view 545 of the third design of
the waveguide display shown in FIG. 4, in accordance with an
embodiment. The top view 545 includes the coupling element 554, the
decoupling element 564A, and the decoupling element 564B of the
output waveguide 524.
[0099] FIG. 5I illustrates an example path 551 of grating vectors
associated with a plurality of diffraction gratings of the third
design of the waveguide display shown in FIG. 4, in accordance with
an embodiment. The example path 551 is a path of a wave vector of
the image light that is affected by the grating vectors of the
coupling element 554, the first decoupling element 564A, and the
second decoupling element 564B that the image light meets. The
grating vectors are just added to change the path of the wave
vector. In the example path 551, image light from the source
assembly (not shown here) is associated with a projected radial
wave vector (not shown). The image light is coupled into the output
waveguide 524 via the coupling element 554 associated with an input
grating vector (not shown). The in-coupled light is then diffracted
by the first decoupling element 564A associated with a first
grating vector (not shown). The light is then diffracted (and out
coupled from the output waveguide 524) by the second decoupling
element 564B associated with a second grating vector (not shown).
In one embodiment, the example path 551 includes a summation point
565H. The summation of the input grating vector, the first grating
vector, and the second grating vector at the summation point 565H
is zero. In a second embodiment, the example path 551 includes a
summation point 565I. The summation point 565I corresponds to the
sum of the k-vectors in the order corresponding to: a grating
vector associated with the coupling element 554, a grating vector
associated with the decoupling element 564B, and the grating vector
associated with the decoupling element 564A. The summation of the
input grating vector, the first grating vector, and the second
grating vector at the summation point 565I is zero.
[0100] FIG. 5J illustrates an isometric view 560 of a fourth design
of the waveguide display shown in FIG. 4, in accordance with an
embodiment. The isometric view 560 includes the source assembly 510
and an output waveguide 526. The source assembly 510 generates
image light, and provides the image light to the output waveguide
526.
[0101] The output waveguide 526 is an optical waveguide that
outputs image light to an eye 220 of a user. The output waveguide
526 receives image light from the source assembly 510 at one or
more coupling elements 556, and guides the received input image
light to the decoupling element 566A. The coupling element 556
couples the image light from the source assembly 510 into the
output waveguide 526. The coupling element 556 may be, e.g., a
diffraction grating, a holographic grating, or some combination
thereof. The coupling element 556 has a first grating vector. The
pitch of the coupling element 556 may be 300-600 nm.
[0102] FIG. 5K illustrates a top view 565 of the fourth design of
the waveguide display shown in FIG. 4, in accordance with an
embodiment. The top view 565 includes the coupling element 556, the
decoupling element 566A, and the decoupling element 566B of the
output waveguide 526.
[0103] FIG. 5L illustrates an example path 570 of grating vectors
associated with a plurality of diffraction gratings of the fourth
design of the waveguide display shown in FIG. 4, in accordance with
an embodiment. The example path 570 is a path of a wave vector of
the image light that is affected by the grating vectors of the
coupling element 556, the first decoupling element 566A, and the
second decoupling element 566B that the image light meets. The
grating vectors are just added to change the path of the wave
vector. In the example path 570, image light from the source
assembly (not shown here) is associated with a projected radial
wave vector (not shown). The image light is coupled into the output
waveguide 526 via the coupling element 556 associated with an input
grating vector (not shown). The in-coupled light is then diffracted
by the first decoupling element 566A associated with a first
grating vector (not shown). The light is then diffracted (and out
coupled from the output waveguide 526) by the second decoupling
element 566B associated with a second grating vector (not shown).
In one embodiment, the example path 570 includes a summation point
565J. The summation of the input grating vector, the first grating
vector, and the second grating vector at the summation point 565J
is zero. In a second embodiment, the example path 570 includes a
summation point 565K. The summation point 565K corresponds to the
sum of the k-vectors in the order corresponding to: a grating
vector associated with the coupling element 556, a grating vector
associated with the decoupling element 566B, and the grating vector
associated with the decoupling element 566A. The summation of the
input grating vector, the first grating vector, and the second
grating vector at the summation point 565K is zero.
[0104] FIG. 5M illustrates an isometric view 575 of a fifth design
of the waveguide display shown in FIG. 4, in accordance with an
embodiment. The isometric view 575 includes the source assembly 510
and an output waveguide 528. The source assembly 510 generates
image light, and provides the image light to the output waveguide
528.
[0105] The output waveguide 528 is an optical waveguide that
outputs image light to an eye 220 of a user. The output waveguide
528 receives image light from the source assembly 510 at the first
coupling element 558A and the second coupling element 558B, and
guides the received input image light to the decoupling element
568A. The first coupling element 558A and the second coupling
element 558B couple the image light from the source assembly 510
into the output waveguide 528. The role of the first coupling
element 558A and the second coupling element 558B is to split the
image light from the source assembly 510 horizontally in advance
(before the in-coupled image light reaches the decoupling element
568A or 568B). The configuration shown in the example of FIG. 5M,
among several other merits, helps to reduce the lateral surface
area of the output waveguide 528, and achieve a substantially lower
form factor for the output waveguide 528.
[0106] The coupling element 558A and the coupling element 558B may
be, e.g., a diffraction grating, a holographic grating, or some
combination thereof. The coupling element 558A and the coupling
element 558B has a first grating vector. The pitch of the coupling
element 558A and the coupling element 558B may be 300-600 nm.
[0107] FIG. 5N illustrates a top view 580 of the fifth design of
the waveguide display shown in FIG. 4, in accordance with an
embodiment. The top view 580 includes the first coupling element
558A, the second coupling element 558B, the decoupling element
568A, and the decoupling element 568B of the output waveguide 528.
The example path 585 is a path of a wave vector of the image light
that is affected by the grating vectors of the first coupling
element 558A, the second coupling element 558B, the first
decoupling element 568A, and the second decoupling element 568B
that the image light meets. The grating vectors are just added to
change the path of the wave vector. In the example path 585, image
light from the source assembly (not shown here) is associated with
a projected radial wave vector (not shown). The image light is
coupled into the output waveguide 528 via the first coupling
element 558A and the second coupling element 558B associated with
an input grating vector (not shown). The in-coupled light is then
diffracted by the first decoupling element 568A associated with a
first grating vector (not shown). The light is then diffracted (and
out coupled from the output waveguide 528) by the second decoupling
element 568B associated with a second grating vector (not shown).
In one embodiment, the example path 585 includes a summation point
565P. The summation of the input grating vector, the first grating
vector, and the second grating vector at the summation point 565P
is zero. In a second embodiment, the example path 585 includes a
summation point 565Q. The summation point 565Q corresponds to the
sum of the k-vectors in the order corresponding to: a grating
vector associated with the first coupling element 558A, the second
coupling element 558B, a grating vector associated with the
decoupling element 568B, and the grating vector associated with the
decoupling element 568A. The summation of the input grating vector,
the first grating vector, and the second grating vector at the
summation point 565Q is zero.
[0108] FIG. 5O illustrates an example path 585 of grating vectors
associated with a plurality of diffraction gratings of the fifth
design of the waveguide display shown in FIG. 4, in accordance with
an embodiment. The example path 585 is a path of a wave vector of
the image light that is affected by the grating vectors of the
coupling element 558A, the first decoupling element 566A, and the
second decoupling element 566B that the image light meets. The
grating vectors are just added to change the path of the wave
vector. In the example path 570, image light from the source
assembly (not shown here) is associated with a projected radial
wave vector (not shown). The image light is coupled into the output
waveguide 526 via the coupling element 556 associated with an input
grating vector (not shown). The in-coupled light is then diffracted
by the first decoupling element 566A associated with a first
grating vector (not shown). The light is then diffracted (and out
coupled from the output waveguide 526) by the second decoupling
element 566B associated with a second grating vector (not shown).
In one embodiment, the example path 570 includes a summation point
565J. The summation of the input grating vector, the first grating
vector, and the second grating vector at the summation point 565J
is zero. In a second embodiment, the example path 570 includes a
summation point 565K. The summation point 565K corresponds to the
sum of the k-vectors in the order corresponding to: a grating
vector associated with the coupling element 556, a grating vector
associated with the decoupling element 566B, and the grating vector
associated with the decoupling element 566A. The summation of the
input grating vector, the first grating vector, and the second
grating vector at the summation point 565K is zero.
[0109] FIG. 6A illustrates an isometric view of a sixth design of
the waveguide display 600 shown in FIG. 4, in accordance with an
embodiment. The waveguide display 600 includes the source assembly
610, a source waveguide 615A, and an output waveguide 620.
[0110] The source waveguide 615A is an optical waveguide. The
source waveguide 615A receives the image light from the source
assembly 610 and outputs an image light (not shown) to an output
waveguide 620. The image light from the source waveguide 615A
propagates along a dimension with an input wave vector as described
below with reference to FIG. 6C.
[0111] The output waveguide 620 is an optical waveguide. The output
waveguide 620 includes a coupling element 650A, a decoupling
element 660A and a decoupling element 660B.
[0112] FIG. 6B illustrates a top view 670 of the sixth design of
the waveguide display shown in FIG. 4, in accordance with an
embodiment. The top view 670 includes the source assembly 610, the
source waveguide 615A, and the output waveguide 620.
[0113] FIG. 6C illustrates an example path 680 of grating vectors
associated with a plurality of diffraction gratings of the sixth
design of the waveguide display shown in FIG. 4, in accordance with
an embodiment. The example path 680 is a path of a wave vector of
the image light that is affected by the grating vectors of the
coupling element 650A, the first decoupling element 660A, and the
second decoupling element 660B that the image light meets. The
grating vectors are just added to change the path of the wave
vector. In the example path 680, image light from the source
assembly 610 is associated with a projected radial wave vector (not
shown). The image light is coupled into the output waveguide 620
via the coupling element 650A associated with an input grating
vector (not shown). The in-coupled light is then diffracted by the
first decoupling element 660A associated with a first grating
vector (not shown). The light is then diffracted (and out coupled
from the output waveguide) by the second decoupling element 660B
associated with a second grating vector (not shown). In one
embodiment, the example path 680 includes a first summation point
655C, a second summation point 665C, and a third summation point
665D. Note that the summation of the projected radial wave vector
at the first summation point 655C is zero.
[0114] In a different embodiment, the example path 680 includes a
summation point 655D, a summation point 665E, and a summation point
665F. The summation point 655D is an embodiment of the first
summation point 655C. The summation point 665E is an embodiment of
the second summation point 665C. The summation point 665F is an
embodiment of the third summation point 655D. Note that the
summation point 655C and the summation point 655D occur in the
source waveguide 615A, while the summation point 665C, the
summation point 665D, the summation point 665E, and the summation
point 665F occur in the output waveguide 620.
[0115] The coupling element 650A, the first decoupling element
660A, and the second decoupling element 660B, are diffraction
gratings whose grating vectors sum to a value that is less than a
threshold value, and the threshold value is close to or equal to
zero. In this example, a zero summation occurs, as the vector path
returns to its origination point. With the occurrence of the zero
summation, the image light exits the output waveguide 620 with the
same angle as the incident angle from the source assembly 610 since
the remaining radial wave vector is associated with the FOV of the
waveguide display.
[0116] FIG. 7 illustrates an isometric view of a waveguide display
700 with two source assemblies, in accordance with an embodiment.
The waveguide display 700 includes a first source assembly 710A, a
second source assembly 710B, an output waveguide 720 and the
controller 330.
[0117] The first source assembly 710A generates and outputs an
image light 755A to the first coupling element 750A. The second
source assembly 710B generates and outputs an image light 755B to
the second coupling element 750B. Each of the image light 755A and
the image light 755B is an embodiment of the image light 355 of
FIG. 3. The controller 330 sends display instructions to each of
the first source assembly 710A and the second source assembly
710B.
[0118] In some embodiments, the first source assembly 710A and the
second source assembly 710B are located with a threshold value of
distance of separation along the X-dimension. In alternate
embodiments, the first source assembly 710A and the second source
assembly 710B are located with a threshold value of distance of
separation along the Y-dimension. Example positions of the first
source assembly 710A and 710B are also discussed below with regard
to FIGS. 9A, 10A, and 11A.
[0119] The output waveguide 720 is an optical waveguide that
outputs image light to an eye 220 of a user. The output waveguide
720 receives the image light 755A at the coupling element 750A and
the image light 755B at the coupling element 750B, and guides the
received input image light to the decoupling element 760A. In some
embodiments, the coupling element 750A couples the image light 755A
from the first source assembly 710A into the output waveguide 720.
The coupling element 750A may be, e.g., a diffraction grating, a
holographic grating, one or more cascaded reflectors, one or more
prismatic surface elements, an array of holographic reflectors, or
some combination thereof. The coupling element 750A has a first
grating vector. The pitch of the coupling element 750A may be
300-600 nm. The coupling element 750A may be 2 mm wide and 2 mm
thick.
[0120] The coupling element 750A at the first side 770 couples the
image light 755A from the first source assembly 710A into the
output waveguide 720. In embodiments where the coupling element
750A is diffraction grating, the pitch of the diffraction grating
is chosen such that total internal reflection occurs, and the image
light 755A propagates internally toward the decoupling element
760A. For example, the pitch of the coupling element 750A may be in
the range of 300 nm to 600 nm. In alternate embodiments, the
coupling element 750A is located at the second side 780 of the
output waveguide 720. The coupling element 750B is an embodiment of
the coupling element 750A. The image light 755B is an embodiment of
the image light 755A.
[0121] The decoupling element 760A redirects the image light 755A
toward the decoupling element 760B for decoupling from the output
waveguide 720. In embodiments where the decoupling element 760A is
a diffraction grating, the pitch of the diffraction grating is
chosen to cause incident image light 755A to exit the output
waveguide 720 at a specific angle of inclination to the surface of
the output waveguide 720. An orientation of the image light exiting
from the output waveguide 720 may be altered by varying the
orientation of the image light exiting the first source assembly
710A, varying an orientation of the first source assembly 710A, or
some combination thereof. For example, the pitch of the diffraction
grating may be in the range of 300 nm to 600 nm, and the size of
the diffraction grating may be 30 mm by 25 mm. Both the coupling
element 750 and the decoupling element 760A are designed such that
a sum of their respective grating vectors is less than a threshold
value, and the threshold value is close to or equal to zero. In
some configurations, the coupling elements 750A and 750B couple the
image light into the output waveguide 720 and the image light
propagates along one dimension. The decoupling element 760A
receives image light from the coupling elements 750A and 750B
covering a first portion of the first angular range emitted by the
source assemblies 710A and 710B and diffracts the received image
light to another dimension. Note that the received image light is
expanded in 2D until this stage. The decoupling element 760B
diffracts a 2-D expanded image light toward the eyebox. In
alternate configurations, the coupling elements 750A and 750B
couple the image light into the output waveguide 720 and the image
light propagates along one dimension. The decoupling element 760B
receives image light from the coupling elements 750A and 750B
covering a first portion of the first angular range emitted by the
first source assembly 710A and the second source assembly 710B, and
diffracts the received image light to another dimension. Note that
the received image light is expanded in 2D until this state. The
decoupling element 760A diffracts a 2-D expanded image light toward
the eyebox.
[0122] The image light 740 exiting the output waveguide 720 is
expanded at least along two dimensions (e.g., may be elongated
along X-dimension). The image light 740 couples to the human eye
220. The image light 740 exits the output waveguide 720 such that a
sum of the respective grating vectors of each of the coupling
element 750, the decoupling element 760A, and the decoupling
element 760B is less than a threshold value, and the threshold
value is close to or equal to zero. An exact threshold value is
going to be system specific, however, it should be small enough to
not degrade image resolution beyond acceptable standards (if
non-zero dispersion occurs and resolution starts to drop). In some
configurations, the image light 740 propagates along wave vectors
along at least one of X-dimension, Y-dimension, and
Z-dimension.
[0123] In alternate embodiments, the image light 740 exits the
output waveguide 720 via the decoupling element 760A. Note the
decoupling elements 760A and 760B are larger than the coupling
element 750A, as the image light 740 is provided to an eyebox
located at an exit pupil of the waveguide display 700.
[0124] In another embodiment, the waveguide display 700 includes
two or more decoupling elements. For example, the decoupling
element 760A may include multiple decoupling elements located side
by side with an offset. In another example, the decoupling element
760A may include multiple decoupling elements stacked together to
create a two-dimensional decoupling element.
[0125] The controller 330 controls the first source assembly 710A
and the second source assembly 710B by providing display
instructions to each of the first source assembly 710A and the
second source assembly 710B. The display instructions cause the
first source assembly 710A and the second source assembly 710B to
render light such that image light exiting the decoupling element
760A of the output waveguide 720 scans out one or more 2D images.
For example, the display instructions may cause the first source
assembly 710A and the second source assembly 710B (via adjustments
to optical elements in the optics system 820) to scan out an image
in accordance with a scan pattern (e.g., raster, interlaced,
etc.).
[0126] FIG. 8 illustrates a cross section 800 of the waveguide
display including two source assemblies, a portion of two
decoupling elements, and two coupling elements, in accordance with
an embodiment. The cross section 800 includes the first source
assembly 710A, the second source assembly 710B, and a portion of
the output waveguide 720 of FIG. 7.
[0127] Each of the first source assembly 710A and the second source
assembly 710B generates light in accordance with display
instructions from the controller 330. The first source assembly
710A includes the source 810, and the optics system 820, as
described above in conjunction with FIG. 4. The second source
assembly 810B is an embodiment of the first source assembly
810A.
[0128] The output waveguide 720 is an optical waveguide that
outputs an image light 840 to an eye 220 of a user. The output
waveguide 720 receives the image light 855A at the coupling element
850A and the image light 855B at the coupling element 850B located
on a first side 870, and guides the received input image light to a
portion of a decoupling element 860A. In some embodiments, the
coupling element 850A couples the image light 855A from the first
source assembly 810A into the output waveguide 720. The coupling
element 850A may be, e.g., a diffraction grating, a holographic
grating, or some combination thereof. The coupling element 850A has
a first grating vector. The pitch of the coupling element 850A may
be 300-600 nm.
[0129] The portion of the decoupling element 860A redirects the
total internally reflected image light from the output waveguide
720 such that it may be decoupled via a portion of the decoupling
element 860B. The portion of the decoupling element 860A is part
of, or affixed to, the first side 870 of the output waveguide 720.
The decoupling element 860B is part of, or affixed to, a second
side 880 of the output waveguide 720, such that the portion of the
decoupling element 860A is opposed to the decoupling element 860B.
Opposed elements are opposite to each other on a waveguide.
[0130] The coupling element 850A, the coupling element 850B, the
portion of the decoupling element 860A, and the portion of the
decoupling element 860B are designed such that a sum of their
respective grating vectors is less than a threshold value, and the
threshold value is close to or equal to zero. Accordingly, the
image light 855A and the image light 855B entering the output
waveguide 720 is propagating in the same direction when it is
output as image light 840 from a portion of the decoupling element
860B of the output waveguide 720. Moreover, in alternate
embodiments, additional coupling elements and/or de-coupling
elements may be added. And so long as the sum of their respective
grating vectors is less than the threshold value, the image light
855A, the image light 855B and the image light 840 propagate in the
same direction. In some embodiments, the waveguide display includes
a plurality of the first source assemblies 710A, a plurality of the
second source assemblies 710B and/or a plurality of the coupling
elements 850A and the coupling elements 850B to increase the FOV
further.
[0131] The controller 330 controls the first source assembly 710A
and the second source assembly 710B by providing display
instructions to each of the first source assembly 710A and the
second source assembly 710B. The display instructions cause the
first source assembly 710A and the second source assembly 710B to
render light such that image light exiting the decoupling element
860B of the output waveguide 720 scans out one or more 2D images.
The display instructions control an intensity of light emitted from
the source 810, and the optics system 820 scans out the image by
rapidly adjusting orientation of the emitted light. If done fast
enough, a human eye integrates the scanned pattern into a single 2D
image.
[0132] FIG. 9A illustrates an isometric view 900 of a seventh
design of the waveguide display shown in FIG. 7, in accordance with
an embodiment. The isometric view 900 includes the first source
assembly 910A, the second source assembly 910B and an output
waveguide 920.
[0133] Each of the first source assembly 910A and the second source
assembly 910B is a set of optical components that perform a
generation and conditioning of an image light. The first source
assembly 910A outputs an image light (not shown) to the output
waveguide 920. The second source assembly 910B outputs an image
light (not shown) to the output waveguide 920.
[0134] The output waveguide 920 is an optical waveguide that
outputs image light to an eye 220 of a user. The output waveguide
920 receives an image light (not shown) at the coupling element
950A and the coupling element 950B, and guides the received input
image light to the decoupling element 960A. In some embodiments,
the coupling element 950A and the coupling element 950B couple the
image light from the first source assembly 910A and the second
source assembly 910B into the output waveguide 920. The coupling
element 950A may be, e.g., a diffraction grating, a holographic
grating, or some combination thereof. The coupling element 950A has
a first grating vector. The pitch of the coupling element 950A may
be 300-600 nm. As shown in FIG. 9A, the output waveguide 920
includes the first source assembly 910A that projects light into
the coupling element 950A, and the second source assembly 910B that
projects light into the coupling element 950B, and the coupling
element 950A and the coupling element 950B are on the same surface
of the output waveguide 920, and both the coupling element 950A and
the coupling element 950B are located adjacent to a same side along
the X-dimension of the decoupling element 960A. In one
configuration, the seventh design of the waveguide display provides
a horizontal field of view of 65.0 degrees, a vertical field of
view of 30.5 degrees, and a diagonal field of view of 71.8 degrees.
In another configuration, the coupling element 950A and the
coupling element 950B include a pitch in the range of 300 nm to 600
nm, and the decoupling elements 960A and 960B include a pitch in
the range of 300 nm to 600 nm. In yet another configuration, the
first source assembly 910A and the second source assembly 910B
include a distance of separation of at least 20 mm.
[0135] FIG. 9B illustrates a top view 905 of the seventh design of
the waveguide display shown in FIG. 7, in accordance with an
embodiment. The top view 905 includes the coupling element 950A,
the coupling element 950B, the decoupling element 960A, and the
decoupling element 960B of the output waveguide 920.
[0136] FIG. 9C illustrates an example path 915 of grating vectors
associated with a plurality of diffraction gratings of the seventh
design of the waveguide display shown in FIG. 7, in accordance with
an embodiment. The example path 915 is a path of a wave vector of
the image light that is affected by the grating vectors of the
coupling element 950A, the coupling element 950B, the first
decoupling element 960A, and the second decoupling element 960B
that the image light meets. The grating vectors are just added to
change the path of the wave vector. In the example path 915, image
light from each of the source assemblies (not shown here) is
associated with a respective projected radial wave vector (not
shown). The image light is coupled into the output waveguide 920
via the coupling element 950A and the coupling element 950B
associated with a respective input grating vector (not shown). The
in-coupled light is then diffracted by the first decoupling element
960A associated with a first grating vector (not shown). The light
is then diffracted (and out coupled from the output waveguide 920)
by the second decoupling element 960B associated with a second
grating vector (not shown). In one embodiment, the example path 915
includes a summation point 965A. The summation of the input grating
vector, the first grating vector, and the second grating vector at
the summation point 965A is zero. In a second embodiment, the
example path 915 includes a summation point 965B. The summation of
the input grating vector, the first grating vector, and the second
grating vector at the summation point 965B is zero. In some
configurations, the example path 915 includes at least two of the
input wave vector, the first grating vector, and the second grating
vector intersecting at 90 degrees resulting in a right-angled
triangle.
[0137] FIG. 10A illustrates an isometric view 1000 of an eighth
design of the waveguide display shown in FIG. 7, in accordance with
an embodiment. The isometric view 1000 includes the first source
assembly 1010A, the second source assembly 1010B and the output
waveguide 1020.
[0138] Each of the first source assembly 1010A and the second
source assembly 010B is a set of optical components that perform a
generation and conditioning of an image light. The first source
assembly 1010A outputs an image light (not shown) to the output
waveguide 1020. The second source assembly 1010B outputs an image
light (not shown) to the output waveguide 1020.
[0139] The output waveguide 1020 is an optical waveguide that
outputs image light to an eye 220 of a user. The output waveguide
1020 receives an image light (not shown) at the coupling element
1050A and the coupling element 1050B, and guides the received input
image light to the decoupling element 1060A. In some embodiments,
the coupling element 1050A and the coupling element 1050B couple
the image light from the first source assembly 1010A and the second
source assembly 1010B into the output waveguide 1020. The coupling
element 1050A may be, e.g., a diffraction grating, a holographic
grating, or some combination thereof. The coupling element 1050A
has a first grating vector. The pitch of the coupling element 950A
may be 300-600 nm.
[0140] In one configuration, the eighth design of the waveguide
display provides a horizontal field of view of 54.0 degrees, a
vertical field of view of 27.0 degrees, and a diagonal field of
view of 60.4 degrees. In another configuration, the coupling
element 1050A and the coupling element 1050B include a pitch in the
range of 300 nm to 600 nm, and the decoupling elements 1060A and
1060B include a pitch in the range of 300 nm to 600 nm. In yet
another configuration, the first source assembly 1010A and the
second source assembly 1010B include a distance of separation of 20
mm.
[0141] FIG. 10B illustrates a top view 1005 of the eighth design of
the waveguide display shown in FIG. 7, in accordance with an
embodiment. The top view 1005 includes the coupling element 1050A,
the coupling element 1050B, the decoupling element 1060A, and the
decoupling element 1060B of the output waveguide 1020.
[0142] FIG. 10C illustrates an example path 1015 of grating vectors
associated with a plurality of diffraction gratings of the eighth
design of the waveguide display shown in FIG. 7, in accordance with
an embodiment. The example path 1015 is a path of a wave vector of
the image light that is affected by the grating vectors of the
coupling element 1050A, the coupling element 1050B, the first
decoupling element 1060A, and the second decoupling element 1060B
that the image light meets. The grating vectors are just added to
change the path of the wave vector. In the example path 1015, image
light from each of the source assemblies (not shown here) is
associated with a respective projected radial wave vector (not
shown). The image light is coupled into the output waveguide 1020
via the coupling element 1050A and the coupling element 1050B
associated with a respective input grating vector (not shown). The
in-coupled light is then diffracted by the first decoupling element
1060A associated with a first grating vector (not shown). The light
is then diffracted (and out coupled from the output waveguide 1020)
by the second decoupling element 1060B associated with a second
grating vector (not shown). In one embodiment, the example path
1015 includes a summation point 1065A. The summation of the input
grating vector, the first grating vector, and the second grating
vector at the summation point 1065A is zero. In a second
embodiment, the example path 1015 includes a summation point 1065B.
The summation of the input grating vector, the first grating
vector, and the second grating vector at the summation point 1065B
is zero. In some configurations, the example path 1015 is an
equilateral triangle with the same magnitude for the input wave
vector, the first grating vector, and the second grating
vector.
[0143] FIG. 11A illustrates an isometric view 1100 of a ninth
design of the waveguide display shown in FIG. 7, in accordance with
an embodiment. The isometric view 1100 includes the first source
assembly 1110A, the second source assembly 1110B, and an output
waveguide 1120.
[0144] Each of the first source assembly 1110A and the second
source assembly 1110B is a set of optical components that perform a
generation and conditioning of an image light. The first source
assembly 1110A outputs an image light (not shown) to the output
waveguide 1120. The second source assembly 1110B outputs an image
light (not shown) to the output waveguide 1120. The first source
assembly 1110A and the second source assembly 1110B are located
with a threshold value of distance of separation along the
X-dimension, and at a central position along the Y-dimension (e.g.
mid-point of a side of the output waveguide 1120 along the
Y-axis).
[0145] The output waveguide 1120 is an optical waveguide that
outputs image light to an eye 220 of a user. The output waveguide
1120 receives an image light (not shown) at the coupling element
1150A and the coupling element 1150B, and guides the received input
image light to the decoupling element 1160A. In some embodiments,
the coupling element 1150A and the coupling element 1150B couple
the image light from the first source assembly 1110A and the second
source assembly 1110B, respectively, into the output waveguide
1120. The coupling element 1150A may be, e.g., a diffraction
grating, a holographic grating, or some combination thereof. The
coupling element 1150A has a first grating vector. The pitch of the
coupling element 1150A may be 300-600 nm. As shown in FIG. 11A, the
first source assembly 1110A projects light into the coupling
element 1150A, and the second source assembly 1110B projects light
into the coupling element 1150B, and the coupling element 1150A and
the coupling element 1150B are on the same surface along the X-Y
plane, and the decoupling element 1160A is in between the coupling
element 1150A and the coupling element 1150B.
[0146] In one configuration, the ninth design of the waveguide
display provides a horizontal field of view of 65.0 degrees, a
vertical field of view of 40.0 degrees, and a diagonal field of
view of 76.3 degrees. In another configuration, the coupling
element 1150A and the coupling element 1150B include a pitch in the
range of 300 nm to 600 nm, and the decoupling elements 1160A and
1160B include a pitch in the range of 300 nm to 600 nm.
[0147] FIG. 11B illustrates a top view 1105 of the ninth design of
the waveguide display shown in FIG. 7, in accordance with an
embodiment. The top view 1105 includes the coupling element 1150A,
the coupling element 1150B, the decoupling element 1160A, and the
decoupling element 1160B of the output waveguide 1120.
[0148] FIG. 11C illustrates an example path 1115 of grating vectors
associated with a plurality of diffraction gratings of the ninth
design of the waveguide display shown in FIG. 7, in accordance with
an embodiment. The example path 1115 is a path of a wave vector of
the image light that is affected by the grating vectors of the
coupling element 1150A, the coupling element 1150B, the first
decoupling element 1160A, and the second decoupling element 1160B
that the image light meets. The grating vectors are just added to
change the path of the wave vector. In the example path 1115, image
light from each of the source assemblies (not shown here) is
associated with a respective projected radial wave vector (not
shown). The image light is coupled into the output waveguide 1120
via the coupling element 1150A and the coupling element 1150B
associated with a respective input grating vector (not shown). The
in-coupled light is then diffracted by the first decoupling element
1160A associated with a first grating vector (not shown). The light
is then diffracted (and out coupled from the output waveguide 1120)
by the second decoupling element 1160B associated with a second
grating vector (not shown). In one embodiment, the example path
1115 includes a summation point 1165A and a summation point 1165B.
The summation of the input grating vector, the first grating
vector, and the second grating vector at each of the summation
point 1165A and the summation point 1160B is zero. In a second
embodiment, the example path 1115 includes a summation point 1165C
and a summation point 1165D. The summation of the input grating
vector, the first grating vector, and the second grating vector at
each of the summation point 1165C and the summation point 1165D is
zero. In some configurations, the example path 1115 is a pair of
equilateral triangles with the same magnitude for the input wave
vector, the first grating vector, and the second grating
vector.
[0149] FIG. 12A illustrates an isometric view 1200 of the tenth
design of the waveguide display shown in FIG. 7, in accordance with
an embodiment. The isometric view 1200 includes a source assembly
1210, a source waveguide 1215, and an output waveguide 1220.
[0150] The source assembly 1210 is a set of optical components that
perform a generation and conditioning of an image light. In some
configurations, the source assembly 1210 includes a light source
and an optics system (not shown here). For example, the light
source generates an image light and the optics system conditions
the generated image light. The source assembly 1210 is an
embodiment of the source assembly 610. The source assembly 1210
outputs an image light (not shown) to a source waveguide 1215.
[0151] The source waveguide 1215 is an optical waveguide. The
source waveguide 1215 receives the image light from the source
assembly 1210 and outputs an image light (not shown) to an output
waveguide 1220. The image light from the source waveguide 1215
propagates along a dimension with an input wave vector as described
below with reference to FIG. 12C.
[0152] The output waveguide 1220 is an optical waveguide that
outputs image light to an eye 220 of a user. The output waveguide
1220 receives the image light from the source waveguide 1215 at a
coupling element 1250A, and guides the received input image light
to a decoupling element 1260A or a decoupling element 1260B.
[0153] The coupling element 1250A includes a width in the range of
10 mm to 20 mm, a height in the range of 2 mm to 5 mm and a pitch
in the range of 0.3 to 0.6 micron.
[0154] The decoupling element 1260A includes a width in the range
of 10 mm to 20 mm, a height in the range of 2 mm to 5 mm and a
pitch in the range of 0.3 to 0.6 micron. The decoupling element
1260B includes a width in the range of 10 mm to 20 mm, a height in
the range of 2 mm to 5 mm and a pitch in the range of 0.3 to 0.6
micron. In one configuration, the tenth design of the waveguide
display of FIG. 7 provides a horizontal field of view of 51.0
degrees, a vertical field of view of 31.9 degrees, and a diagonal
field of view of 60.1.degree.. In some configurations, the
waveguide display of FIG. 7 includes the coupling element 1250A
with a pitch in the range of 300 nm to 600 nm, and the decoupling
elements 1260A and 1260B with a pitch in the range of 300 nm to 600
nm.
[0155] FIG. 12B illustrates a top view 1225 of the tenth design of
the waveguide display shown in FIG. 7, in accordance with an
embodiment. The top view 1225 includes the source assembly 1210,
the source waveguide 1215, and the output waveguide 1220.
[0156] FIG. 12C illustrates an example path 1230 of grating vectors
associated with a plurality of diffraction gratings of the tenth
design of the waveguide display shown in FIG. 7, in accordance with
an embodiment. The example path 1230 is a path of a wave vector of
the image light that is affected by the grating vectors of the
coupling element and the decoupling elements that the image light
meets. The grating vectors are just added to change the path of the
wave vector. In the example path 1230, image light from the source
assembly 1210 is associated with a projected radial wave vector
(not shown). The image light is coupled into the output waveguide
1220 via the coupling element 1250A associated with an input
grating vector (not shown). The in-coupled light is then diffracted
by the first decoupling element 1260A associated with a first
grating vector (not shown). The light is then diffracted (and out
coupled from the output waveguide) by the second decoupling element
1260B associated with a second grating vector (not shown). Note
that the summation of the projected radial wave vector at the
summation point 1255A is zero. Similarly, the summation of the
input grating vector, the first grating vector, and the second
grating vector at the summation point 1265A is zero. The summation
point 1255B is an embodiment of the summation point 1255A. The
summation point 1265B is an embodiment of the summation point
1265A.
[0157] The coupling element 1250A, the first decoupling element
1260A, and the second decoupling element 1260B, are diffraction
gratings whose grating vectors sum to a value that is less than a
threshold value, and the threshold value is close to or equal to
zero. In this example, a zero summation occurs, as the vector path
returns to its origination point. With the occurrence of the zero
summation, the image light exits the output waveguide 1220 with the
same angle as the incident angle from the source assembly 1210
since the remaining radial wave vector is associated with the FOV
of the waveguide display.
[0158] Note this is a very simple example, and there are many
alternative embodiments, as described below in conjunction with
FIG. 12D to FIG. 12I, including various diffraction gratings whose
summation of grating vectors returns to the origination point. For
example, the path 1230 is shaped like an equilateral triangle with
an equal magnitude of the grating vectors, and other paths may be a
hexagon, a pentagon, a parallelogram, a rectangle, or any other
shape whose sum of gradient vectors is less than the threshold
value.
[0159] FIG. 12D illustrates an isometric view of an eleventh design
of the waveguide display shown in FIG. 7, in accordance with an
embodiment. The isometric view 1240 includes the source assembly
1210, a source waveguide 1215D, and an output waveguide 1222.
[0160] The source waveguide 1215D is an optical waveguide. The
source waveguide 1215D receives the image light from the source
assembly 1210 and outputs an image light (not shown) to an output
waveguide 1222. The image light from the source waveguide 1215D
propagates along a dimension with an input wave vector as described
below with reference to FIG. 12F.
[0161] The output waveguide 1222 is an optical waveguide. The
output waveguide 1222 includes a coupling element 1250D, a
decoupling element 1260D and a decoupling element 1260E. The
coupling element 1250D is an embodiment of the coupling element
350. The decoupling element 1260D is an embodiment of the
decoupling element 360A. The decoupling element 1260E is an
embodiment of the decoupling element 360B. In one configuration,
the eleventh design of the waveguide display of FIG. 12D provides a
horizontal field of view of 53.0 degrees, a vertical field of view
of 28.2 degrees, and a diagonal field of view of 60.0.degree.. In
another configuration, the coupling element 1250D includes a pitch
in the range of 300 nm to 600 nm, and the decoupling element 1260D
and the decoupling element 1260E include a pitch in the range of
300 nm to 600 nm.
[0162] FIG. 12E illustrates a top view 1250 of the eleventh design
of the waveguide display shown in FIG. 7, in accordance with an
embodiment. The top view 1250 includes the source assembly 1210,
the source waveguide 1215E, and the output waveguide 1222.
[0163] FIG. 12F illustrates an example path 1270 of grating vectors
associated with a plurality of diffraction gratings of the eleventh
design of the waveguide display shown in FIG. 7, in accordance with
an embodiment. The example path 1270 is a path of a wave vector of
the image light that is affected by the grating vectors of the
coupling element 1250D, the decoupling element 1260D, and the
decoupling element 1260E that the image light meets. The grating
vectors are just added to change the path of the wave vector. The
example path 1270 is an embodiment of the example path 430.
[0164] FIG. 12G illustrates an isometric view 1205 of a twelfth
design of the waveguide display shown in FIG. 7, in accordance with
an embodiment. The isometric view 1205 includes the source assembly
1210, a source waveguide 1215D, and an output waveguide 1222.
[0165] The source waveguide 1215D is an optical waveguide. The
source waveguide 1215D receives the image light from the source
assembly 1210 and outputs an image light (not shown) to an output
waveguide 1222. The image light from the source waveguide 1215D
propagates along a dimension with an input wave vector as described
below with reference to FIG. 12I.
[0166] The output waveguide 1222 is an optical waveguide. The
output waveguide 1222 includes a coupling element 1250D, a
decoupling element 1260D and a decoupling element 1260E. The
coupling element 1250D includes a width in the range of 10 mm to 20
mm, a height in the range of 2 mm to 5 mm and a pitch in the range
of 0.3 to 0.6 micron. The decoupling element 1260D includes a width
in the range of 10 mm to 20 mm, a height in the range of 2 mm to 5
mm and a pitch in the range of 0.3 to 0.6 micron. The decoupling
element 1260E includes a width in the range of 10 mm to 20 mm, a
height in the range of 2 mm to 5 mm and a pitch in the range of 0.3
to 0.6 micron.
[0167] FIG. 12H illustrates a top view 1275 of the twelfth design
of the waveguide display shown in FIG. 7, in accordance with an
embodiment. The top view 1275 includes the source assembly 1210,
the source waveguide 1215D, and the output waveguide 1222
[0168] FIG. 12I illustrates an example path of grating vectors
associated with a plurality of diffraction gratings of the twelfth
design of the waveguide display shown in FIG. 7, in accordance with
an embodiment. The example path 1285 is a path of a wave vector of
the image light that is affected by the grating vectors of the
coupling element 1250D, the first decoupling element 1260D, and the
second decoupling element 1260E that the image light meets. The
grating vectors are just added to change the path of the wave
vector. In the example path 1285, image light from the source
assembly 1210 is associated with a projected radial wave vector
(not shown). The image light is coupled into the output waveguide
1222 via the coupling element 1250D associated with an input
grating vector (not shown). The in-coupled light is then diffracted
by the first decoupling element 1260D associated with a first
grating vector (not shown). The light is then diffracted (and out
coupled from the output waveguide) by the second decoupling element
1260E associated with a second grating vector (not shown). In one
embodiment, the example path 1285 includes a first summation point
1255C, and a second summation point 1265C. Note that the summation
of the projected radial wave vector at the first summation point
1255C is zero. The summation of the input grating vector, the first
grating vector, and the second grating vector at the second
summation point 1265C is zero. In a second embodiment, the example
path 1285 includes the first summation point 12555C, a third
summation point 1265D, and a fourth summation point 1265E. The
summation of the input grating vector, the first grating vector,
and the second grating vector at the third summation point 1265D is
zero. Similarly, the summation of the input grating vector, the
first grating vector, and the second grating vector at the fourth
summation point 1265E is also zero.
[0169] In an alternate configuration, the example path 1285
includes a fifth summation point 1255D, and the first summation
point 1265C. The fifth summation point 1255D is an embodiment of
the first summation point 1255C. In yet another configuration, the
example path 1285 includes the fifth summation point 1255D, the
third summation point 1265D, and the fourth summation point
1265E.
[0170] FIG. 13 is a block diagram of a system 1300 including the
NED 100 of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment. The system 1300
shown by FIG. 13 comprises the NED 100, an imaging device 1335, and
an input/output interface 1340 that are each coupled to the console
1310. While FIG. 13 shows an example system 1300 including one NED
100, one imaging device 1335, and one input/output interface 1340,
in other embodiments, any number of these components may be
included in the system 1300. For example, there may be multiple
NEDs 100 each having an associated input/output interface 1340 and
being monitored by one or more imaging devices 1335, with each NED
100, input/output interface 1340, and imaging devices 1335
communicating with the console 1310. In alternative configurations,
different and/or additional components may be included in the
system 1300. Similarly, functionality of one or more of the
components can be distributed among the components in a different
manner than is described here. For example, some or all of the
functionality of the console 1310 may be contained within the NED
100. Additionally, in some embodiments the system 1300 may be
modified to include other system environments, such as an AR system
environment and/or a mixed reality (MR) environment.
[0171] The NED 100 is a near-eye display that presents media to a
user. Examples of media presented by the NED 100 include one or
more images, video, audio, or some combination thereof. In some
embodiments, audio is presented via an external device (e.g.,
speakers and/or headphones) that receives audio information from
the NED 100, the console 1310, or both, and presents audio data
based on the audio information. In some embodiments, the NED 100
may also act as an AR eye-wear glass. In these embodiments, the NED
100 augments views of a physical, real-world environment with
computer-generated elements (e.g., images, video, sound, etc.).
[0172] The NED 100 includes a waveguide display assembly 1315, one
or more position sensors 1325, and the inertial measurement unit
(IMU) 1330. The waveguide display assembly 1315 includes the source
assembly 310, the output waveguide 320, and the controller 330 of
FIG. 3 The output waveguide 320 includes multiple diffraction
gratings such that light entering the output waveguide 320 exits
the waveguide display assembly 1315 at the same angle. Details for
various embodiments of the waveguide display element are discussed
in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. In another embodiment,
the waveguide display assembly 1315 includes the source assembly
610, the output waveguide 620, and the controller 330, as described
above with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. In an alternate embodiment,
the waveguide display assembly 1315 includes the first source
assembly 1110A, the second source assembly 910B, the output
waveguide 920, and the controller 330, as described above with
reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. The waveguide display assembly
includes, e.g., a waveguide display, a stacked waveguide display, a
varifocal waveguide display, or some combination thereof
[0173] The IMU 1330 is an electronic device that generates fast
calibration data indicating an estimated position of the NED 100
relative to an initial position of the NED 100 based on measurement
signals received from one or more of the position sensors 1325. A
position sensor 1325 generates one or more measurement signals in
response to motion of the NED 100. Examples of position sensors
1325 include: one or more accelerometers, one or more gyroscopes,
one or more magnetometers, a suitable type of sensor that detects
motion, a type of sensor used for error correction of the IMU 1330,
or some combination thereof. The position sensors 1325 may be
located external to the IMU 1330, internal to the IMU 1330, or some
combination thereof. In the embodiment shown by FIG. 13, the
position sensors 1325 are located within the IMU 1330, and neither
the IMU 1330 nor the position sensors 1325 are visible to the user
(e.g., located beneath an outer surface of the NED 100).
[0174] Based on the one or more measurement signals generated by
the one or more position sensors 1325, the IMU 1330 generates fast
calibration data indicating an estimated position of the NED 100
relative to an initial position of the NED 100. For example, the
position sensors 1325 include multiple accelerometers to measure
translational motion (forward/back, up/down, left/right) and
multiple gyroscopes to measure rotational motion (e.g., pitch, yaw,
roll). In some embodiments, the IMU 1325 rapidly samples the
measurement signals from various position sensors 1325 and
calculates the estimated position of the NED 100 from the sampled
data. For example, the IMU 1330 integrates the measurement signals
received from one or more accelerometers over time to estimate a
velocity vector and integrates the velocity vector over time to
determine an estimated position of a reference point on the NED
100. The reference point is a point that may be used to describe
the position of the NED 100. While the reference point may
generally be defined as a point in space; however, in practice, the
reference point is defined as a point within the NED 100.
[0175] The imaging device 1335 generates slow calibration data in
accordance with calibration parameters received from the console
1310. The imaging device 1335 may include one or more cameras, one
or more video cameras, any other device capable of capturing
images, or some combination thereof. Additionally, the imaging
device 1335 may include one or more filters (e.g., used to increase
signal to noise ratio). Slow calibration data is communicated from
the imaging device 1335 to the console 1310, and the imaging device
1335 receives one or more calibration parameters from the console
1310 to adjust one or more imaging parameters (e.g., focal length,
focus, frame rate, ISO, sensor temperature, shutter speed,
aperture, etc.).
[0176] The input/output interface 1340 is a device that allows a
user to send action requests to the console 1310. An action request
is a request to perform a particular action. For example, an action
request may be to start or end an application or to perform a
particular action within the application. The input/output
interface 1340 may include one or more input devices. Example input
devices include: a keyboard, a mouse, a game controller, or any
other suitable device for receiving action requests and
communicating the received action requests to the console 1310. An
action request received by the input/output interface 1340 is
communicated to the console 1310, which performs an action
corresponding to the action request. In some embodiments, the
input/output interface 1340 may provide haptic feedback to the user
in accordance with instructions received from the console 1310. For
example, haptic feedback is provided when an action request is
received, or the console 1310 communicates instructions to the
input/output interface 1340 causing the input/output interface 1340
to generate haptic feedback when the console 1310 performs an
action.
[0177] The console 1310 provides media to the NED 100 for
presentation to the user in accordance with information received
from one or more of: the imaging device 1335, the NED 100, and the
input/output interface 1340. In the example shown in FIG. 13, the
console 1310 includes an application store 1345, a tracking module
1350, and an engine 1355. Some embodiments of the console 1310 have
different modules than those described in conjunction with FIG. 13.
Similarly, the functions further described below may be distributed
among components of the console 1310 in a different manner than is
described here.
[0178] The application store 1345 stores one or more applications
for execution by the console 1310. An application is a group of
instructions, that when executed by a processor, generates content
for presentation to the user. Content generated by an application
may be in response to inputs received from the user via movement of
the NED 100 or the input/output interface device 1340. Examples of
applications include: gaming applications, conferencing
applications, video playback application, or other suitable
applications.
[0179] The tracking module 1350 calibrates the system 1300 using
one or more calibration parameters and may adjust one or more
calibration parameters to reduce error in determination of the
position of the NED 100. For example, the tracking module 1350
adjusts the focus of the imaging device 1335 to obtain a more
accurate position for observed locators on the system 1300.
Moreover, calibration performed by the tracking module 1350 also
accounts for information received from the IMU 1330.
[0180] The tracking module 1350 tracks movements of the NED 100
using slow calibration information from the imaging device 1335.
The tracking module 1350 also determines positions of a reference
point of the NED 100 using position information from the fast
calibration information. Additionally, in some embodiments, the
tracking module 1350 may use portions of the fast calibration
information, the slow calibration information, or some combination
thereof, to predict a future location of the NED 100. The tracking
module 1350 provides the estimated or predicted future position of
the NED 100 to the VR engine 1355.
[0181] The engine 1355 executes applications within the system 1300
and receives position information, acceleration information,
velocity information, predicted future positions, or some
combination thereof of the NED 100 from the tracking module 1350.
In some embodiments, the information received by the engine 1355
may be used for producing a signal (e.g., display instructions) to
the waveguide display assembly 1315 that determines the type of
content presented to the user. For example, if the received
information indicates that the user has looked to the left, the
engine 1355 generates content for the NED 100 that mirrors the
user's movement in a virtual environment by determining the type of
source and the waveguide that must operate in the waveguide display
assembly 1315. For example, the engine 1355 may produce a display
instruction that would cause the waveguide display assembly 1315 to
generate content with red, green, and blue color. Additionally, the
engine 1355 performs an action within an application executing on
the console 1310 in response to an action request received from the
input/output interface 1340 and provides feedback to the user that
the action was performed. The provided feedback may be visual or
audible feedback via the NED 100 or haptic feedback via the
input/output interface 1340.
Additional Configuration Information
[0182] The foregoing description of the embodiments of the
disclosure has been presented for the purpose of illustration; it
is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the
precise forms disclosed. Persons skilled in the relevant art can
appreciate that many modifications and variations are possible in
light of the above disclosure.
[0183] Some portions of this description describe the embodiments
of the disclosure in terms of algorithms and symbolic
representations of operations on information. These algorithmic
descriptions and representations are commonly used by those skilled
in the data processing arts to convey the substance of their work
effectively to others skilled in the art. These operations, while
described functionally, computationally, or logically, are
understood to be implemented by computer programs or equivalent
electrical circuits, microcode, or the like. Furthermore, it has
also proven convenient at times, to refer to these arrangements of
operations as modules, without loss of generality. The described
operations and their associated modules may be embodied in
software, firmware, hardware, or any combinations thereof
[0184] Any of the steps, operations, or processes described herein
may be performed or implemented with one or more hardware or
software modules, alone or in combination with other devices. In
one embodiment, a software module is implemented with a computer
program product comprising a computer-readable medium containing
computer program code, which can be executed by a computer
processor for performing any or all of the steps, operations, or
processes described.
[0185] Embodiments of the disclosure may also relate to an
apparatus for performing the operations herein. This apparatus may
be specially constructed for the required purposes, and/or it may
comprise a general-purpose computing device selectively activated
or reconfigured by a computer program stored in the computer. Such
a computer program may be stored in a non-transitory, tangible
computer readable storage medium, or any type of media suitable for
storing electronic instructions, which may be coupled to a computer
system bus. Furthermore, any computing systems referred to in the
specification may include a single processor or may be
architectures employing multiple processor designs for increased
computing capability.
[0186] Embodiments of the disclosure may also relate to a product
that is produced by a computing process described herein. Such a
product may comprise information resulting from a computing
process, where the information is stored on a non-transitory,
tangible computer readable storage medium and may include any
embodiment of a computer program product or other data combination
described herein. Finally, the language used in the specification
has been principally selected for readability and instructional
purposes, and it may not have been selected to delineate or
circumscribe the inventive subject matter. It is therefore intended
that the scope of the disclosure be limited not by this detailed
description, but rather by any claims that issue on an application
based hereon. Accordingly, the disclosure of the embodiments is
intended to be illustrative, but not limiting, of the scope of the
disclosure, which is set forth in the following claims.
* * * * *