DigiLens Inc.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Gratings may be used in waveguides. Deep surface relief gratings (SRGs) may offer many advantages over conventional SRGs, an important one being a higher S-diffraction efficiency. 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.

A method for recording a diffractive nanostructure is provided. The method includes: providing a holographic recording mixture including a monomer, an inert material, and a photoinitiator; depositing a layer of the mixture onto a substrate; exposing the mixture to a holographic recording beam to form a nanostructure of polymer regions and inert material regions within the mixture layer; and depositing a surface-conditioning optical layer on top of the nanostructure after curing of the expose mixture.

Disclosed herein is a mixed illumination system including: a first light source; a second light source of different type than the first light source, where the wavelength an output of the second light source does not overlap with the wavelength of an output of the first light source; and a combiner which is configured to combine the output of the first light source and the second light source. The light from the first light source and the second light source are combined within the combiner into a combined beam.

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 and Bragg gratings, an important one being a higher S-diffraction efficiency. In one embodiment, deep SRGs can be implemented as polymer surface relief gratings or evacuated Bragg gratings (EBGs). EBGs can be formed by first recording a holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal (HPDLC) grating. Removing the liquid crystal from the cured grating provides a polymer surface relief grating. Polymer surface relief gratings have many applications including for use in waveguide-based displays.

Disclosed herein is a mixed illumination system including: a first light source; a second light source of different type than the first light source, where the wavelength an output of the second light source does not overlap with the wavelength of an output of the first light source; and a combiner which is configured to combine the output of the first light source and the second light source. The light from the first light source and the second light source are combined within the combiner into a combined beam.

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 and Bragg gratings, an important one being a higher S-diffraction efficiency. In one embodiment, deep SRGs can be implemented as polymer surface relief gratings or evacuated Bragg gratings (EBGs). EBGs can be formed by first recording a holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal (HPDLC) grating. Removing the liquid crystal from the cured grating provides a polymer surface relief grating. Polymer surface relief gratings have many applications including for use in waveguide-based displays.