DigiLens Inc.

An optical display comprises: a first waveguide comprising a first surface and a second surface, an input coupler, a fold grating, and an output grating. The input coupler receives collimated first wavelength light from an Input Image Node causes the light to travel within the first waveguide via total internal reflection between the first surface and the second surface to the fold grating. The fold grating provides pupil expansion in a first direction directs the light to the output grating via total internal reflection between the first surface and the second surface. The output grating provides pupil expansion in a second direction different than the first direction and causes the light to exit the first waveguide from the first surface or the second surface. At least one of the input coupler, fold grating and output grating is a rolled k-vector grating, and the fold grating is a dual interaction grating.

Disclosed herein is a waveguide-based display comprising: a waveguide, a source of image modulated light projected over a field of view; an input coupler for coupling said light into a total internal reflection (TIR) path within the waveguide; and a grating structure for providing beam expansion of the TIR light in at least one direction and extracting the TIR light from the waveguide. The grating structure may include a plurality of grating elements having at least two different grating prescriptions and at least one surface relief grating formed by a phase separation process.

Systems and methods for compensating for nonuniform surface topography features in accordance with various embodiments of the invention are illustrated. One embodiment includes a method for manufacturing waveguide cells, the method including providing a waveguide including first and second substrates and a layer of optical recording material, and applying a surface forming process to at least one external surface of the first and second substrates. In another embodiment, applying the surface forming process includes applying a forming material coating to the at least one external surface, providing a forming element having a forming surface, bringing the forming element in physical contact with the forming material coating, curing the forming material coating while it is in contact with the forming element, and releasing the forming material coating from the forming element.

An optical waveguide comprises at least two TIR surface and contains a grating. Input TIR light with a first angular range along a first propagation direction undergoes at least two diffractions at the grating. Each diffraction directs light into a unique TIR angular range along a second propagation direction.

Holographic volume gratings in waveguide cells can be recorded using many different methods and systems in accordance with various embodiments of the invention. One embodiment includes a holographic recording system including at least one laser source configured to emit recording beams and a movable platform configured to move between a first position and a second position, wherein when the movable platform is in the first position, the at least one laser source is configured to emit a first set of one or more recording beams toward a first set of one or more stations and when the movable platform is in the second position, the at least one laser source is configured to emit a second set of one or more recording beams toward a second set of one or more stations.

Disclosed herein is a compact projector for display systems. In various embodiments, the projector may include a light source, a first reflective polarizer, a reflective image modulator, a set of one or more lenses positioned along a first optical axis between the first reflective polarizer and the reflective image modulator, and a display system. The light source may output illuminating light which at least partially passes through the first reflective polarizer and is focused by the set of one or more lenses to provide telecentric illumination with a narrow cone angle onto the reflective image modulator. The illuminating light may be reflected by the reflective image modulator to form image containing light which is focused by the set of one or more lenses, and the image containing light may be reflected by the first reflective polarizer to provide an input to the display system.

Systems and methods for generating head-up displays (HUDs) using waveguides incorporating Bragg gratings in accordance with various embodiments of the invention are provided. The term HUD is typically utilized to describe a class of displays that incorporates a transparent display that presents data without requiring users to look away from their usual viewpoints. HUDs can be incorporated in any of a variety of applications including (but not limited to) vehicular and near-eye applications, such as googles, eyewear, etc. HUDs that utilize planar waveguides that incorporate Bragg gratings in accordance with various embodiments of the invention can achieve significantly larger fields of view and have lower volumetric requirements than HUDs implemented using conventional optical components.

Systems for the manufacturing of waveguide cells in accordance with various embodiments can be configured and implemented in many different ways. In many embodiments, various deposition mechanisms are used to deposit layer(s) of optical recording material onto a transparent substrate. A second transparent substrate can be provided, and the three layers can be laminated to form a waveguide cell. Suitable optical recording material can vary widely depending on the given application. In some embodiments, the optical recording material deposited has a similar composition throughout the layer. In a number of embodiments, the optical recording material spatially varies in composition, allowing for the formation of optical elements with varying characteristics. Regardless of the composition of the optical recording material, any method of placing or depositing the optical recording material onto a substrate can be utilized.

An optical display, including a first waveguide having a first set of surfaces, an input grating, a fold grating, and an output grating; an image input image node assembly; and a prismatic relay optics is provided. The prismatic relay optics may be configured to be optomechanically connected to the waveguide and the input image node assembly. The optical display is may also be configured to operate alone or as integrated with a headpiece to be used as a HUD. The HUD may have a first and a second configuration wherein the waveguide is decoupled or coupled.

Improvements to gratings for use in waveguides and methods of producing them are described herein. Deep surface relief gratings (SRGs) may offer many advantages over conventional SRGs, an important one being a higher S-diffraction efficiency. In one embodiment, deep SRGs can be implemented as polymer surface relief gratings or evacuated periodic structures (EPSs). EPSs can be formed by first recording a holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal (HPDLC) periodic structure. Removing the liquid crystal from the cured periodic structure provides a polymer surface relief grating. Polymer surface relief gratings have many applications including for use in waveguide-based displays.