Snap Inc.

Ciaran Phelan

Mohmed Salim Valera

Arseny Alexeev

Sophia Antonia Fox

Sebastien De Cunsel

Gleb Siroki

Choon How Gan

Kai Wang

David Nicholas Crosby

Mohmed Salim Ibrahim Valera

Alexandra Crai

Sofia Fox

An optical structure for an augmented reality display includes a waveguide and an input diffractive optical structure to receive light from a projector and couple the received light into the waveguide. An output diffractive optical structure, comprising first and second diffractive optical elements overlaid on one another in or on the waveguide, receives light from the input diffractive optical element in an input direction. The first diffractive optical element has a high diffraction efficiency relative to the second diffractive optical element. A first portion of the first diffractive optical element couples light from the input direction towards a second portion, and the second diffractive optical element couples light from the input direction away from the second portion. The second portion couples light from the input direction towards the first portion, and the second diffractive optical element couples light from the input direction away from the first portion.

Device for augmented reality or virtual reality display

There is disclosed a waveguide for use in an augmented reality or virtual reality display. The waveguide comprises a plurality of optical structures in a photonic crystal. The plurality of optical structures are arranged in an array to provide at least two diffractive optical elements. Each of the two diffractive optical elements is configured to receive light from an input direction and couple it towards the other diffractive optical element which can then act as an output diffractive optical element, providing outcoupled orders towards a viewer. The plurality of optical structures respectively have a shape, when viewed in the plane of the waveguide, comprising twelve substantially straight sides, six of the sides having respective normal vectors at a first angle, and the other six of the sides having respective normal vectors at a second angle which is different to the first angle.

Angular uniformity waveguide for augmented or virtual reality

A waveguide for use in a virtual reality, VR, or augmented reality, AR, device, is disclosed. The waveguide comprising an input region configured to couple light into the waveguide so that it propagates under total internal reflection (TIR) within the waveguide, and an output region comprising optical structures configured to receive image bearing light from the input region. The output region comprises a plurality of zones having different diffraction to each other, the plurality of zones comprising diffraction efficiencies so as to reduce rainbow artefacts.

Waveguide and diffraction grating for augmented reality or virtual reality display

An optical structure is disclosed for use in an augmented reality display. The structure includes a waveguide () and an input diffractive optical structure () configured to receive light from a projector and couple the received light into the waveguide (). An output diffractive optical structure () is configured to receive light from the input diffractive optical element () in an input direction, wherein the output diffractive optical structure comprises at least a first diffractive optical element () and a second diffractive optical element () with different respective diffraction efficiencies, wherein the first diffractive optical element has a relatively high diffraction efficiency and the second diffractive optical element has a relatively low diffraction efficiency and the first and second diffractive optical elements are overlaid on one another in or on the waveguide. The output diffractive optical structure () comprises a first portion () and a second portion (). In the first portion () the first diffractive optical element is configured to couple light from the input direction towards the second portion () and the second diffractive optical element is configured to couple light from the input direction away from the second portion. In the second portion () the first diffractive optical element is configured to couple light from the input direction towards the first portion () and the second diffractive optical element is configured to couple light from the input direction away from the first portion ().

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Abingdon, United Kingdom

Ciaran Phelan