Magic Leap, Inc.

Tessera North America, Inc.

Digital Optics Corporation

Digitaloptics Corporation East

Molecular Imprints, Inc.

Robert Dale Tekolste

Michael Anthony Klug

William Hudson Welch

Brian T Schowengerdt

Victor Kai Liu

Paul M Greco

Lionel Ernest Edwin

Samarth Bhargava

Eric C Browy

Ivan L Yeoh

Alan D Kathman

Eric G Johnson

Charles S Koehler

Hui-Chuan Cheng

Hyunsun Chung

Vikramjit Singh

Frank Y Xu

Hao Zheng

Kevin Messer

Zhiheng Jia

Etienne Gregoire Grossmann

Daniel Roger Dominguez

Michael Klug

Michael R Feldman

Kevin R Curtis

Michael Nevin Miller

Giora Yahav

James E Morris

Shuqiang Yang

David Cohen

Kang Luo

Jason A Schaefer

Kristina Uhlendorf

Jeffrey Dean Schmulen

Shlomo Felzenshtein

Michal Beau Dennison Vaughn

Thomas Mercier

Wendong Xing

Huihang Dong

Björn Nicolaas Servatius Vlaskamp

Assaf Pellman

Qizhen Xue

Brandon Michael-James Born

Ryan Rieck

Michael Beau Dennison Vaughn

Yingnan Liu

Matthew C Traub

Kevin Richard Curtis

Eric Browy

Mike Nevin Miller

Samarath Bhargava

Very high refractive index (n>2.2) lightguide substrates enable the production of 70° field of view eyepieces with all three color primaries in a single eyepiece layer. Disclosed herein are viewing optics assembly architectures that make use of such eyepieces to reduce size and cost, simplifying manufacturing and assembly, and better-accommodating novel microdisplay designs.

Very high index eyepiece substrate-based viewing optics assembly architectures

An apparatus including a set of three illumination sources disposed in a first plane. Each of the set of three illumination sources is disposed at a position in the first plane offset from others of the set of three illumination sources by 120 degrees measured in polar coordinates. The apparatus also includes a set of three waveguide layers disposed adjacent the set of three illumination sources. Each of the set of three waveguide layers includes an incoupling diffractive element disposed at a lateral position offset by 180 degrees from a corresponding illumination source of the set of three illumination sources.

Illumination layout for compact projection system

Embodiments provide image display systems and methods for a camera calibration using a two-sided diffractive optical element (DOE). More specifically, embodiments are directed to determining intrinsic parameters of a camera using a single image obtained using a two-sided DOE. The two-sided DOE has a first pattern on a first surface and a second pattern on a second surface. Each of the first and second patterns may be formed by repeating sub-patterns that are lined when tiled on each surface. The patterns on the two-sided DOE are formed such that the brightness of the central intensity peak on the image of the image pattern formed by the DOE is reduced to a predetermined amount.

Camera intrinsic calibration

The disclosure describes an improved drop-on-demand, controlled volume technique for dispensing resist onto a substrate, which is then imprinted to create a patterned optical device suitable for use in optical applications such as augmented reality and/or mixed reality systems. The technique enables the dispensation of drops of resist at precise locations on the substrate, with precisely controlled drop volume corresponding to an imprint template having different zones associated with different total resist volumes. Controlled drop size and placement also provides for substantially less variation in residual layer thickness across the surface of the substrate after imprinting, compared to previously available techniques. The technique employs resist having a refractive index closer to that of the substrate index, reducing optical artifacts in the device. To ensure reliable dispensing of the higher index and higher viscosity resist in smaller drop sizes, the dispensing system can continuously circulate the resist.

Surface relief waveguides with high refractive index resist

An eyepiece for an augmented reality display system. The eyepiece can include a waveguide substrate. The waveguide substrate can include an input coupler grating (ICG), an orthogonal pupil expander (OPE) grating, a spreader grating, and an exit pupil expander (EPE) grating. The ICG can couple at least one input light beam into at least a first guided light beam that propagates inside the waveguide substrate. The OPE grating can divide the first guided light beam into a plurality of parallel, spaced-apart light beams. The spreader grating can receive the light beams from the OPE grating and spread their distribution. The spreader grating can include diffractive features oriented at approximately 90° to diffractive features of the OPE grating. The EPE grating can re-direct the light beams from the first OPE grating and the first spreader grating such that they exit the waveguide substrate.

Eyepiece for virtual, augmented, or mixed reality systems

Architectures are provided for selectively outputting light for forming images, the light having different wavelengths and being outputted with low levels of crosstalk. In some embodiments, light is incoupled into a waveguide and deflected to propagate in different directions, depending on wavelength. The incoupled light then outcoupled by outcoupling optical elements that outcouple light based on the direction of propagation of the light. In some other embodiments, color filters are between a waveguide and outcoupling elements. The color filters limit the wavelengths of light that interact with and are outcoupled by the outcoupling elements. In yet other embodiments, a different waveguide is provided for each range of wavelengths to be outputted. Incoupling optical elements selectively incouple light of the appropriate range of wavelengths into a corresponding waveguide, from which the light is outcoupled.

Architectures and methods for outputting different wavelength light out of waveguides

A time of flight based depth detection system is disclosed that includes a projector configured to sequentially emit multiple complementary illumination patterns. A sensor of the depth detection system is configured to capture the light from the illumination patterns reflecting off objects within the sensor's field of view. The data captured by the sensor can be used to filter out erroneous readings caused by light reflecting off multiple surfaces prior to returning to the sensor.

Projector with spatial light modulation

Embodiments provide image display systems and methods for one or more camera calibration using a two-sided diffractive optical element (DOE). More specifically, embodiments are directed to determining intrinsic parameters of one or more cameras using a single image obtained using a two-sided DOE. The two-sided DOE has a first pattern on a first surface and a second pattern on a second surface. Each of the first and second patterns may be formed by repeating sub-patterns that are lined when tiled on each surface. The patterns on the two-sided DOE are formed such that the brightness of the central intensity peak on the image of the image pattern formed by the DOE is reduced to a predetermined amount.

An eyepiece for an augmented reality display system. The eyepiece can include a waveguide substrate. The waveguide substrate can include an input coupler grating (ICG), an orthogonal pupil expander (OPE) grating, a spreader grating, and an exit pupil expander (EPE) grating. The ICG can couple at least one input light beam into at least a first guided light beam that propagates inside the waveguide substrate. The OPE grating can divide the first guided light beam into a plurality of parallel, spaced-apart light beams. The spreader grating can receive the light beams from the OPE grating and spread their distribution. The spreader grating can include diffractive features oriented at approximately 90&#xb0; to diffractive features of the OPE grating. The EPE grating can re-direct the light beams from the first OPE grating and the first spreader grating such that they exit the waveguide substrate.

Optical systems and methods for operation thereof are disclosed. A delimited zone is defined as a function of distance from the optical system based on a VAC limit, the delimited zone having at least one distance threshold. A virtual distance of a virtual depth plane from the optical system at which a virtual object is to be displayed is determined. It is determined whether the virtual distance is outside the delimited zone by comparing the virtual distance to the at least one distance threshold. A collimated pixel beam associated with the virtual object is generated by a projector of the optical system. The collimated pixel beam is modified to generate a modified pixel beam if the virtual distance is outside the delimited zone. Modifying the collimated pixel beam includes converging the collimated pixel beam and/or reducing a diameter of the collimated pixel beam.

Increased depth of field for mixed-reality display

Disclosed is an improved diffraction structure for 3D display systems. The improved diffraction structure includes an intermediate layer that resides between a waveguide substrate and a top grating surface. The top grating surface comprises a first material that corresponds to a first refractive index value, the underlayer comprises a second material that corresponds to a second refractive index value, and the substrate comprises a third material that corresponds to a third refractive index value. According to additional embodiments, improved approaches are provided to implement deposition of imprint materials onto a substrate, which allow for very precise distribution and deposition of different imprint patterns onto any number of substrate surfaces.

Manufacturing for virtual and augmented reality systems and components

An eyepiece for use in front of an eye of a viewer includes a waveguide configured to propagate light therein, and a diffractive optical element optically coupled to the waveguide. The diffractive optical element includes a plurality of first ridges protruding from a surface of the waveguide. Each of the plurality of first ridges has a first height and a first width. The diffractive optical element further includes a plurality of second ridges. Each of the plurality of second ridges protrudes from a respective first ridge and has a second height greater than the first height and a second width less than the first width. The diffractive optical element is configured to diffract a portion of a light beam incident on the diffractive optical element toward the eye as a first order transmission.

Outcoupling grating for augmented reality system

Disclosed is an improved diffraction structure for 3D display systems. The improved diffraction structure includes an intermediate layer that resides between a waveguide substrate and a top grating surface. The top grating surface comprises a first material that corresponds to a first refractive index value, the underlayer comprises a second material that corresponds to a second refractive index value, and the substrate comprises a third material that corresponds to a third refractive index value.

Virtual and augmented reality systems and methods having improved diffractive grating structures

Configurations are disclosed for presenting virtual reality and augmented reality experiences to users. The system may comprise a lens assembly comprising two transmissive plates, a first of the two transmissive plates comprising a first surface sag based at least in part on a cubic function, and a DOE to direct image information to a user's eye; wherein the DOE is placed in between the two transmissive plates of the lens assembly, and wherein the DOE is encoded with the inverse of the cubic function corresponding to the surface sag of the first transmissive plate; such that a wavefront created by the encoded DOE is compensated by the wavefront created by the first transmissive plate, thereby collimating light rays associated with virtual content delivered to the DOE.

Methods and system for creating focal planes using an alvarez lens

Configurations are disclosed for presenting virtual reality and augmented reality experiences to users. The system may comprise a spatial light modulator operatively coupled to an image source for projecting light associated with one or more frames of image data, and a variable focus element (VFE) for varying a focus of the projected light such that a first frame of image data is focused at a first depth plane, and a second frame of image data is focused at a second depth plane, and wherein a distance between the first depth plane and the second depth plane is fixed.

Methods and system for creating focal planes in virtual and augmented reality

Growing community of inventors

Fort Lauderdale, FL, United States of America

Robert Dale Tekolste