Google Inc.

Oscar A Martinez

Ozan Cakmakci

James C Dunphy

Yi Qin

Serge J Bierhuizen

Xinda Hu

Jerome Carollo

Hayes Solos Raffle

Anurag Gupta

Hui Seong Son

Caner Onal

John Stuart Fitch

Philipp Helmut Schmaelzle

John D Perreault

Hongqin Shi

Andrei Stefan Kazmierski

Serge Joel Armand Bierhuizen

Simon Prakash

Omar Negrete

Chien-Hung Lu

Yeh Tung

A device provides light for augmented reality vision. The device includes a display that emits light toward a beam splitter. The beam splitter reflects light from the display toward a polarization-dependent lens. The beam splitter allows world scene light to pass therethrough to the polarization-dependent lens. The polarization-dependent lens directs display light and world scene light toward a non-polarization-dependent lens positioned at an eye-ward side of the polarization-dependent lens.

Polarization-dependent augmented reality display

Optical assemblies for use in virtual and augmented reality environments are described. The optical assemblies may include lenses, filter stacks, cameras, and image projecting devices. For example, the optical assemblies may include at least one lens, a first filter stack between the at least one lens and an image projecting device, a second filter stack between the first filter stack and the image projecting device, and a camera configured to capture images of an infrared reflection of light through the at least one lens.

Compact eye tracking using folded display optics

A near-eye display system includes a display panel to emit display light representative of a display image and a lens assembly disposed along an optical axis. The lens assembly includes a first phase mask plate having a first major surface facing the display and a second major surface opposite the first major surface, the second major surface implementing a first freeform Fresnel lens structure, and further includes a second phase mask plate adjacent and parallel to the first phase mask plate and having a third major surface facing the second major surface and an opposing fourth majors surface, the third major surface implementing a second freeform Fresnel lens structure. A pose of at least one of the first and second phase mask plates relative to the other is configured to be adjusted so as to adjust an optical power of the lens assembly.

Fresnel-based varifocal lens assembly for VR or AR displays

A system includes an electronic display for emitting light toward an eye-ward side of the system. A beam splitter receives emitted light from the display. The beam splitter includes a polarization beam splitting (PBS) film and a mirror coating to generate two orthogonal polarization states with different optical paths thereby creating a first focal plane and a second focal plane at the eye-ward side of the system. At least one liquid crystal switch is positioned to receive light from the display in a light path between the display and the eye-ward side of the system.

Multi-focal catadioptric head mounted display with LC switch

A near-eye display system includes a polarization waveguide having an in-coupling interface disposed proximate to a first end and an out-coupling interface disposed proximate to an opposite second end. The polarization waveguide is configured to convey light incident at the in-coupling interface to the out-coupling interface by inducing multiple changes in a polarization state of the light as the light traverses the polarization waveguide. At least a subset of the changes in polarization state induce the light to reflect within the polarization waveguide without relying on total internal reflection (TIR).

Near-eye system having polarization waveguide

A near-eye display system includes an optical system facing a display panel. The optical system includes an input filter, and output filter, and a variable-power catadioptric lens assembly disposed between the input and output filters. The input and output filters are configured, along with the catadioptric lens assembly to fold a path of display light from the display panel to a user's eye. The catadioptric lens assembly includes two or more lens elements disposed along an optical axis, each lens element having at least one surface with a freeform curvature. One of the lens elements is configured to be laterally translated relative to the other lens elements so as to change an optical power of the catadioptric lens assembly.

Near-eye display system with polarization-based optical path folding and variable focus catadioptric lens assembly

An apparatus for use with a head wearable display includes a curved eyepiece for guiding display light received at an input surface peripherally located from a viewing region and emitting the display light along an eye-ward direction in the viewing region. The curved eyepiece includes an optical combiner, an eye-ward facing surface that is concave, a world facing surface that is convex, and a curved lightguide disposed between the eye-ward facing and world facing surfaces to guide the display light via total internal reflections from the input surface to the viewing region. The optical combiner is disposed within the curved eyepiece at the viewing region to redirect the display light towards the eye-ward direction. The optical combiner includes a pattern of reflective elements separated by interstitial regions. The interstitial regions pass ambient light incident through the world facing surface such that the viewing region is partially see-through.

See-through curved eyepiece with patterned optical combiner

A freeform projection display includes an optical emitter configured to output one or more wavelengths of light and an optical diffuser optically coupled to receive and disperse the one or more wavelengths of light from the optical emitter, wherein the optical diffuser has at least one radius of curvature. The freeform projection display further includes a refractive lens optically coupled to receive the one or more wavelengths of light from the optical diffuser and to project the one or more wavelengths of light. The freeform projection display further may include a light modulator disposed between the optical emitter and the optical diffuser, wherein the light modulator oscillates to project the image on the optical diffuser. An illuminated area of the optical diffuser is dimensioned so that the image produced by the light modulator fills an aperture of the refractive lens.

Freeform projected display

An eye tracking system includes a light guide comprising a first eye-facing surface, a second surface, a third surface, and a plurality of facets formed in the second surface. The facets reflect a portion of light incident on a user eye into the light guide, which is positioned proximate to the user eye and between the user eye and a display. A surface of a compensator may be shaped complementary to the second surface of the light guide and placed proximate to the light guide. A camera or image sensor is oriented toward the third surface of the light guide and captures an image based on internally reflected light. An IR light source may be included. The image sensor may be an IR image sensor. Based on the image, a pose of the user eye is determined. A faceted light guide assembly may include a reflective coating adjacent the facets.

Eye tracking using light guide with faceted combiner

Techniques and mechanisms for fabricating an eyepiece from a lens blank including blank bodies that are bonded to each other. In an embodiment, the blank bodies are formed by injection molding and adhered to one another. Fabrication of the eyepiece includes variously machining the blank bodies to shape respective lens bodies of the eyepiece. One or more blocking structures are coupled to reinforce the lens blank during at least part of such machining. In another embodiment, any blocking structures that are to resist forces of a particular machining process are coupled only indirectly to one of the blank bodies.

Method for fabricating a curved eyepiece

Embodiments are described of an apparatus including an eyepiece having a front surface, a back surface spaced apart from the front surface, and an edge forming a perimeter of the eyepiece. The eyepiece includes an angled surface to direct light eye-measurement light reflected from an eye into the eyepiece and to direct display light out of the eyepiece to the eye. A first waveguide is formed in the eyepiece and extending from the angled surface to the edge, the first waveguide being optically coupled to a first portion of the angled surface having a first surface treatment. And a second waveguide is formed in the eyepiece and extending from the angled surface to the edge, the second waveguide being optically coupled to a second portion of the angled surface having a second surface treatment.

Near-eye display with stacked lightguides

An eyepiece for a head wearable display includes a curved lightguide component, an input coupler, and an output coupler. The curved lightguide component guides display light received at an input region peripherally located from a viewing region and emits the display light along an eye-ward direction in the viewing region. The curved lightguide component includes an eye-ward facing surface that is concave and a world facing surface that is convex. The input coupler is disposed at the input region to couple the display light into the curved lightguide component. The output coupler is disposed at the viewing region to redirect the display light towards the eye-ward direction for output from the curved lightguide component. The output coupler is partially transmissive to ambient light incident through the world facing surface. The display light is guided between the input coupler and the output coupler entirely by total internal reflection.

Efficient thin curved eyepiece for see-through head wearable display

An eyepiece for a head wearable display includes a curved lightguide component, a curved see-through component, an output coupler, and a prescription layer. The curved lightguide component guides display light received at an input region and releases the display light along an eye-ward direction in a viewing region. The output coupler is disposed at the viewing region to redirect the display light towards the eye-ward direction for output from the curved lightguide component. The output coupler is at least partially transmissive to ambient light incident through a world-facing side such that the viewing region is see-through. The curved see-through component is mated to the world-facing side of the curved lightguide component. The prescription layer has a first side mated to an eye-facing side of the curved lightguide component and a second side having a curvature that introduces prescriptive lensing to both the ambient light and the display light.

Adding prescriptive correction to eyepieces for see-through head wearable displays

A display apparatus includes a transparent substrate having first and second sides, an array of LED micro-display panels, and an array of collimating reflectors. The LED micro-display panels are disposed within the transparent substrate between the first and second sides and oriented to emit sub-image portions of a display image towards the first side. The collimating reflectors are disposed within the transparent substrate between the first side and the array of LED micro-display panels. The collimating reflectors are aligned with the LED micro-display panels to reflect the sub-image portions back out the second side of the transparent substrate. The LED micro-display panels are offset from the collimating reflectors to expand the sub-image portions prior to reflection by the collimating reflectors.

Growing community of inventors

Sunnyvale, CA, United States of America

Oscar A Martinez