Waveguide optical multiplexer using cross gratings.

Abstract

To provide an optical element.SOLUTION: A two-dimensional waveguide light multiplexer is described herein that can efficiently multiplex and distribute a light signal in two dimensions. An example of a two- dimensional waveguide light multiplexer can include a waveguide, a first diffraction grating, and a second diffraction grating disposed above the first diffraction grating and arranged such that the grating direction of the first diffraction grating is perpendicular to the grating direction of the second diffraction grating. Methods of fabricating a two-dimensional waveguide light multiplexer are also disclosed.SELECTED DRAWING: None

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] (Priority Claim) This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 424,293, filed November 18, 2016, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

[0002] (Incorporated by reference) This application incorporates by reference the entirety of each of the following patent applications: U.S. Application No. 14 / 555,585 (filed November 27, 2014), U.S. Application No. 14 / 690,401 (filed April 18, 2015), U.S. Application No. 14 / 212,961 (filed March 14, 2014), U.S. Application No. 14 / 331,218 (filed July 14, 2014), and U.S. Application No. 15 / 072,290 (filed March 16, 2016).

[0003] (background) (Field) The present disclosure relates to display systems, and more particularly to light multiplexing. [Background technology]

[0004] Description of Related Art Modern computing and display technologies have facilitated the development of systems for so-called "virtual reality" or "augmented reality" experiences, in which digitally reproduced images or portions thereof are presented to a user in a manner that appears or may be perceived as being real. Virtual reality, or "VR", scenarios typically involve the presentation of digital or virtual image information without transparency to other actual real-world visual inputs, while augmented reality or "AR" scenarios typically involve the presentation of digital or virtual image information as an augmentation to the visualization of the real world around the user. Mixed reality or "MR" scenarios are a type of AR scenario, typically involving virtual objects that are integrated into and responsive to the natural world. For example, in MR scenarios, AR image content may be perceived to appear blocked by or otherwise interact with objects in the real world.

[0005] 1, an augmented reality scene 1 is depicted in which a user of the AR technology sees a real-world park-like setting 1100 featuring people, trees, buildings in the background, and a concrete platform 1120. In addition to these items, the user of the AR technology also perceives that they are "seeing" "virtual content," such as a robotic figure 1110 standing on the real-world platform 1120 and a flying cartoon-like avatar character 1130 that appears to be an anthropomorphic bumblebee, even though these elements 1130, 1110 do not exist in the real world. The human visual perception system is complex, making it difficult to produce AR technology that facilitates a pleasing, natural-feeling, and rich presentation of virtual image elements among other virtual or real-world image elements.

[0006] The systems and methods disclosed herein address various challenges associated with AR or VR technology. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] (summary) According to some embodiments, an optical element is provided herein. In some embodiments, the optical element includes a waveguide, at least one or more first diffraction gratings having a grating direction, the one or more first diffraction gratings being disposed on a major surface of the waveguide, and at least one or more second diffraction gratings having a grating direction, the one or more second diffraction gratings being disposed relative to the one or more first diffraction gratings such that the grating direction of the one or more first diffraction gratings is perpendicular to the grating direction of the one or more second diffraction gratings.

[0008] In some embodiments, the one or more first gratings are disposed on a bottom major surface of the waveguide and the one or more second gratings are disposed on a top major surface of the waveguide. In some embodiments, the one or more first gratings are disposed on a top major surface of the waveguide and the one or more second gratings are disposed above the top major surface of the waveguide. In some embodiments, the one or more second gratings are separated from the one or more first gratings by an isolation layer. In some embodiments, the isolation layer comprises a transparent oxide or a polymer material. In some embodiments, each of the one or more first gratings and the one or more second gratings comprises a symmetric grating.

[0009] In some embodiments, the one or more first diffraction gratings further comprise at least one or more first asymmetric diffraction gratings having a first diffraction direction and at least one or more second asymmetric diffraction gratings having a second diffraction direction anti-parallel to the first diffraction direction, and the one or more second diffraction gratings further comprise at least one or more third asymmetric diffraction gratings having a third preferred diffraction direction and at least one or more fourth asymmetric diffraction gratings having a fourth diffraction direction anti-parallel to the third diffraction direction.

[0010] In some embodiments, the one or more first, second, third, and fourth asymmetric gratings comprise a blazed grating, a Bragg grating, a liquid crystal grating, a sinusoidal grating, a binary grating, a volume phase grating, or a metasurface grating. In some embodiments, the one or more first, second, third, and fourth asymmetric gratings comprise a liquid crystal material. In some embodiments, the one or more first, second, third, and fourth asymmetric gratings comprise a nematic liquid crystal material. In some embodiments, the one or more first, second, third, and fourth asymmetric gratings comprise a cholesteric liquid crystal material. In some embodiments, the one or more first, second, third, and fourth asymmetric gratings comprise a polymerizable liquid crystal material. In some embodiments, the one or more first, second, third, and fourth asymmetric gratings are formed by a nanoimprint process. In some embodiments, the first asymmetric grating is deposited on a first matching layer and the third asymmetric grating is deposited on a second matching layer.

[0011] In some embodiments, the second asymmetric grating is deposited directly on the first asymmetric grating, and the fourth asymmetric grating is deposited directly on the third asymmetric grating. In some embodiments, one or more of the first, second, third, and fourth asymmetric gratings comprise polarization gratings. In some embodiments, one or more of the first, second, third, and fourth asymmetric gratings comprise polarization gratings, and the tilt angle of the asymmetric grating corresponds to the chirality, handedness, and helical pitch of the cholesteric liquid crystal material. In some embodiments, the tilt angle of each asymmetric grating corresponds to the amount of chiral dopant in the liquid crystal material. In some embodiments, the first, second, third, and fourth asymmetric gratings comprise a plurality of liquid crystal material layers, and at least two of the plurality of liquid crystal material layers for one of the gratings have different tilt angles. In some embodiments, the one or more first asymmetric gratings comprise a first circular polarization handedness, and the one or more second asymmetric gratings comprise a second circular polarization handedness that is orthogonal to the first circular polarization handedness. In some embodiments, the one or more third asymmetric diffraction gratings have a third circular polarization handedness and the one or more fourth asymmetric diffraction gratings have a fourth circular polarization handedness that is orthogonal to the third circular polarization handedness.

[0012] According to some aspects, a method of dispersing an optical signal in two dimensions is described herein. In some embodiments, the method may include dispersing an optical signal in a first direction via a first diffraction grating, propagating a portion of the optical signal in the first direction via total internal reflection in a waveguide, outcoupling a portion of the optical signal propagating in the first direction in an outcoupling direction via the first diffraction grating, dispersing a portion of the optical signal in a second direction via a second diffraction grating, propagating a portion of the optical signal in the second direction via total internal reflection in a waveguide, and outcoupling a portion of the optical signal propagating in the second direction in an outcoupling direction via the second diffraction grating. In some embodiments, the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction. In some embodiments, the optical signal is outcoupled at a plurality of locations disposed on a major surface of the waveguide. The present invention provides, for example, the following items. (Item 1) An optical element, the optical element comprising: A waveguide; at least one or more first diffraction gratings having a grating direction, the one or more first diffraction gratings being disposed on a major surface of the waveguide; At least one second diffraction grating having a grating direction; Equipped with the one or more second diffraction gratings are positioned relative to the one or more first diffraction gratings such that a grating direction of the one or more first diffraction gratings is perpendicular to a grating direction of the one or more second diffraction gratings. (Item 2) 2. The optical element of claim 1, wherein the one or more first diffraction gratings are disposed on a bottom major surface of the waveguide and the one or more second diffraction gratings are disposed on a top major surface of the waveguide. (Item 3) 2. The optical element of claim 1, wherein the one or more second diffraction gratings are separated from the one or more first diffraction gratings by an isolation layer. (Item 4) 4. The optical element of claim 3, wherein the isolation layer comprises a transparent oxide or polymer material. (Item 5) Item 2. The optical element of item 1, wherein each of the one or more first diffraction gratings and the one or more second diffraction gratings comprises a symmetric diffraction grating. (Item 6) the one or more first diffraction gratings further comprise at least one or more first asymmetric diffraction gratings having a first diffraction direction and at least one or more second asymmetric diffraction gratings having a second diffraction direction anti-parallel to the first diffraction direction; Item 7. The optical element according to item 1, wherein the one or more second diffraction gratings further include at least one or more third asymmetric diffraction gratings having a third preferred diffraction direction and at least one or more fourth asymmetric diffraction gratings having a fourth diffraction direction antiparallel to the third diffraction direction. 7. The optical element of claim 6, wherein the one or more first, second, third, and fourth asymmetric diffraction gratings comprise a blazed grating, a Bragg grating, a liquid crystal grating, a sinusoidal grating, a binary grating, a volume phase grating, or a metasurface grating. (Item 8) 8. The optical element of claim 7, wherein the one or more of the first, second, third, and fourth asymmetric diffraction gratings comprise a liquid crystal material. (Item 9) 9. The optical element of claim 8, wherein the one or more first, second, third, and fourth asymmetric diffraction gratings comprise a nematic liquid crystal material. (Item 10) 9. The optical element of claim 8, wherein the one or more first, second, third, and fourth asymmetric diffraction gratings comprise a cholesteric liquid crystal material. (Item 11) 9. The optical element of claim 8, wherein the one or more first, second, third, and fourth asymmetric diffraction gratings comprise a polymerizable liquid crystal material. (Item 12) 9. The optical element of claim 8, wherein the one or more first, second, third, and fourth asymmetric diffraction gratings are formed by a nanoimprint process. (Item 13) 9. The optical element of claim 8, wherein the first asymmetric diffraction grating is deposited on a first matching layer and the third asymmetric diffraction grating is deposited on a second matching layer. (Item 14) Item 14. The optical element of item 13, wherein the second asymmetric diffraction grating is deposited directly on the first asymmetric diffraction grating and the fourth asymmetric diffraction grating is deposited directly on the third asymmetric diffraction grating. (Item 15) 9. The optical element of claim 8, wherein the one or more first, second, third, and fourth asymmetric diffraction gratings comprise polarization gratings. (Item 16) Item 11. The optical element of item 10, wherein the one or more first, second, third, and fourth asymmetric diffraction gratings comprise polarization gratings, and the tilt angles of the asymmetric diffraction gratings correspond to the chirality, handedness, and helical pitch of the cholesteric liquid crystal material. (Item 17) Item 16. The optical element of item 15, wherein the tilt angle of each asymmetric diffraction grating corresponds to an amount of chiral dopant in the liquid crystal material. (Item 18) Item 16. The optical element of item 15, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth asymmetric diffraction gratings comprise a plurality of liquid crystal material layers, and at least two of the plurality of liquid crystal material layers for one of the diffraction gratings have different tilt angles. (Item 19) Item 16. The optical element of item 15, wherein the one or more first asymmetric diffraction gratings have a first circular polarization handedness and the one or more second asymmetric diffraction gratings have a second circular polarization handedness that is orthogonal to the first circular polarization handedness. (Item 20) Item 16. The optical element of item 15, wherein the one or more third asymmetric diffraction gratings have a third circular polarization handedness, and the one or more fourth asymmetric diffraction gratings have a fourth circular polarization handedness that is orthogonal to the third circular polarization handedness. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 illustrates a user's view of an augmented reality (AR) device. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a wearable display system. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 illustrates a conventional display system for simulating a three-dimensional image for a user. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 illustrates aspects of an approach for simulating a three-dimensional image using multiple depth planes. [Diagram 5] 5A-5C illustrate the relationship between the radius of curvature and the radius of focus. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a waveguide stack for outputting image information to a user. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 illustrates an example of an output beam output by a waveguide. [Figure 8]FIG. 8 illustrates an example of a stacked waveguide assembly where each depth plane contains an image formed using multiple different primary colors. [Figure 9A] FIG. 9A illustrates a cross-sectional side view of an example set of stacked waveguides, each containing an internal coupling optical element. [Figure 9B] FIG. 9B illustrates a perspective view of the example of multiple stacked waveguides of FIG. 9A. [Figure 9C] FIG. 9C illustrates a top-down plan view of the multiple stacked waveguide example of FIGS. 9A and 9B. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 shows a schematic diagram of incoupled light that is dispersed in two dimensions and outcoupled by an exemplary two-dimensional waveguide optical multiplexer. [Figure 11A] FIG. 11A shows a schematic diagram of light being incoupled into an example waveguide by an example diffraction grating. [Figure 11B] FIG. 11B shows a schematic diagram of incoupled light propagating through an exemplary waveguide and outcoupled from the exemplary waveguide via an exemplary diffraction grating. [Figure 11C] FIG. 11C shows a schematic diagram of light being incoupled into an example waveguide by an example grating at a first location and outcoupled at a second location by a second example grating. [Figure 12A] FIG. 12A shows a schematic diagram of light being in-coupled, dispersed in two dimensions, and out-coupled by a two-dimensional waveguide optical multiplexer according to some embodiments. [Figure 12B] FIG. 12B shows a schematic diagram of light being in-coupled, dispersed in two dimensions, and out-coupled by a two-dimensional waveguide optical multiplexer, according to some other embodiments. [Figure 13A] FIG. 13A shows a schematic diagram of light incoupling into an exemplary waveguide, dispersed one-dimensionally along one direction, and outcoupling via an exemplary diffraction grating having a preferential diffraction direction. [Figure 13B] FIG. 13B shows a schematic diagram of light incoupling into an exemplary waveguide, dispersed in one dimension along two directions, and outcoupling via two exemplary diffraction gratings with antiparallel preferred diffraction directions. [Figure 13C] FIG. 13C shows a schematic diagram of light being internally coupled into an example waveguide by an example diffraction grating having a preferred diffraction direction at a first location and externally coupled out from one side by a second example diffraction grating having a preferred diffraction direction at a second location on the same side of the waveguide as the first diffraction grating. [Figure 13D] FIG. 13D shows a schematic diagram of light being internally coupled into an example waveguide by an example diffraction grating having a preferred diffraction direction at a first location and externally coupled out of one side by a second example diffraction grating having a preferred diffraction direction at a second location on the opposite side of the waveguide from the first diffraction grating. [Figure 14A] FIG. 14A shows a schematic diagram of light in-coupled, distributed in two dimensions, and out-coupled by a two-dimensional waveguide optical multiplexer with a crossed asymmetric grating, according to some embodiments. [Figure 14B] FIG. 14B shows a schematic diagram of light being in-coupled, distributed in two dimensions, and out-coupled by a two-dimensional waveguide optical multiplexer with a crossed asymmetric grating, according to some other embodiments. [Figure 15A] FIG. 15A shows a schematic diagram of left-handed circularly polarized light inwardly coupled into an exemplary waveguide, dispersed one-dimensionally along one direction, and outwardly coupled through an exemplary polarization grating. [Figure 15B] FIG. 15B shows a schematic diagram of right-handed circularly polarized light transmitted through an exemplary waveguide and polarization grating. [Figure 15C] FIG. 15C shows a schematic diagram of light being incoupling into an exemplary waveguide, dispersed in one dimension along two directions, and outcoupling via two exemplary antiparallel polarization gratings. [Figure 16A] FIG. 16A shows a schematic diagram of an exemplary liquid crystal grating deposited on a matching layer overlying a substrate, according to some embodiments. [Figure 16B] FIG. 16B is a schematic diagram illustrating a process for forming a liquid crystal grating using a nanoimprint alignment process, according to some embodiments. [Figure 16C]FIG. 16C is a schematic diagram illustrating a process for forming liquid crystal grating layers with different grating periods using a nanoimprint alignment process according to some embodiments. [Figure 16D] FIG. 16D shows a schematic diagram of an anti-parallel grating comprising two liquid crystal layers with opposite twist angles. [Figure 16E] FIG. 16E shows a schematic diagram of light coupled into an exemplary waveguide from multiple incident angles and dispersed by an exemplary liquid crystal polarization grating including multiple layers of liquid crystal material with different tilt angles in one dimension in one direction, in accordance with some embodiments. [Figure 16F] FIG. 16F shows a schematic diagram of light coupled into an exemplary waveguide from multiple incident angles and dispersed by two anti-parallel exemplary liquid crystal polarization gratings comprising multiple layers of liquid crystal material with different tilt angles in one dimension in two directions, according to some embodiments. [Figure 17A] FIG. 17A shows a schematic diagram of light being in-coupled, dispersed in two dimensions, and out-coupled by a two-dimensional waveguide optical multiplexer with crossed polarization gratings, according to some embodiments. [Figure 17B] FIG. 17B shows a schematic diagram of light in-coupled, dispersed in two dimensions, and out-coupled by a two-dimensional waveguide optical multiplexer with crossed polarization gratings, according to some other embodiments. [Figure 17C] FIG. 17C shows a schematic diagram of light being in-coupled, dispersed in two dimensions, and out-coupled by a two-dimensional waveguide optical multiplexer with crossed polarization gratings fabricated using a nanoimprint process, according to some embodiments. [Figure 17D] FIG. 17D shows a schematic diagram of light in-coupled from multiple incident angles, dispersed in two dimensions, and out-coupled at multiple angles by a two-dimensional waveguide optical multiplexer with crossed polarization gratings, according to some embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] The drawings are provided to illustrate example embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

[0015] (Detailed Description) In some embodiments, optical elements are described herein that can disperse light incident on the optical element via diffraction in two dimensions. That is, a ray of light incident on the surface of the optical element at one location can propagate through the optical element in two dimensions, for example along the length and width of the optical element. In-coupled light can also be out-coupled from the optical element at multiple locations that are directed out of the optical element, i.e., distributed on the surface of the optical element in two dimensions.

[0016] In some embodiments, optical elements as described herein may be used as optical dispersion elements, e.g., optical dispersion elements that may disperse light into and / or out of corresponding waveguides. In some embodiments, optical elements as described herein may be used, e.g., as orthogonal pupil expanders (OPEs), which may deflect or disperse light and may also increase the beam or spot size of this light as it propagates. Advantageously, according to some embodiments, a two-dimensional waveguide optical multiplexer may serve to efficiently direct and distribute optical signals in the form of light to other optical elements in an augmented reality device. Furthermore, a two-dimensional waveguide optical multiplexer as described herein may also be useful for multiplexing optical signals for optical fiber communication applications.

[0017] In some embodiments, the two-dimensional waveguide optical multiplexer may take the form of a waveguide and at least two diffraction gratings. In some embodiments, each diffraction grating may have a grating direction, and the diffraction gratings may be aligned such that the grating direction of the first diffraction grating is not aligned with the grating direction of the second diffraction grating. In some embodiments, the grating direction of the first diffraction grating is perpendicular to the grating direction of the second diffraction grating. The diffraction gratings may be disposed on a major surface (e.g., a top major surface) of the waveguide. For example, in some embodiments, at least two diffraction gratings may be disposed on the top major surface of the waveguide. In some embodiments, at least two diffraction gratings may be disposed on the bottom major surface of the waveguide. In some embodiments, a diffraction grating may be disposed on both the top major surface of the waveguide and the bottom major surface of the diffraction grating.

[0018] In some embodiments, the two gratings are arranged such that the grating direction of the first grating is perpendicular to the grating direction of the second grating, and this arrangement can advantageously allow for a two-dimensional distribution of light. That is, in some embodiments, as the internally coupled light propagates through the waveguide, it interacts with a grating disposed on the waveguide such that the internally coupled light is outcoupled at multiple locations, which is dispersed in two dimensions across the major surface of the two-dimensional waveguide optical multiplexer. As the light propagates through the waveguide of the two-dimensional waveguide optical multiplexer, it can interact with the first grating, thereby being dispersed along the grating of the first grating. The dispersed light also interacts with the second grating, whereby the light dispersed along the first direction is dispersed along the grating direction of the second grating, thereby achieving a dispersion of light in two dimensions, for example, along the length and width dimensions of the two-dimensional waveguide optical multiplexer.

[0019] In some embodiments, the grating of the two-dimensional waveguide optical multiplexer may have a preferred diffraction direction. In some embodiments, the grating may comprise structural features that provide the preferred diffraction direction. In some embodiments, the grating may be, for example, a blazed grating, a Bragg grating, a liquid crystal grating, a sinusoidal grating, a binary grating, a volume phase grating, or a metasurface grating. In some embodiments, the grating may be an asymmetric grating. In some embodiments, the grating may be a polarization grating, for example, a liquid crystal polarization grating. In some embodiments, when the grating is a polarization grating, the grating may be comprised of a liquid crystal material. In some embodiments, the liquid crystal material may comprise a nematic liquid crystal or a cholesteric liquid crystal. In some embodiments, the liquid crystal material may comprise an azo-containing polymer. In some embodiments, the liquid crystal material may comprise a polymerizable liquid crystal material. In some embodiments, the liquid crystal material may comprise a reactive mesogen.

[0020] In some embodiments, the liquid crystal polarization grating may be fabricated by a nanoimprint process. In some embodiments, the liquid crystal polarization grating may be fabricated by depositing a liquid crystal material onto an alignment layer. In some embodiments, the liquid crystal polarization grating may not include an alignment layer.

[0021] In some embodiments, the liquid crystal polarization grating may comprise one or more chiral liquid crystal layers, each layer of the same chirality having a different tilt angle. By providing multiple liquid crystal layers with multiple different tilt angles, the liquid crystal polarization grating can achieve a higher diffraction efficiency for a wider range of light incidence angles than a liquid crystal polarization grating that does not comprise layers with multiple tilt angles. In this way, a two-dimensional waveguide optical multiplexer comprising a vertical liquid crystal polarization grating, each of which has multiple tilt angles, can efficiently distribute light in two dimensions at a wide range of incidence angles. Such a two-dimensional waveguide optical multiplexer can be used to efficiently multiplex images with a wide field of view, such as a large pupil or large eyebox for an augmented reality device.

[0022] Reference is now made to the drawings, in which like reference numbers refer to like parts throughout.

[0023] FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a wearable display system 80. The display system 80 includes a display 62 and various mechanical and electronic modules and systems to support the functionality of the display 62. The display 62 may be coupled to a frame 64, which is wearable by a display system user or viewer 60 and configured to position the display 62 in front of the user's 60 eyes. The display 62 may be considered eyewear in some embodiments. In some embodiments, a speaker 66 is coupled to the frame 64 and positioned adjacent to the ear canal of the user 60 (in some embodiments, another speaker, not shown, is positioned adjacent to the user's other ear canal to provide stereo / adjustable sound control). In some embodiments, the display system may also include one or more microphones 67 or other devices to detect sound. In some embodiments, the microphones may be configured to allow the user to provide input or commands (e.g., voice menu command selections, natural language questions, etc.) to the system 80 and / or enable audio communication with other persons (e.g., other users of similar display systems). The microphone may further be configured as an ambient sensor to continuously collect audio data (e.g., to passively collect from the user and / or the environment). Such audio data may include user sounds, such as heavy breathing, or environmental sounds, such as commotion, indicative of a nearby event. The display system may also include an ambient sensor 30a, which may be separate from the frame 64 and attached to the body of the user 60 (e.g., on the head, torso, limbs, etc. of the user 60). The ambient sensor 30a may be configured to obtain data characterizing a physiological state of the user 60, in some embodiments, as described further herein. For example, the sensor 30a may be an electrode.

[0024] 2, the display 62 is operably coupled by a communication link 68, such as wired or wireless connectivity, to a local data processing module 70, which may be mounted in a variety of configurations, such as fixedly attached to the frame 64, fixedly attached to a helmet or hat worn by the user, built into headphones, or otherwise removably attached to the user 60 (e.g., in a backpack or belt-type configuration). Similarly, the sensor 30a may be operably coupled to the local processor and data module 70 by a communication link 30b, such as wired or wireless connectivity. The local processing and data module 70 may comprise a hardware processor and digital memory, such as non-volatile memory (e.g., flash memory or hard disk drive), both of which may be utilized to aid in processing, caching, and storing data. The data includes data a) captured from sensors (e.g., which may be operatively coupled to the frame 64 or otherwise attached to the user 60), such as image capture devices (such as cameras), microphones, inertial measurement units, accelerometers, compasses, GPS units, wireless devices, gyroscopes, and / or other sensors disclosed herein, and / or b) obtained and / or processed using a remote processing module 72 and / or a remote data repository 74 (including data related to the virtual content), possibly for processing or retrieval and then passing to the display 62. The local processing and data module 70 may be operatively coupled to the remote processing module 72 and the remote data repository 74 by communications links 76, 78, such as via wired or wireless communication links, such that these remote modules 72, 74 are operatively coupled to each other and available as resources to the local processing and data module 70. In some embodiments, local processing and data module 70 may include one or more of an image capture device, a microphone, an inertial measurement unit, an accelerometer, a compass, a GPS unit, a wireless device, and / or a gyroscope.In some other embodiments, one or more of these sensors may be mounted on the frame 64 or may be stand-alone structures that communicate with the local processing and data module 70 by wired or wireless communication paths.

[0025] 2, in some embodiments, remote processing module 72 may comprise one or more processors configured to analyze and process data and / or image information. In some embodiments, remote data repository 74 may comprise a digital data storage facility, which may be available through the Internet or other networking configurations in a "cloud" resource configuration. In some embodiments, remote data repository 74 may include one or more remote servers, which provide information, e.g., information for generating augmented reality content, to local processing and data module 70 and / or remote processing module 72. In some embodiments, all data is stored and all calculations are performed within the local processing and data module, allowing for fully autonomous use from the remote modules.

[0026] The perception of an image as being "three-dimensional" or "3-D" may be achieved by providing a slightly different presentation of the image to each eye of the viewer. FIG. 3 illustrates a conventional display system for simulating a three-dimensional image for a user. Two distinct images 5, 7, one for each eye 4, 6, are output to the user. The images 5, 7 are spaced apart from the eyes 4, 6 by a distance 10 along an optical or z-axis parallel to the viewer's line of sight. The images 5, 7 are flat and the eyes 4, 6 may focus on the images by assuming a single accommodation state. Such a system relies on the human visual system to combine the images 5, 7 and provide the perception of depth and / or scale for the combined image.

[0027] However, it will be appreciated that the human visual system is more complex and providing a realistic perception of depth is more difficult. For example, many viewers of conventional "3-D" display systems may find such systems uncomfortable or may not perceive any sense of depth at all. Without being limited by theory, it is believed that a viewer of an object may perceive the object as "three-dimensional" due to a combination of vergence and accommodation. Vergence movement of the two eyes relative to each other (i.e., rotation of the eyes such that the pupils move toward or away from each other, converging the gaze of the eyes and fixating on the object) is closely linked to the focusing (or "accommodation") of the lenses and pupils of the eye. Under normal conditions, a change in focus of the lenses of the eye or accommodation of the eye to change focus from one object to another at a different distance will automatically produce a matching change in vergence to the same distance, a relationship known as the "accommodation-vergence reflex" and pupil dilation or constriction. Similarly, changes in vergence will induce matching changes in accommodation of lens shape and pupil size under normal conditions. As described herein, many stereoscopic, or "3-D," display systems display a scene to each eye using a slightly different presentation (and therefore a slightly different image) so that a three-dimensional perspective is perceived by the human visual system. However, such systems are uncomfortable for many viewers because, among other things, they simply provide a different presentation of the scene but oppose the "accommodation-vergence reflex" in which the eye views all image information in a single accommodation state. Display systems that provide better matching between accommodation and vergence may form a more realistic and comfortable simulation of a three-dimensional image and contribute to increased duration of wear and thus compliance with diagnostic and therapy protocols.

[0028] FIG. 4 illustrates aspects of an approach for simulating a three-dimensional image using multiple depth planes. With reference to FIG. 4, objects at various distances from the eyes 4, 6 on the z-axis are accommodated by the eyes 4, 6 such that the objects are in focus. The eyes (4 and 6) assume particular accommodation states and focus objects at different distances along the z-axis. As a result, a particular accommodation state may be said to be associated with a particular one of the depth planes 14 having an associated focal length such that an object or part of an object in the particular depth plane is in focus when the eye is in the accommodation state for that depth plane. In some embodiments, a three-dimensional image may be simulated by providing different presentations of images for each eye 4, 6 and by providing different presentations of images corresponding to each of the depth planes. Although shown as separate for clarity of illustration, it will be understood that the fields of view of the eyes 4, 6 may overlap, for example, as the distance along the z-axis increases. Additionally, while shown to be flat for ease of illustration, it will be understood that the contour of the depth plane may be curved in physical space such that all features within the depth plane are in focus with the eye in a particular state of accommodation.

[0029] The distance between an object and the eye 4 or 6 may also change the amount of light emitted from the object as viewed by that eye. Figures 5A-5C illustrate the relationship between distance and divergence of light rays. The distance between the object and the eye 4 is represented in the order of decreasing distances R1, R2, and R3. As shown in Figures 5A-5C, the light rays become more divergent as the distance to the object decreases. As the distance increases, the light rays become more collimated. In other words, the light field generated by a point (an object or part of an object) may be said to have a spherical wavefront curvature that is a function of the distance the point is away from the user's eye. As the curvature increases, the distance between the object and the eye 4 decreases. As a result, at different depth planes, the degree of divergence of the light rays is also different, and the degree of divergence increases with decreasing distance between the depth plane and the viewer's eye 4. Only a single eye 4 is shown in Figures 5A-5C and other figures herein for clarity of illustration, but it will be understood that the discussion regarding eye 4 may apply to both eyes 4 and 6 of a viewer.

[0030] Without being limited by theory, it is believed that the human eye is typically capable of interpreting a finite number of depth planes to provide depth perception. As a result, a highly realistic simulation of perceived depth may be achieved by providing the eye with different presentations of images corresponding to each of these limited number of depth planes. The different presentations may be focused separately by the viewer's eye, thereby serving to provide depth cues to the user based on the ocular accommodation required to focus on different image features for a scene located on different depth planes and / or based on the observation of different image features on different depth planes that are out of focus.

[0031] FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a waveguide stack for outputting image information to a user. The display system 1000 includes a stack of waveguides or a stacked waveguide assembly 178 that may be utilized to provide a three-dimensional perception to the eye / brain using multiple waveguides 182, 184, 186, 188, 190. In some embodiments, the display system 1000 is the system 80 of FIG. 2, of which FIG. 6 illustrates diagrammatically some portions in greater detail. For example, the waveguide assembly 178 may be part of the display 62 of FIG. 2. It will be appreciated that the display system 1000 may be considered a bright field display in some embodiments.

[0032] 6, the waveguide assembly 178 may also include a number of features 198, 196, 194, 192 between the waveguides. In some embodiments, the features 198, 196, 194, 192 may be one or more lenses. The waveguides 182, 184, 186, 188, 190 and / or the lenses 198, 196, 194, 192 may be configured to transmit image information to the eye with various levels of wavefront curvature or light beam divergence. Each waveguide level may be associated with a particular depth plane and may be configured to output image information corresponding to that depth plane. The image input devices 200, 202, 204, 206, 208 may act as light sources for the waveguides and may be utilized to input image information into the waveguides 182, 184, 186, 188, 190, each of which may be configured to disperse incident light across each respective waveguide for output towards the eye 4, as described herein. The light exits output surfaces 300, 302, 304, 306, 308 of the image input devices 200, 202, 204, 206, 208 and is input into corresponding input surfaces 382, ​​384, 386, 388, 390 of the waveguides 182, 184, 186, 188, 190. In some embodiments, each of the input surfaces 382, ​​384, 386, 388, 390 may be an edge of the corresponding waveguide or may be a portion of a major surface of the corresponding waveguide (i.e., one of the waveguide surfaces that directly faces the world 144 or the viewer's eye 4). In some embodiments, a single beam of light (e.g., a collimated beam) may be launched into each waveguide and output a total field of cloned collimated beams that are directed toward the eye 4 at a particular angle (and divergence) corresponding to the depth plane associated with the particular waveguide. In some embodiments, a single one of the image launch devices 200, 202, 204, 206, 208 may be associated with and launch light into multiple (e.g., three) waveguides 182, 184, 186, 188, 190.

[0033] In some embodiments, each of the image input devices 200, 202, 204, 206, 208 is a discrete display that produces image information for input into the corresponding waveguides 182, 184, 186, 188, 190, respectively. In some other embodiments, the image input devices 200, 202, 204, 206, 208 are the output of a single multiplexed display that may, for example, send image information to each of the image input devices 200, 202, 204, 206, 208 via one or more optical conduits (such as fiber optic cables). It should be understood that the image information provided by the image input devices 200, 202, 204, 206, 208 may include light of different wavelengths or colors (e.g., different primary colors as discussed herein).

[0034] In some embodiments, the light injected into the waveguides 182, 184, 186, 188, 190 is provided by a light projector system 2000, which includes a light module 2040, which may include a light emitter such as a light emitting diode (LED). Light from the light module 2040 may be directed and modified by a light modulator 2030, e.g., a spatial light modulator, via a beam splitter 2050. The light modulator 2030 may be configured to change the perceived intensity of the light injected into the waveguides 182, 184, 186, 188, 190. The light modulator 2030 may be configured to change the perceived intensity of the light injected into the waveguides 182, 184, 186, 188, 190. Examples of spatial light modulators include liquid crystal displays (LCDs), including liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS) displays.

[0035] In some embodiments, the display system 1000 may be a scanning fiber display comprising one or more scanning fibers configured to project light in various patterns (e.g., raster scan, spiral scan, Lissajous pattern, etc.) into one or more waveguides 182, 184, 186, 188, 190 and ultimately to the viewer's eye 4. In some embodiments, the illustrated image injection devices 200, 202, 204, 206, 208 may diagrammatically represent a single scanning fiber or a bundle of scanning fibers configured to inject light into one or more waveguides 182, 184, 186, 188, 190. In some other embodiments, the illustrated image injection devices 200, 202, 204, 206, 208 may diagrammatically represent multiple scanning fibers or multiple bundles of scanning fibers, each configured to inject light into an associated one of the waveguides 182, 184, 186, 188, 190. It should be understood that one or more optical fibers can be configured to transmit light from the optical module 2040 to one or more of the waveguides 182, 184, 186, 188, 190. It should be understood that one or more intervening optical structures can be provided between the scanning fiber or fibers and one or more of the waveguides 182, 184, 186, 188, 190, for example, to redirect light exiting the scanning fiber into one or more of the waveguides 182, 184, 186, 188, 190.

[0036] The controller 210 controls the operation of one or more of the stacked waveguide assemblies 178, including the operation of the image input devices 200, 202, 204, 206, 208, the light source 2040, and the light modulator 2030. In some embodiments, the controller 210 is part of the local data processing module 70. The controller 210 includes programming (e.g., instructions in a non-transient medium) that coordinates the timing and provision of image information to the waveguides 182, 184, 186, 188, 190, for example, according to any of the various schemes disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the controller may be a single integrated device or a distributed system connected by wired or wireless communication channels. The controller 210 may be part of the processing module 70 or 72 (FIG. 1) in some embodiments.

[0037] Continuing with reference to FIG. 6, the waveguides 182, 184, 186, 188, 190 may be configured to propagate light within each respective waveguide by total internal reflection (TIR). Each of the waveguides 182, 184, 186, 188, 190 may be planar or have another shape (e.g., curved) with major top and bottom surfaces and edges extending between their major top and bottom surfaces. In the illustrated configuration, each of the waveguides 182, 184, 186, 188, 190 may include out-coupling optical elements 282, 284, 286, 288, 290 configured to extract light from the waveguide by redirecting light propagating within each respective waveguide out of the waveguide and outputting image information to the eye 4. The extracted light may also be referred to as out-coupled light, and the out-coupling optical element light may also be referred to as a light extraction optical element. The extracted beam of light is output by the waveguide at the location where the light propagating within the waveguide strikes the light extraction optical element. The outcoupling optical elements 282, 284, 286, 288, 290 may be gratings, including, for example, diffractive optical features as further discussed herein. Although shown disposed on the bottom major surfaces of the waveguides 182, 184, 186, 188, 190 for ease of explanation and clarity of the drawings, in some embodiments the outcoupling optical elements 282, 284, 286, 288, 290 may be disposed on the top and / or bottom major surfaces and / or may be disposed directly within the volume of the waveguides 182, 184, 186, 188, 190, as further discussed herein. In some embodiments, the outcoupling optical elements 282, 284, 286, 288, 290 may be formed in a layer of material that is attached to a transparent substrate and forms the waveguides 182, 184, 186, 188, 190. In some other embodiments, the waveguides 182, 184, 186, 188, 190 may be monolithic pieces of material and the outcoupling optical elements 282, 284, 286, 288, 290 may be formed on a surface of and / or within that piece of material.

[0038] With continued reference to FIG. 6, as discussed herein, each waveguide 182, 184, 186, 188, 190 is configured to output light and form an image corresponding to a particular depth plane. For example, the waveguide 182 closest to the eye may be configured to deliver collimated light (injected into such waveguide 182) to the eye 4. The collimated light may represent an optical infinity focal plane. The next upper waveguide 184 may be configured to send collimated light that passes through a first lens 192 (e.g., a negative lens) before it can reach the eye 4. Such first lens 192 may be configured to generate a slight convex wavefront curvature such that the eye / brain interprets the light originating from the next upper waveguide 184 as originating from a first focal plane closer inward from optical infinity toward the eye 4. Similarly, the third upper waveguide 186 passes its output light through both the first 192 and second 194 lenses before reaching the eye 4. The combined refractive power of the first 192 and second 194 lenses may be configured to produce another incremental amount of wavefront curvature such that the eye / brain interprets the light emerging from the third waveguide 186 as emerging from a second focal plane that is closer inward toward the person from optical infinity, which was the light from the next upper waveguide 184.

[0039] The other waveguide layers 188, 190 and lenses 196, 198 are similarly configured, with the highest waveguide 190 in the stack sending its output through all of the lenses between it and the eye for an aggregate focal force that represents the focal plane closest to the person. To compensate for the stack of lenses 198, 196, 194, 192 when viewing / interpreting light originating from the world 144 on the other side of the stacked waveguide assembly 178, a compensating lens layer 180 may be placed on top of the stack to compensate for the aggregate force of the lens stacks 198, 196, 194, 192 below. Such a configuration provides as many perceived focal planes as there are waveguide / lens pairs available. Both the outcoupling optical elements of the waveguides and the focusing sides of the lenses may be static (i.e., not dynamic or electroactive). In some alternative embodiments, one or both may be dynamic using electroactive features.

[0040] In some embodiments, two or more of the waveguides 182, 184, 186, 188, 190 may have the same associated depth plane. For example, multiple waveguides 182, 184, 186, 188, 190 may be configured to output images set at the same depth plane, or multiple subsets of the waveguides 182, 184, 186, 188, 190 may be configured to output images set at the same depth planes, with one set per depth plane. This may provide the advantage of forming tiled images to provide an extended field of view at those depth planes.

[0041] Continuing with reference to FIG. 6, the outcoupling optical elements 282, 284, 286, 288, 290 can be configured to redirect light from its respective waveguide and output the light with an appropriate amount of divergence or collimation for a particular depth plane associated with the waveguide. As a result, waveguides with different associated depth planes can have different configurations of outcoupling optical elements 282, 284, 286, 288, 290 that output light with different amounts of divergence depending on the associated depth plane. In some embodiments, the light extraction optical elements 282, 284, 286, 288, 290 can be volume or surface features that can be configured to output light at specific angles. For example, the light extraction optical elements 282, 284, 286, 288, 290 can be volume holograms, surface holograms, and / or diffraction gratings. In some embodiments, the features 198, 196, 194, 192 may not be lenses. Rather, they may simply be spacers (e.g., cladding layers and / or structures for forming air gaps).

[0042] In some embodiments, the outcoupling optical elements 282, 284, 286, 288, 290 are diffractive features that form a diffraction pattern or "diffractive optical elements" (also referred to herein as "DOEs"). Preferably, the DOEs have a sufficiently low diffraction efficiency such that only a portion of the light in the beam is deflected toward the eye 4 with each intersection point of the DOE, while the remainder continues traveling through the waveguide via total internal reflection. The light carrying the image information is thus split into several related exit beams that exit the waveguide at various locations, resulting in a very uniform pattern of exit emission toward the eye 4 for this particular collimated beam bouncing within the waveguide.

[0043] In some embodiments, one or more DOEs may be switchable between an "on" state in which they actively diffract and an "off" state in which they do not significantly diffract. For example, a switchable DOE may comprise a layer of polymer dispersed liquid crystal in which microdroplets comprise a diffractive pattern in a host medium, and the refractive index of the microdroplets may be switched to substantially match the refractive index of the host material (in which case the pattern does not significantly diffract incident light), or the microdroplets may be switched to a refractive index that does not match that of the host medium (in which case the pattern actively diffracts incident light).

[0044] In some embodiments, a camera assembly 500 (e.g., a digital camera, including visible and infrared light cameras) is provided to capture images of the eye 4 and / or tissue surrounding the eye 4, for example, to detect user input and / or monitor the physiological state of the user. As used herein, a camera may be any image capture device. In some embodiments, the camera assembly 500 may include an image capture device and a light source that projects light (e.g., infrared light) onto the eye, which may then be reflected by the eye and detected by the image capture device. In some embodiments, the camera assembly 500 may be mounted on a frame 64 (FIG. 2) and may be in electrical communication with processing modules 70 and / or 72, which may process image information from the camera assembly 500 and make various determinations regarding the physiological state of the user, for example, as discussed herein. It should be understood that information regarding the physiological state of the user may be used to determine the behavior or emotional state of the user. Examples of such information include the user's movements and / or the user's facial expressions. The user's behavior or emotional state may then be triangulated with the collected environmental and / or virtual content data to determine relationships between the behavior or emotional state, the physiological state, and the environmental or virtual content data. In some embodiments, one camera assembly 500 may be utilized per eye to monitor each eye separately.

[0045] 7, an example of an output beam output by a waveguide is shown. Although one waveguide is shown, it should be understood that other waveguides in the waveguide assembly 178 (FIG. 6) may function similarly and that the waveguide assembly 178 includes multiple waveguides. Light 400 is launched into the waveguide 182 at the input surface 382 of the waveguide 182 and propagates within the waveguide 182 by TIR. At the point where the light 400 impinges on the DOE 282, a portion of the light exits the waveguide as an output beam 402. The output beam 402 is shown as approximately parallel, but may be redirected to propagate to the eye 4 at an angle (e.g., divergent output beam formation) as discussed herein and depending on the depth plane associated with the waveguide 182. It should be understood that a nearly collimated exit beam may refer to a waveguide with outcoupling optics that outcouples light to form an image that appears to be set at a depth plane at a large distance (e.g., optical infinity) from the eye 4. Other sets of waveguides or other outcoupling optics may output a more divergent exit beam pattern, which would require the eye 4 to accommodate to a closer distance and focus on the retina, and would be interpreted by the brain as light from a distance closer to the eye 4 than optical infinity.

[0046] In some embodiments, a full color image may be formed at each depth plane by overlaying an image on each of the primary colors, for example, three or more primary colors. FIG. 8 illustrates an example of a stacked waveguide assembly, where each depth plane includes an image formed using multiple different primary colors. The illustrated embodiment shows depth planes 14a-14f, but more or less depths are also contemplated. Each depth plane may have three or more primary color images associated with it, including a first image of a first color G, a second image of a second color R, and a third image of a third color B. The different depth planes are indicated in the diagram by different numbers for diopters (dpt) following the letters G, R, and B. By way of example only, the numbers following each of these letters indicate the diopters (1 / m), i.e., the inverse distance of the depth plane from the viewer, and each box in the diagram represents an individual primary color image. In some embodiments, the exact location of the depth planes for the different primary colors may vary to account for differences in the eye's focusing of different wavelengths of light. For example, different primary color images for a given depth plane may be placed on depth planes corresponding to different distances from the user. Such an arrangement may increase visual acuity and user comfort and / or reduce chromatic aberration.

[0047] In some embodiments, the light of each primary color may be output by a single dedicated waveguide, such that each depth plane may have multiple waveguides associated with it. In such embodiments, each box in the figure containing the letter G, R, or B may be understood to represent an individual waveguide, and three waveguides may be provided per depth plane, with three primary color images provided per depth plane. The waveguides associated with each depth plane are shown adjacent to each other in this drawing for ease of illustration, but it should be understood that in a physical device, the waveguides may all be arranged in a stack with one waveguide per level. In some other embodiments, multiple primary colors may be output by the same waveguide, such that, for example, only a single waveguide may be provided per depth plane.

[0048] 8, in some embodiments, G is green, R is red, and B is blue. In some other embodiments, other colors associated with other wavelengths of light, including magenta and cyan, may be used in addition to or replace one or more of the red, green, or blue colors. In some embodiments, features 198, 196, 194, and 192 may be active or passive optical filters configured to selectively block light from the surrounding environment to the viewer's eye.

[0049] It should be appreciated that references throughout this disclosure to a given color of light will be understood to encompass one or more wavelengths of light within the range of wavelengths of light that are perceived by a viewer to be of that given color. For example, red light may include one or more wavelengths of light within the range of about 620-780 nm, green light may include one or more wavelengths of light within the range of about 492-577 nm, and blue light may include one or more wavelengths of light within the range of about 435-493 nm.

[0050] In some embodiments, the light source 2040 (FIG. 6) may be configured to emit light at one or more wavelengths outside the range of visual perception of a viewer, e.g., infrared and / or ultraviolet wavelengths. Additionally, the waveguide in-coupling, out-coupling, and other light redirecting structures of the display 1000 may be configured to direct and emit this light from the display toward the user's eye 4, e.g., for imaging and / or user stimulation applications.

[0051] 9A, in some embodiments, light impinging on a waveguide may need to be redirected to in-couple the light into the waveguide. An in-coupling optical element may be used to redirect and in-couple the light into its corresponding waveguide. FIG. 9A illustrates a cross-sectional side view of an example of a plurality or set 1200 of stacked waveguides, each including an in-coupling optical element. Each of the waveguides may be configured to output light of one or more different wavelengths or one or more different wavelength ranges. The stack 1200 may correspond to the stack 178 (FIG. 6), and the illustrated waveguides of the stack 1200 may correspond to a portion of the plurality of waveguides 182, 184, 186, 188, 190, but it should be understood that light from one or more of the image input devices 200, 202, 204, 206, 208 is input into the waveguide from a position that requires the light to be redirected for in-coupling.

[0052] The illustrated set 1200 of stacked waveguides includes waveguides 1210, 1220, and 1230. Each waveguide includes an associated incoupling optical element (which may also be referred to as the light input area on the waveguide), e.g., incoupling optical element 1212 is disposed on a major surface (e.g., the top major surface) of waveguide 1210, incoupling optical element 1224 is disposed on a major surface (e.g., the top major surface) of waveguide 1220, and incoupling optical element 1232 is disposed on a major surface (e.g., the top major surface) of waveguide 1230. In some embodiments, one or more of the incoupling optical elements 1212, 1222, 1232 may be disposed on a bottom major surface of the respective waveguide 1210, 1220, 1230 (particularly, one or more of the incoupling optical elements are reflective polarizing optical elements). As shown, the incoupling optical elements 1212, 1222, 1232 may be disposed on the upper major surface of their respective waveguides 1210, 1220, 1230 (or on top of the next lower waveguide), and in particular, the incoupling optical elements are transmissive turning optical elements. In some embodiments, the incoupling optical elements 1212, 1222, 1232 may be disposed within the body of the respective waveguides 1210, 1220, 1230. In some embodiments, as discussed herein, the incoupling optical elements 1212, 1222, 1232 are wavelength selective such that they selectively redirect one or more wavelengths of light while transmitting other wavelengths of light. Although illustrated on one side or corner of its respective waveguide 1210, 1220, 1230, it should be understood that the internal coupling optical elements 1212, 1222, 1232 may be located within other areas of its respective waveguide 1210, 1220, 1230 in some embodiments.

[0053] As shown, the in-coupling optical elements 1212, 1222, 1232 may be laterally offset from one another. In some embodiments, each in-coupling optical element may be offset to receive light without that light passing through another in-coupling optical element. For example, each in-coupling optical element 1212, 1222, 1232 may be configured to receive light from different image input devices 200, 202, 204, 206, and 208, as shown in FIG. 6, and may be separated (e.g., laterally spaced) from the other in-coupling optical elements 1212, 1222, 1232 so as to substantially not receive light from others of the in-coupling optical elements 1212, 1222, 1232.

[0054] Each waveguide also includes an associated optically dispersive element, for example, optically dispersive element 1214 is disposed on a major surface (e.g., the top major surface) of waveguide 1210, optically dispersive element 1224 is disposed on a major surface (e.g., the top major surface) of waveguide 1220, and optically dispersive element 1234 is disposed on a major surface (e.g., the top major surface) of waveguide 1230. In some other embodiments, optically dispersive elements 1214, 1224, 1234 may be disposed on the bottom major surfaces of the associated waveguides 1210, 1220, 1230, respectively. In some other embodiments, the optically dispersive elements 1214, 1224, 1234 may be disposed on both the top and bottom major surfaces of the associated waveguides 1210, 1220, 1230, respectively, or the optically dispersive elements 1214, 1224, 1234 may be disposed on different ones of the top and bottom major surfaces in different associated waveguides 1210, 1220, 1230, respectively.

[0055] The waveguides 1210, 1220, 1230 may be spaced apart and separated by, for example, gas, liquid, and / or solid layers of material. For example, as shown, layer 1218a may separate waveguides 1210 and 1220, and layer 1218b may separate waveguides 1220 and 1230. In some embodiments, layers 1218a and 1218b are formed from a low index material (i.e., a material having a lower index of refraction than the material forming the immediate neighbors of waveguides 1210, 1220, 1230). Preferably, the index of refraction of the material forming layers 1218a, 1218b is 0.05 or more, or 0.10 or less, than the index of refraction of the material forming waveguides 1210, 1220, 1230. Advantageously, the lower refractive index layers 1218a, 1218b may act as cladding layers to promote total internal reflection (TIR) ​​of light through the waveguides 1210, 1220, 1230 (e.g., TIR between the top and bottom major surfaces of each waveguide). In some embodiments, the layers 1218a, 1218b are formed from air. Although not shown, it should be understood that the top and bottom of the illustrated set of waveguides 1200 may include immediate cladding layers.

[0056] Preferably, for ease of manufacturing and other considerations, the materials forming the waveguides 1210, 1220, 1230 are similar or the same, and the materials forming the layers 1218a, 1218b are similar or the same. In some embodiments, the materials forming the waveguides 1210, 1220, 1230 may vary between one or more of the waveguides, and / or the materials forming the layers 1218a, 1218b may differ while still maintaining the various refractive index relationships discussed above.

[0057] 9A, light rays 1240, 1242, 1244 are incident on the set of waveguides 1200. It should be understood that light rays 1240, 1242, 1244 may be injected into the waveguides 1210, 1220, 1230 by one or more image injection devices 200, 202, 204, 206, 208 (FIG. 6).

[0058] In some embodiments, the light beams 1240, 1242, 1244 have different properties, e.g., different wavelengths or different wavelength ranges, that may correspond to different colors. Each of the internal coupling optical elements 1212, 122, 1232 deflects the incident light such that the light propagates through a respective one of the waveguides 1210, 1220, 1230 by TIR.

[0059] For example, the incoupling optical element 1212 may be configured to deflect light beam 1240 having a first wavelength or range of wavelengths. Similarly, the transmitted light beam 1242 impinges on and is deflected by the incoupling optical element 1222, which is configured to selectively deflect light of a second wavelength or range of wavelengths. Similarly, the light beam 1244 is deflected by the incoupling optical element 1232, which is configured to selectively deflect light of a third wavelength or range of wavelengths.

[0060] 9A, the deflected light rays 1240, 1242, 1244 are deflected to propagate through the corresponding waveguides 1210, 1220, 1230. That is, the incoupling optical element 1212, 1222, 1232 of each waveguide deflects the light into its corresponding waveguide 1210, 1220, 1230 and incouplings the light into the corresponding waveguide. The light rays 1240, 1242, 1244 are deflected at an angle that causes the light to propagate through the respective waveguides 1210, 1220, 1230 by TIR. The light rays 1240, 1242, 1244 propagate through the respective waveguides 1210, 1220, 1230 by TIR until they impinge on the corresponding optical dispersive element 1214, 1224, 1234 of the waveguide.

[0061] 9B, a perspective view of the multiple stacked waveguide embodiment of FIG. 9A is illustrated. As previously described, the in-coupled light rays 1240, 1242, 1244 are deflected by the in-coupling optical elements 1212, 1222, 1232, respectively, and then propagate by TIR within the waveguides 1210, 1220, 1230, respectively. The light rays 1240, 1242, 1244 then impinge on the optically dispersive elements 1214, 1224, 1234, respectively. The optically dispersive elements 1214, 1224, 1234 deflect the light rays 1240, 1242, 1244 to propagate towards the out-coupling optical elements 1250, 1252, 1254, respectively.

[0062] In some embodiments, the optically dispersive elements 1214, 1224, 1234 are orthogonal pupil expanders (OPEs). In some embodiments, the OPEs both deflect or disperse the light into the out-coupling optical elements 1250, 1252, 1254 and also increase the beam or spot size of this light as it propagates into the out-coupling optical elements. In some embodiments, for example, if the beam size is already the desired size, the optically dispersive elements 1214, 1224, 1234 may be omitted and the in-coupling optical elements 1212, 1222, 1232 may be configured to deflect the light directly into the out-coupling optical elements 1250, 1252, 1254. For example, referring to FIG. 9A, the optically dispersive elements 1214, 1224, 1234 may be replaced with the out-coupling optical elements 1250, 1252, 1254, respectively. In some embodiments, the outcoupling optical elements 1250, 1252, 1254 are exit pupils (EP) or exit pupil expanders (EPE) that direct light into the viewer's eye 4 (FIG. 7).

[0063] Thus, referring to Figures 9A and 9B, in some embodiments, a set of waveguides 1200 includes, for each primary color, a waveguide 1210, 1220, 1230, an in-coupling optical element 1212, 1222, 1232, an optically dispersive element (e.g., OPE) 1214, 1224, 1234, and an out-coupling optical element (e.g., EP) 1250, 1252, 1254. The waveguides 1210, 1220, 1230 may be stacked with an air gap / cladding layer between each one. The in-coupling optical element 1212, 1222, 1232 redirects or deflects the incoming light into that waveguide (different in-coupling optical elements receive different wavelengths of light). The light then propagates at an angle that will result in TIR within the respective waveguide 1210, 1220, 1230. In the example shown, light ray 1240 (e.g., blue light) is deflected by the first in-coupling optical element 1212 in the manner previously described, then continues bouncing back down the waveguide, interacting with the optically dispersive element (e.g., OPE) 1214 and then the out-coupling optical element (e.g., EP) 1250. Light rays 1242 and 1244 (e.g., green and red light, respectively) pass through the waveguide 1210, and light ray 1242 will impinge on the in-coupling optical element 1222 and be deflected thereby. Light ray 1242 then continues through the TIR, bouncing back down the waveguide 1220, its optically dispersive element (e.g., OPE) 1224 and then the out-coupling optical element (e.g., EP) 1252. Finally, light ray 1244 (e.g., red light) passes through waveguide 1220 and impinges on light in-coupling optical element 1232 of waveguide 1230. Light in-coupling optical element 1232 deflects light ray 1244 such that it propagates by TIR to light dispersive element (e.g., OPE) 1234 and then by TIR to out-coupling optical element (e.g., EP) 1254. Out-coupling optical element 1254 then finally out-couples light ray 1244 to a viewer, who also receives light out-coupled from the other waveguides 1210, 1220.

[0064] 9C illustrates a top-down plan view of the multiple stacked waveguide embodiment of FIGS. 9A and 9B. As shown, the waveguides 1210, 1220, 1230 may be vertically aligned with each waveguide's associated optical dispersion elements 1214, 1224, 1234 and associated external coupling optical elements 1250, 1252, 1254. However, as discussed herein, the internal coupling optical elements 1212, 1222, 1232 are not vertically aligned. Rather, the internal coupling optical elements are preferably non-overlapping (e.g., spaced apart laterally as seen in the top-down view). As discussed further herein, this non-overlapping spatial arrangement facilitates the injection of light from different sources into different waveguides on a one-to-one basis, thereby allowing a specific light source to be uniquely coupled to a specific waveguide. In some embodiments, arrays that include non-overlapping, spatially separated internal coupling optical elements may be referred to as shifted pupil systems, and the internal coupling optical elements in these arrays may correspond to sub-pupils.

[0065] Reference is now made to Figure 10, which illustrates an exemplary schematic diagram of in-coupled light 1310 propagating through a two-dimensional waveguide optical multiplexer 1320 via TIR, according to some embodiments. As the light 1310 propagates, it interacts with the two-dimensional waveguide optical multiplexer 1320 and is dispersed or multiplexed along two directions in a first dimension, e.g., the x-dimension, and is correspondingly out-coupled 1312 from the two-dimensional waveguide optical multiplexer 1320 in a normal direction. The light 1310 also interacts with the two-dimensional waveguide optical multiplexer 1320 and is multiplexed along two directions in a second dimension, e.g., the y-dimension, and is correspondingly out-coupled 1314 from the two-dimensional waveguide optical multiplexer 1320 in a normal direction. Thus, the in-coupled light 1310 is multiplexed in two dimensions and out-coupled 1312 , 1314 from the two-dimensional waveguide optical multiplexer 1320 .

[0066] 11A shows a partial schematic diagram of light 1410 being incoupled into an example waveguide 1420 by an example diffraction grating 1430 and propagating through TIR. In some embodiments, the diffraction grating 1430 has a period (Λ) that is greater than but less than the wavelength (λ) of the light 1410 divided by the refractive index (n) of the waveguide. In some embodiments, the diffraction grating 1430 can be a binary or sinusoidal surface relief grating. To achieve TIR, the first order diffraction angle (θ) is c θ and θ c is n sin(θ)=λ / Λ and n sin(θ)=λ / Λ when the medium outside the waveguide is air. c )=1. Incident light 1410 interacts with diffraction grating 1430 and is diffracted into waveguide 1420, and TIR is achieved accordingly. As diffracted light 1412 propagates through waveguide 1420 via TIR, some of the light impinges on and interacts with diffraction grating 1430 multiple times.

[0067] 11B, when the propagating diffracted light 1412 interacts with the diffraction grating 1430, it is outcoupled from the waveguide 1420 along the x-dimension in two directions 1414, 1416, thereby achieving multiplexing of the incident light 1410. This outcoupling occurs via +1 and -1 order diffraction.

[0068] 11C demonstrates how the phenomena described above can be used to achieve light multiplexing via a first diffraction grating 1432 at a first location on a waveguide 1420 and a second diffraction grating 1434 at a second location on the same waveguide. Light 1410 is incident on the first diffraction grating 1432 and is accordingly diffracted and propagates through the waveguide 1420 via TIR as described above. The propagating light 1412 interacts with the second diffraction grating 1434 at a second location on the waveguide 1420 and is accordingly outcoupled in two normal directions 1414, 1416. Thus, a single incident beam or ray of light 1410 incident on the waveguide 1420 at a first location can be multiplexed and outcoupled at a second location in the x-dimension along both directions.

[0069] In some embodiments, as shown in Figure 12A, a two-dimensional waveguide optical multiplexer 1500 can utilize the phenomenon described above with respect to Figures 11A-C to achieve two-dimensional multiplexing of incident light by including two diffraction gratings 1532, 1534 disposed over one another. In some embodiments, a first diffraction grating 1532 is located on a bottom major surface of the waveguide 1520 and a second diffraction grating 1534 is located on a top major surface of the waveguide 1520.

[0070] Importantly, each grating 1532, 1534 has a corresponding grating direction, and the gratings 1532, 1534 are arranged such that the grating direction of the first grating 1532 is along the x-dimension and perpendicular to the grating direction of the second grating 1534 along the y-dimension. In some embodiments, this arrangement of two gratings, where the grating direction of the first grating is perpendicular to the grating direction of the second grating, may be referred to as a crossed grating. According to some embodiments, the grating directions correspond to the physical orientation of the gratings 1532, 1534, as shown in FIG. 12A.

[0071] In use, incident light 1510 interacts with the first diffraction grating 1532, thereby being diffracted and diffused in the x-dimension along both directions. The diffracted light propagates through the waveguide 1520 via TIR. As the light propagates, it again interacts with the first diffraction grating 1532, is diffracted, and may occasionally be outcoupled 1512 out of the waveguide 1520. However, some of the diffracted light 1512 interacts with the second diffraction grating 1534, and is diffracted back inward into the waveguide 1520. This light diffracted by the second diffraction grating 1534, after being diffracted by the second diffraction grating 1534, may be diffused in the y-dimension along both directions as the light propagates through the waveguide 1520 via TIR. As the light propagates in the y-dimension, it may again interact with a second diffraction grating 1534, be diffracted, and be outcoupled 1516 out of the waveguide 1520. This process continues multiple times until the light is outcoupled 1512, 1516 in two dimensions from the 2D waveguide optical multiplexer 1500.

[0072] In some embodiments, as illustrated in FIG. 12B, a two-dimensional waveguide optical multiplexer 1500 may comprise a first diffraction grating 1532 disposed on a top major surface of the waveguide 1520, and a second diffraction grating 1534 disposed above the first diffraction grating 1532 and the top major surface of the waveguide 1520. This configuration may function similarly to the two-dimensional waveguide optical multiplexer illustrated in FIG. 12A and achieve the same two-dimensional optical multiplexing 1512. With continued reference to FIG. 12B, in some embodiments, the first diffraction grating 1532 and the second diffraction grating 1534 may be separated by a spacer material 1540. In some embodiments, the spacer material 1540 may comprise an optically transparent material, such as an optically transparent oxide material or an optically transparent polymer.

[0073] Additionally, in some embodiments, the light 1510 may first be internally coupled into the two-dimensional waveguide optical multiplexer 1500 via a separate diffraction grating or other optical element positioned at a separate location on the waveguide 1520 from the first and second diffraction gratings 1532, 1534, in a manner similar to that described above with respect to FIG. 11C.

[0074] In some embodiments, the grating can be an asymmetric grating such that the grating has a preferred diffraction direction. In some embodiments, the asymmetric grating can be, for example, a blazed grating, a Bragg grating, a liquid crystal grating, a sinusoidal grating, a binary grating, a volume phase grating, or a metasurface grating. In some embodiments, the asymmetric grating can be a polarization grating, for example, a liquid crystal polarization grating. As illustrated in FIG. 13A, if the grating 1630 is an asymmetric grating with a preferred diffraction direction, the light 1610 will be dispersed primarily along the preferred diffraction direction in the exemplary waveguide 1620, for example, via TIR. In some embodiments, as illustrated in FIG. 13A, the grating 1630 disperses the light 1610 preferentially to the left only in the +1 order. Advantageously, compared to the grating 1430 illustrated in FIG. 11A, the grating 1630 exhibits only +1 order diffraction along the preferred diffraction direction. Additionally, the asymmetric grating 1630 can exhibit higher diffraction efficiency than symmetric gratings, such as binary or sinusoidal surface relief gratings. Higher diffraction efficiency can allow more light interacting with the grating to be diffracted in the preferred diffraction direction, which can lead to, for example, reduced signal loss or the ability to use lower power optical signals. Thus, optical multiplexing, illustrated as light 1612 propagating through the waveguide 1620, will occur primarily in one dimension in the preferred diffraction direction. As with other embodiments described herein, when light 1612 propagating through the waveguide 1620 via TIR interacts with the grating 1630 along the preferred diffraction direction, it is outcoupled 1614 approximately normal to the grating 1630 where the interaction occurs.

[0075] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 13B, a first asymmetric grating 1632 may be disposed on a major surface of the waveguide 1620, and a second asymmetric grating 1634 may be disposed above the first grating 1632. The second grating 1634 is configured such that its diffraction direction is anti-parallel to the diffraction direction of the first grating 1632. The incident light 1610 passes through the waveguide 1620 and interacts with the first grating 1632, as described above with respect to FIG. 13A. Some light is not diffracted by the first grating 1632 and continues in the normal direction, where it interacts with the second grating 1634. Because the diffraction direction of the second grating 1634 is anti-parallel to the diffraction direction of the first grating 1632, the second grating 1634 diffracts and diffuses the light in the opposite direction along the same dimension as the first grating 1632. As light diffracted by the first grating 1632 propagates along the preferred diffraction direction, it interacts with the first grating 1632 and is outcoupled 1614 normal to the grating 1632 where the interaction occurs. Similarly, as light diffracted by the second grating 1634 propagates along the preferred diffraction direction, it interacts with the second grating 1634 and is outcoupled 1614 normal to the grating 1634 where the interaction occurs. Thus, according to some embodiments, an arrangement of two anti-parallel asymmetric gratings 1632, 1634 can achieve bidirectional optical multiplexing in one dimension.

[0076] 13C illustrates how the phenomena described above may be used to achieve directional light multiplexing via a first asymmetric grating 1632 at a first location on a waveguide 1620 and a second grating 1634 at a second location on the same waveguide. Similar to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 11C, light 1610 is incident on the first grating 1632 and is diffracted and propagates through the waveguide 1620, via TIR, accordingly. The light 1610 is diffracted in a preferred diffraction direction, and thus the grating 1632 may achieve a higher diffraction efficiency than the grating 1432 of FIG. 11C, which diffracts the light 1410 in two opposing directions. The propagating light 1612 interacts with a second grating 1634 at a second location on the waveguide 1620 and is accordingly outcoupled 1614 in a normal direction and in an opposite direction compared to the grating 1434 of FIG. 11C, which outcoupled light in two normal directions 1414, 1416. Thus, again, the optical element illustrated in FIG. 13C can achieve higher efficiency with respect to light outcoupled from the second grating 1634 compared to the optical element illustrated in FIG. 11C. Thus, light 1610 incident on the waveguide 1620 at a first location can be efficiently multiplexed and outcoupled at a second location in one dimension along a single direction.

[0077] FIG. 13D illustrates that a similar effect to that achieved by the optical element of FIG. 13C can be achieved by including a second diffraction grating 1634 on the bottom major surface of the waveguide 1620 at a second location. The second diffraction grating 1634 operates transmissively and may be referred to as a transmission grating, as compared to the second diffraction grating 1634 of FIG. 13C, which operates reflectively and may be referred to as a reflection grating. In comparison to the optical device of FIG. 13C, the optical device illustrated in FIG. 13D and according to some embodiments can achieve efficient light multiplexing in one dimension along a single direction. The optical device of FIG. 13D can outcouple light 1614 at a second location in one dimension along a single direction.

[0078] 14A, according to some embodiments, a two-dimensional waveguide optical multiplexer 1700 includes a first asymmetric diffraction grating 1732 and a second asymmetric diffraction grating 1734 disposed over one another. In some embodiments, the first diffraction grating 1732 is located on a bottom major surface of the waveguide 1720 and the second diffraction grating 1734 is located on a top major surface of the waveguide 1720. The first asymmetric diffraction grating 1732 is arranged such that its preferred diffraction direction is perpendicular to the preferred diffraction direction of the second asymmetric diffraction grating 1734, as discussed above. Gratings in this arrangement may be referred to as crossed diffraction gratings.

[0079] A two-dimensional waveguide optical multiplexer 1700, illustrated in FIG. 14A and according to some embodiments, achieves similar results as the two-dimensional waveguide optical multiplexer 1500 illustrated in FIG. 12A, but potentially with higher efficiency. In use, incident light 1710 interacts with a first diffraction grating 1732, thereby being diffracted and spread or multiplexed in a first dimension along a preferred diffraction direction. The diffracted light propagates through the waveguide 1720 via TIR. As the light propagates, it interacts with the first diffraction grating 1732 and is diffracted and outcoupled 1712. A portion of the light diffracted by the first diffraction grating 1732 may interact with a second diffraction grating 1734 and be diffracted to propagate within the waveguide via TIR along the preferred diffraction direction of the second diffraction grating, which is perpendicular to the preferred diffraction direction of the first diffraction grating 1732. The light may again be diffracted by a second diffraction grating 1732 and outcoupled from the optical waveguide in the forward (z) direction as shown. This process continues multiple times until the light is outcoupled 1712, 1714 in two dimensions from the two-dimensional waveguide optical multiplexer 1700. Notably, the asymmetric diffraction grating diffracts the light in a desired preferred diffraction direction so that less light is lost through diffraction in other directions or in other orders, thereby allowing the two-dimensional waveguide optical multiplexer to disperse and multiplex more of the original incoming optical signal.

[0080] FIG. 14B illustrates a two-dimensional waveguide optical multiplexer 1700 comprising a first asymmetric grating 1732 disposed on the top major surface of the waveguide 1720 and a second asymmetric grating 1734 disposed above the first grating 1732 on the top major surface of the waveguide 1720, according to some embodiments. As in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 14A, the first asymmetric grating 1732 and the second asymmetric grating 1734 are crossed. This configuration of the first and second asymmetric gratings can function similarly to the two-dimensional waveguide optical multiplexer illustrated in FIG. 14A and achieve the same two-dimensional optical multiplexing. In some embodiments, the first asymmetric grating 1732 and the second grating 1734 can be separated by a spacer material. In some embodiments, the spacer material can comprise an optically transparent material, for example, an optically transparent oxide material or an optically transparent polymer.

[0081] Additionally, in some embodiments, light 1710 may be first internally coupled into the two-dimensional waveguide optical multiplexer 1700 via a separate diffraction grating positioned at a separate location on the waveguide 1720 from the first and second asymmetric diffraction gratings 1732, 1734 in a manner similar to that described above with respect to FIG. 13C.

[0082] As shown in FIG. 15A, in some embodiments, the diffraction grating can be a polarization grating. The polarization grating can comprise a birefringence pattern that varies periodically along the grating vector. In some embodiments, the grating axis of the polarization grating can be tilted to satisfy the Bragg condition so that the diffraction efficiency is maximized at a desired angle, e.g., a diffraction angle that would achieve TIR when the polarization grating 1830 is placed on a major surface of the waveguide 1820 as illustrated in FIG. 15A. In some embodiments, the polarization grating can be made of a liquid crystal material. For example, the polarization grating 1830 can comprise aligned liquid crystal molecules 1840. Due to the asymmetric structure and tilted grating axis of the polarization grating 1830, the polarization grating 1830 diffracts the light 1810 into a preferred direction of +1 order diffraction only for the desired type of circularly polarized light, e.g., left circularly polarized light, according to the pattern of the polarization grating. In this way, the circularly polarized light incident on the polarization grating can behave similarly to the asymmetric diffraction grating described with respect to FIG. 13A, for example. Any light having an orthogonal polarization, e.g., right-handed circular polarization, will be transmitted through the polarization grating 1830 and will not be diffracted, as illustrated in Figure 15B. In some embodiments, if the polarization preferentially diffracts, e.g., left-handed circular polarization and transmits right-handed circular polarization, the polarization grating may be referred to as a left-handed polarization grating.

[0083] FIG. 15C illustrates how the phenomenon described above can be used to achieve bidirectional optical multiplexing via an optical element or anti-symmetric polarization grating 1800 having a first polarization grating 1832 with a first polarization and a second polarization grating 1843 with a second polarization orthogonal to the first polarization, positioned above the first polarization grating and anti-parallel to the diffraction direction of the first polarization grating and the waveguide 1820. In some embodiments, the first polarization grating 1832 can comprise aligned liquid crystal molecules 1842 and the second polarization grating 1834 can comprise aligned liquid crystal molecules 1844. The bidirectional multiplexing achieved via two anti-parallel polarization gratings shown in FIG. 15C is similar to the bidirectional multiplexing achieved via anti-parallel diffraction gratings illustrated in FIG. 13B. Light 1810, which can be linearly or elliptically polarized or unpolarized, is incident. For example, on the first polarization grating 1832, a portion of the light corresponding to the polarization of the first polarization grating is diffracted or incoupled by the polarization grating 1832 along a preferred diffraction direction. Light having a polarization that does not correspond to the polarization of the first polarization grating 1832 is transmitted through the first polarization grating 1832 where it interacts with the second polarization grating 1834. In response to the interaction with the second polarization grating 1834, light having a polarization that corresponds to the polarization of the second polarization grating 1834 is diffracted or incoupled along a preferred diffraction direction of the second polarization grating 1834 that is anti-parallel to the diffraction direction of the first polarization grating 1832. The diffracted or incoupled light continues to propagate through the TIR in its corresponding diffraction direction where it proceeds to interact with a corresponding polarization grating to be outcoupled, thereby achieving bidirectional multiplexing in one dimension.

[0084] In some embodiments, the polarization grating may be comprised of a liquid crystal material. In some embodiments, when the polarization grating comprises a liquid crystal material, the tilt or angle of the polarization grating axes can be controlled by controlling the amount and / or chirality of a dopant in the liquid crystal material. In some embodiments, when the liquid crystal comprises a nematic liquid crystal, the amount and / or chirality of a chiral dopant present in the liquid crystal material may be adjusted to achieve a desired tilt of the polarization grating axes. In some embodiments, when the polarization grating comprises a cholesteric liquid crystal material, the chirality or handedness of the cholesteric liquid crystal of the liquid crystal material may be controlled to achieve a desired tilt of the polarization grating axes.

[0085] In some embodiments, the liquid crystal material may comprise a mixture of a high chirality liquid crystal material and a liquid crystal material having a lower chirality. In some embodiments, the chirality of the liquid crystal material may be controlled by adjusting the ratio of the high chirality liquid crystal material to the low chirality liquid crystal material. In some embodiments, the liquid crystal material may comprise a non-chiral liquid crystal material and a chiral dopant. In some embodiments, the chirality of the liquid crystal material may be controlled by adjusting the amount of chiral dopant present in the liquid crystal material. In some embodiments, the liquid crystal material is not chiral. In some embodiments, the desired chirality of the liquid crystal material may correspond to the wavelength of light, the angle of incidence of the light, the angle of travel of the light in the waveguide, or other factors. In some embodiments, the liquid crystal material may be a polymerizable liquid crystal material.

[0086] In some embodiments, a diffraction grating, such as a polarization grating, may be fabricated by depositing a matching layer 1910 onto a substrate 1900, as illustrated in FIG. 16A. In some embodiments, the matching layer 1910 may serve to align crystalline molecules 1950 of a liquid crystal material into a desired orientation. In some embodiments, the substrate 1900 may comprise, for example, a waveguide. In some embodiments, the deposited matching layer 1910 may be patterned to align the liquid crystal material 1920 into a desired orientation. In some embodiments, the liquid crystal material 1920 may be subsequently deposited onto the matching layer 1910, thereby forming a diffraction grating.

[0087] In some embodiments, several different alignment processes can be utilized to fabricate the diffraction grating. In some embodiments, the alignment process can align the crystals of the liquid crystal material, thereby forming the diffraction grating. In some embodiments, the diffraction grating can be fabricated according to the process disclosed, for example, in U.S. Provisional Patent Applications 62 / 424,305 and 62 / 424,310, filed November 18, 2016, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. In some embodiments, the deposited liquid crystal layer can be aligned, for example, by photoalignment, micro-abrasion, nanoimprinting, or holographic recording of the liquid crystal material, such as an azo-containing polymer. In some embodiments, a nanoimprint process can be used to align the liquid crystal material. In some embodiments, for example, a polymerizable liquid crystal material or a reactive mesogen material is used to form the diffraction grating. A first layer of liquid crystal material can be imprinted for alignment and then serve as an alignment layer for any subsequently deposited liquid crystal layers without the need for additional alignment layers or processing.

[0088] According to some embodiments, as illustrated in FIG. 16B, a first polymerizable liquid crystal layer 1920 is deposited on a substrate 1900, which may comprise, for example, a waveguide. The deposited first liquid crystal layer 1920 may then be aligned via a nano-imprint process. An imprint template 1930, comprising nanostructures, may be pressed onto the surface of the first liquid crystal layer 1920 such that the liquid crystals of the first liquid crystal layer 1920 are aligned in a desired manner. The first liquid crystal layer 1920 may then be polymerized, and the imprint template 1930 may be separated and removed from the first liquid crystal layer 1920, the surface of which comprises an embossed pattern corresponding to the structure of the imprint template 1930. A second liquid crystal layer 1922 may then be deposited on the first liquid crystal layer 1920. In some embodiments, the second liquid crystal layer 1922 may comprise the same material as the first liquid crystal layer 1920. In some embodiments, the second liquid crystal layer 1922 may be made of a liquid crystal material having a different chirality than the first liquid crystal layer 1920. In some embodiments, the second liquid crystal layer 1922 may be made of a liquid crystal material having a chirality determined by the chirality of the first liquid crystal layer 1920. In some embodiments, the imprinted pattern of the first liquid crystal layer 1920 serves to align the deposited second liquid crystal layer 1922. An additional liquid crystal layer 1924 or layers may be deposited on the second liquid crystal layer 1922 without the need for an additional imprint or alignment step. In some embodiments, the additional liquid crystal layer 1924 or layers may be made of the same material as the first or second liquid crystal layer 1920, 1922. In some embodiments, the additional liquid crystal layer may have a different chirality than one or more other liquid crystal layers. In some embodiments, after deposition of the second, third, fourth, fifth, or more liquid crystal layers, subsequently deposited liquid crystal layers fill the imprinted surface structures, thereby leaving a smooth surface on the grating, and therefore no imprint signature remains on the surface of the fabricated diffraction grating.

[0089] Advantageously, according to some embodiments, the nanoimprint process described above can be used to deposit liquid crystal layers with various spatial patterns, for example grating patterns with different grating periods on a substrate, without a matching layer in between. In some cases, liquid crystal layers with varying concentrations of chiral dopants are used. Several deposited liquid crystal layers with several different orientations or different periods can be formed on a single substrate by imprinting with one or more different imprint templates, without the need for a matching layer between each grating.

[0090] According to some embodiments, as illustrated in FIG. 16C, a first polymerizable liquid crystal layer 1920 is deposited on a substrate 1900, which may comprise, for example, a waveguide. The first liquid crystal layer 1920 may comprise, for example, one or more liquid crystal sub-layers and may be aligned using a nano-imprinting process similar to the process described above with respect to FIG. 16B. In some embodiments, the first liquid crystal layer 1920 may comprise a diffraction grating having a first period and / or a first orientation. In some embodiments, an isolation layer 1960 can be deposited on the first liquid crystal layer 1920. The isolation layer 1960 may comprise, for example, a transparent oxide layer, a transparent insulator layer, or a transparent polymer.

[0091] In some embodiments, the second liquid crystal sublayer 1940 may be deposited on the isolation layer 1960. The deposited second liquid crystal sublayer 1940 may then be aligned via a nanoimprint process, as described above with respect to FIG. 16B. In some embodiments, the nanoimprint process for the second liquid crystal sublayer may utilize an imprint template different from the imprint template used to imprint the first liquid crystal layer 1920, e.g., an imprint template having a different period or a different orientation. Thus, the second liquid crystal sublayer 1940 may have a second period or orientation different from the first liquid crystal layer 1920. Additional liquid crystal sublayers, e.g., liquid crystal sublayers 1942, 1944, may then be deposited on the second liquid crystal sublayer 1940 without the need for additional imprint or alignment steps, as described above with respect to FIG. 16B.

[0092] One or more subsequent liquid crystal layers, e.g., liquid crystal sub-layers 1940, 1942, and 1944, are deposited on the isolation layer 1960. In some embodiments, the isolation layer may serve to separate the first liquid crystal layer 1920 from one or more subsequent liquid crystal layers to avoid liquid crystal alignment defects, including disclinations, due to any discontinuities between the first liquid crystal layer 1920 and any subsequent liquid crystal layers.

[0093] In some embodiments, an antisymmetric or antiparallel diffraction grating can be fabricated by depositing a first liquid crystal layer 1920 having a first handedness or twist angle and a second liquid crystal layer 1922 having a second opposite handedness or twist angle, as illustrated in FIG. 16D. In some embodiments, the first liquid crystal layer 1920 can comprise a chiral dopant having a first handedness and the second liquid crystal layer 1922 can comprise a chiral dopant having a second opposite handedness. In some embodiments, the first liquid crystal layer 1920 can be comprised of a cholesteric liquid crystal material comprising liquid crystal molecules 1950 having a first handedness and the second liquid crystal layer 1922 can be comprised of a cholesteric liquid crystal material comprising liquid crystal molecules 1952 having a second opposite handedness. Antiparallel diffraction gratings function similarly to the antiparallel diffraction grating optical element illustrated in FIG. 15C. In some embodiments, the first liquid crystal layer 1920 may be deposited on a substrate 1900, for example a matching layer 1910 that is deposited on a waveguide.

[0094] FIG. 16E illustrates a diffraction grating 1901 comprising multiple liquid crystal layers 1920, 1922, 1924 deposited on a matching layer 1910 deposited on a substrate 1900, e.g., a waveguide, according to the processes described herein. In some embodiments, the diffraction grating 1901 may comprise a polarization grating. Conventional Bragg gratings, including volume phase gratings, typically have a narrow range of incidence angles with high diffraction efficiency, e.g., less than about 5 degrees for a full width at half maximum diffraction angle. However, polarization gratings can exhibit a relatively wide range of incidence angles with high diffraction efficiency, e.g., about 15-20 degrees for a full width at half maximum diffraction angle. In some embodiments, the range of angles with high diffraction efficiency can be even further expanded by including several layers in the polarization grating with different tilt angles, as illustrated in FIG. 16E. As described above, the tilt angle of each liquid crystal layer 1920, 1922, 1924 can be controlled by controlling the chirality of the liquid crystal material, layer by layer. In some embodiments, chirality can be controlled via the amount of chiral dopant present in the nematic liquid crystal material. In some embodiments, chirality can be controlled by utilizing cholesteric liquid crystals with different helical twisting powers. Furthermore, as described above with respect to FIG. 16B, no matching layers or patterning or imprinting is required between each of the liquid crystal layers 1920, 1922, 1924 with different tilt angles. Although illustrated as having three liquid crystal layers, in some embodiments, the polarization grating 1901 can comprise two, three, four, five, 10, 20, 50, or more liquid crystal layers.

[0095] 16F illustrates an anti-parallel or anti-symmetric polarization grating 1901 in which two liquid crystal layers 1920, 1940 each comprise multiple liquid crystal sublayers, each with a different tilt angle. In some embodiments, the anti-parallel or anti-symmetric polarization grating 1901 can be fabricated by depositing a first liquid crystal layer 1920 having a first handedness or twist angle. The first liquid crystal layer 1920 is fabricated by depositing multiple liquid crystal sublayers 1922, 1924, 1926, each with the same handedness but each with a different tilt angle. In some embodiments, the liquid crystal sublayers 1922, 1924, 1926 are deposited and aligned according to the processes described herein. A second liquid crystal layer 1940 is deposited above the first liquid crystal layer 1920, the second liquid crystal layer comprising multiple liquid crystal sub-layers 1942, 1944, 1946, each having the same handedness but different tilt angles. The handedness of the liquid crystal layer 1940 and the liquid crystal sub-layers 1942, 1944, 1946 is opposite to that of the first liquid crystal layer 1920 and the liquid crystal sub-layers 1922, 1924, 1926. The asymmetric polarization grating illustrated in FIG. 16F and according to some embodiments can achieve bidirectional light multiplexing in a similar manner as the illustrated anti-symmetric polarization grating 1800 illustrated in FIG. 15C. However, the anti-symmetric polarization grating 1901 can achieve efficient light multiplexing for a substantially wider range of incidence angles due to the multiple tilt angles of the liquid crystal sub-layers of the anti-symmetric polarization grating.

[0096] In some embodiments, a two-dimensional waveguide optical multiplexer can include a waveguide, a first anti-parallel or anti-symmetric polarization grating disposed on a major surface of the waveguide, and a second anti-parallel or asymmetric polarization grating disposed above the first anti-parallel polarization grating. In some embodiments, the first and second anti-parallel polarization gratings are oriented such that the bidirectional multiplexing directions of each anti-parallel polarization grating are mutually perpendicular, and the anti-parallel polarization gratings can be said to be crossed. In some embodiments, the first anti-parallel polarization grating can be disposed on a bottom major surface of the waveguide, and the second anti-parallel polarization grating can be disposed on a top major surface of the waveguide. In some embodiments, the first anti-parallel polarization grating can be disposed on a top major surface of the waveguide, and the second anti-parallel polarization grating can be disposed above the first anti-parallel polarization grating and the top major surface of the waveguide. In some embodiments, the second anti-parallel or polarization grating can be separated from the first anti-parallel polarization grating by an isolation layer or a matching layer. In some embodiments, the antiparallel polarization grating can comprise a liquid crystal material, as described herein.

[0097] FIG. 17A illustrates a two-dimensional waveguide optical multiplexer 2000 including a liquid crystal first anti-parallel polarization grating 2030, such as the liquid crystal anti-parallel polarization grating 1901 described with respect to FIG. 16E, disposed on a bottom major surface of the waveguide 2020, according to some embodiments. The two-dimensional waveguide optical multiplexer further includes a second liquid crystal anti-parallel polarization grating 2040 disposed on a top major surface of the waveguide 2020 above the first anti-parallel polarization grating 2030. The second liquid crystal anti-parallel polarization grating 2040 may also be an anti-parallel polarization grating, similar to the liquid crystal anti-parallel polarization grating 1901 described with respect to FIG. 16E. The first and second anti-parallel polarization gratings 2030, 2040 are oriented such that the bidirectional multiplexing direction of the first anti-parallel polarization grating 2030 is perpendicular to the bidirectional multiplexing direction of the second anti-parallel polarization grating 2040. As with other embodiments of the two-dimensional waveguide optical multiplexer described herein, the antiparallel polarization gratings 2030, 2040 may be referred to as crossed antiparallel polarization gratings. The two-dimensional waveguide optical multiplexer also comprises a first matching layer 2032 deposited on the bottom major surface of the waveguide 2020, which is used to match the first and subsequent liquid crystal layers and the sub-layers comprising the first antiparallel polarization grating 2030, according to the processes described herein. The two-dimensional waveguide light multiplexer also comprises a second matching layer 2042 deposited on the top major surface of the waveguide 2020, which is used to match the first and subsequent liquid crystal layers and the sub-layer comprising the second antiparallel polarization grating 2040. The two-dimensional waveguide light multiplexer 2000 illustrated in FIG. 17A and according to some embodiments functions in a similar manner to the two-dimensional waveguide light multiplexers illustrated in, for example, FIG. 12A, 12B, 14A, and 14B. However, in some embodiments in which the two-dimensional waveguide light multiplexer 2000 utilizes crossed antiparallel polarization gratings, two-dimensional light multiplexing 2012 can be achieved for a wider range of incident angles of light 2010 with higher efficiency than two-dimensional waveguide light multiplexers using symmetric or even asymmetric diffraction gratings.

[0098] FIG. 17B illustrates a two-dimensional waveguide optical multiplexer 2000 according to some embodiments, where a first liquid crystal anti-parallel polarization grating 2030 is disposed on the top major surface of the waveguide 2020, and a second liquid crystal anti-parallel polarization grating 2040 is disposed above the first anti-parallel polarization grating 2030 and the top major surface of the waveguide 2020. The liquid crystal anti-parallel polarization gratings 2030, 2040 are matched via matching layers according to the processes described herein. In some embodiments, a first matching layer 2032 may be deposited on the top major surface of the waveguide 2020, and the first anti-parallel polarization grating 2030 may be fabricated thereon. A second matching layer 2042 may then be deposited on the first anti-parallel polarization grating 2030, and the second anti-parallel polarization grating 2040 may be fabricated thereon to form the two-dimensional waveguide optical multiplexer 2000. Thus, according to some embodiments, the first anti-parallel polarization grating 2020 and the second anti-parallel polarization grating 2040 of the two-dimensional waveguide optical multiplexer 2000 may be separated by a matching layer 2042.

[0099] FIG. 17C illustrates a two-dimensional waveguide optical multiplexer 2000 having a similar configuration to the two-dimensional waveguide optical multiplexer illustrated in FIG. 17B, such that both the first and second antiparallel polarization gratings 2030, 2040 are disposed on the top major surface of the waveguide. The two-dimensional waveguide optical multiplexer 2000 illustrated in FIG. 17C includes liquid crystal antiparallel polarization gratings 2030, 2040 that are fabricated and aligned via a nanoimprint process, such as the process described with respect to FIG. 15B. Each antiparallel polarization grating 2030, 2040 is fabricated such that a separate alignment layer is not required. Thus, an isolation layer 2050 is deposited or formed on the top major surface of the first antiparallel polarization grating 2030 to separate the first antiparallel polarization grating 2030 from the second antiparallel polarization grating 2040. In some embodiments, the isolation layer 2050 may serve to protect the first antiparallel polarization grating 2030 during imprinting of the second antiparallel polarization grating 2040. In some embodiments, the isolation layer 2050 may be similar to other isolation layers described herein and may comprise, for example, a transparent oxide or a polymer.

[0100] In some embodiments, the same imprint template may be used to fabricate both the first and second anti-parallel polarization gratings 2030, 2040. In some embodiments, if the same imprint template is used to fabricate both the first and second anti-parallel polarization gratings 2030, 2040, the imprint template is rotated 90 degrees relative to its orientation during imprint of the first anti-parallel polarization grating 2030 when fabricating the second anti-parallel polarization grating 2040 such that the first and second anti-parallel polarization gratings 2030, 2040 are crossed.

[0101] 17D illustrates the two-dimensional waveguide optical multiplexer 2000 of FIG. 17B and illustrates that two-dimensional optical multiplexing can be achieved with high efficiency due to a wide range of angles of incidence of light 2010. This wide range of incidence is preserved such that when light is multiplexed and outcoupled 2012 from the two-dimensional waveguide optical multiplexer 2000, optical signals comprising images having a wide field of view can be efficiently multiplexed in two dimensions. The ability to efficiently multiplex wide field of view images in two dimensions can be useful, for example, in augmented reality devices, as described herein.

[0102] Additional Examples In a first embodiment, an optical element is provided herein, the optical element comprising a waveguide, at least one or more first diffraction gratings having a grating direction, the one or more first diffraction gratings disposed on a major surface of the waveguide, and at least one or more second diffraction gratings having a grating direction, the one or more second diffraction gratings being disposed relative to the one or more first diffraction gratings such that the grating direction of the one or more first diffraction gratings is perpendicular to the grating direction of the one or more second diffraction gratings.

[0103] In a second embodiment, in the optical element of the first embodiment, one or more first diffraction gratings are disposed on a bottom major surface of the waveguide and one or more second diffraction gratings are disposed on a top major surface of the waveguide.

[0104] In a third embodiment, in the optical element of the first embodiment, one or more first diffraction gratings are disposed on the upper major surface of the waveguide and one or more second diffraction gratings are disposed above the upper major surface of the waveguide.

[0105] In a fourth embodiment, in the optical element of the third embodiment, the one or more second gratings are separated from the one or more first gratings by an isolation layer.

[0106] In a fifth embodiment, the optical element of the fourth embodiment, the isolation layer comprises a transparent oxide or polymer material.

[0107] In a sixth embodiment, in the optical element of any of the first to third embodiments, each of the one or more first diffraction gratings and the one or more second diffraction gratings comprises a symmetric diffraction grating.

[0108] In a seventh embodiment, in the optical element of any of the first to third embodiments, the one or more first diffraction gratings further comprise at least one or more first asymmetric diffraction gratings having a first diffraction direction and at least one or more second asymmetric diffraction gratings having a second diffraction direction anti-parallel to the first diffraction direction, and the one or more second diffraction gratings further comprise at least one or more third asymmetric diffraction gratings having a third preferred diffraction direction and at least one or more fourth asymmetric diffraction gratings having a fourth diffraction direction anti-parallel to the third diffraction direction.

[0109] In an eighth embodiment, in the optical element of the seventh embodiment, the one or more of the first, second, third, and fourth asymmetric diffraction gratings comprise a blazed grating, a Bragg grating, a liquid crystal grating, a sinusoidal grating, a binary grating, a volume phase grating, or a metasurface grating.

[0110] In a ninth embodiment, in the optical element of the eighth embodiment, one or more of the first, second, third and fourth asymmetric diffraction gratings comprise a liquid crystal material.

[0111] In a tenth embodiment, in the optical element of the ninth embodiment, one or more of the first, second, third and fourth asymmetric diffraction gratings comprise a nematic liquid crystal material.

[0112] In an eleventh embodiment, in the optical element of the ninth embodiment, one or more of the first, second, third and fourth asymmetric diffraction gratings comprise a cholesteric liquid crystal material.

[0113] In a twelfth embodiment, in the optical element of the ninth embodiment, one or more of the first, second, third and fourth asymmetric diffraction gratings comprise a polymerizable liquid crystal material.

[0114] In a thirteenth embodiment, in the optical element of any of the ninth to twelfth embodiments, the one or more of the first, second, third and fourth asymmetric diffraction gratings are formed by a nanoimprint process.

[0115] In a fourteenth embodiment, in the optical element of any of the ninth to twelfth embodiments, a first asymmetric diffraction grating is deposited on the first matching layer, and a third asymmetric diffraction grating is deposited on the second matching layer.

[0116] In a fifteenth embodiment, in the optical element of the fourteenth embodiment, the second asymmetric diffraction grating is deposited directly on the first asymmetric diffraction grating, and the fourth asymmetric diffraction grating is deposited directly on the third asymmetric diffraction grating.

[0117] In a sixteenth embodiment, in the optical element of any of the ninth to fifteenth embodiments, one or more of the first, second, third and fourth asymmetric diffraction gratings comprise polarization gratings.

[0118] In a seventeenth embodiment, in the optical element of the eleventh embodiment, one or more of the first, second, third and fourth asymmetric diffraction gratings comprise polarization gratings, and the tilt angles of the asymmetric diffraction gratings correspond to the chirality, handedness and helical pitch of the cholesteric liquid crystal material.

[0119] In an eighteenth embodiment, in the optical element of the sixteenth embodiment, the tilt angle of each asymmetric diffraction grating corresponds to the amount of chiral dopant in the liquid crystal material.

[0120] In a 19th embodiment, in the optical element of the 16th embodiment, the first, second, third and fourth asymmetric diffraction gratings comprise a plurality of liquid crystal material layers, and at least two of the plurality of liquid crystal material layers for one of the diffraction gratings have different tilt angles.

[0121] In a 20th embodiment, in the optical element of any of the 16-19th embodiments, the one or more first asymmetric diffraction gratings have a first circular polarization handedness, and the one or more second asymmetric diffraction gratings have a second circular polarization handedness that is orthogonal to the first circular polarization handedness.

[0122] In a 21st embodiment, in any of the optical elements of the 16th to 20th embodiments, the one or more third asymmetric diffraction gratings have a third circular polarization handedness, and the one or more fourth asymmetric diffraction gratings have a fourth circular polarization handedness that is orthogonal to the third circular polarization handedness.

[0123] In a twenty-second embodiment, a method of dispersing an optical signal in two dimensions includes dispersing the optical signal in a first direction via a first diffraction grating. The method additionally includes propagating a portion of the optical signal in the first direction via total internal reflection in a waveguide. The method additionally includes outcoupling a portion of the optical signal propagating in the first direction in an outcoupling direction via the first diffraction grating. The method additionally includes dispersing a portion of the optical signal in a second direction via a second diffraction grating. The method additionally includes propagating a portion of the optical signal in the second direction via total internal reflection in a waveguide. The method additionally includes outcoupling a portion of the optical signal propagating in the second direction in an outcoupling direction via the second diffraction grating, the first direction being perpendicular to the second direction, and the optical signal being outcoupled at a plurality of locations disposed on a major surface of the waveguide.

[0124] In the foregoing specification, various specific embodiments have been described. It will be apparent, however, that various modifications and changes can be made therein without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention. The specification and drawings are, therefore, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.

[0125] Indeed, it should be understood that the systems and methods of the present disclosure each have several innovative aspects, none of which is solely responsible for or required for the desirable attributes disclosed herein. The various features and processes described above may be used independently of one another or may be combined in various ways. All possible combinations and subcombinations are intended to fall within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0126] Certain features described herein in the context of separate embodiments may also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features described in the context of a single embodiment may also be implemented in multiple embodiments separately or in any suitable subcombination. Furthermore, although features may be described above as acting in a combination and may even be initially claimed as such, one or more features from the claimed combination may in some cases be deleted from the combination and the claimed combination may be directed to a subcombination or variation of the subcombination. No single feature or group of features is required or essential to every embodiment.

[0127] In particular, it should be understood that conditional statements used herein, such as "can," "could," "might," "may," "eg," and the like, are generally intended to convey that certain embodiments include certain features, elements, and / or steps, while other embodiments do not, unless specifically stated otherwise or understood otherwise within the context as used. Thus, such conditional statements are generally not intended to suggest that features, elements, and / or steps are in any way required for one or more embodiments, or that one or more embodiments necessarily include logic for determining whether those features, elements, and / or steps should be included or performed in any particular embodiment, with or without authorial input or prompting. The terms "comprising," "including," "having," and the like, are synonymous and used inclusively in a non-limiting manner and do not exclude additional elements, features, acts, operations, etc. Also, the term "or" is used in its inclusive sense (and not its exclusive sense), thus, for example, when used to connect a list of elements, the term "or" means one, some, or all of the elements in the list. In addition, the articles "a," "an," and "the," as used in this application and the appended claims, should be interpreted to mean "one or more" or "at least one," unless otherwise specified. Similarly, although operations may be depicted in the figures in a particular order, it should be recognized that such operations need not be performed in the particular order depicted, or in sequential order, or that all of the depicted operations need not be performed to achieve desirable results. Additionally, the figures may diagrammatically depict one or more exemplary processes in the form of a flow chart. However, other operations not depicted may also be incorporated within the diagrammatically depicted exemplary methods and processes. For example, one or more additional operations may be performed before, after, simultaneously with, or during any of the depicted operations.In addition, operations may be rearranged or reordered in other implementations. In some situations, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Furthermore, the separation of various system components in the embodiments described above should not be understood as requiring such separation in all embodiments, and it should be understood that the program components and systems described may generally be integrated together in a single software product or packaged into multiple software products. Additionally, other implementations are within the scope of the following claims. In some cases, the actions recited in the claims may be performed in a different order and still achieve desirable results.

[0128] Thus, the claims are not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but are to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the disclosure, the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A waveguide, a substrate configured to propagate light in said waveguide by total internal reflection (TIR); an optical element on the substrate, the optical element arranged to multiplex the light propagating in the waveguide in at least a first direction and a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction when the optical element is incoupling the light into the waveguide or outcoupling at least a portion of the light from the waveguide, the optical element comprising: a first array of one or more first diffraction gratings disposed on a major surface of the substrate, the one or more first diffraction gratings arranged to cause the light propagating in the waveguide to be multiplexed in the first direction; and a second array of one or more second diffraction gratings disposed above the one or more first diffraction gratings such that the one or more first diffraction gratings are substantially between the substrate and the one or more second diffraction gratings, and at least partially overlapping the one or more first diffraction gratings; An optical element comprising: Equipped with a waveguide, the one or more second diffraction gratings being arranged to cause the light propagating in the waveguide to be multiplexed in the second direction different from the first direction, the first direction and the second direction being different grating directions, the different grating directions being substantially parallel to the major surfaces of the waveguide and substantially perpendicular to each other, and the first direction being substantially perpendicular to the second direction, thereby causing the light propagating in the waveguide to be multiplexed in the substantially perpendicular first and second directions within the same waveguide.

2. The waveguide of claim 1, wherein the optical element is an outcoupling optical element, the outcoupling optical element being further arranged to outcoupling at least a portion of the light propagating within the waveguide from the waveguide while multiplexing the light in at least the first direction and the second direction.

3. A waveguide as described in claim 2, further comprising an internal coupling optical element on the substrate, the internal coupling optical element arranged to internally couple light incident on the internal coupling optical element into the waveguide such that at least a portion of the light is propagated within the waveguide.

4. A waveguide as described in claim 3, wherein the internal coupling optical element is positioned at a location on the substrate laterally displaced from the external coupling optical element.

5. The waveguide of claim 1, wherein the optical element is an internal coupling optical element, the internal coupling optical element being further arranged to internally couple the light incident on the internal coupling optical element into the waveguide such that at least a portion of the light is permitted to propagate within the waveguide while multiplexing the light in at least the first direction and the second direction.

6. The waveguide of claim 5, further comprising an external coupling optical element on the substrate, the external coupling optical element arranged to externally couple at least a portion of the light propagating within the waveguide out from the waveguide.

7. The waveguide of claim 6, wherein the external coupling optical element is positioned at a location on the substrate laterally displaced from the internal coupling optical element.

8. The waveguide of claim 1, wherein one or both of the first array and the second array comprise at least one symmetric diffraction grating.

9. The waveguide of claim 1, wherein one or both of the first array and the second array comprise at least one polarization grating.

10. A waveguide as described in claim 1, wherein one or both of the first array and the second array comprise a first layer of one or more first asymmetric diffraction gratings and a second layer of one or more second asymmetric diffraction gratings.

11. A waveguide as described in claim 10, wherein the one or more first asymmetric diffraction gratings have a first diffraction direction and the one or more second asymmetric diffraction gratings have a second diffraction direction different from the first diffraction direction.

12. A waveguide as described in claim 10, wherein the one or more first asymmetric diffraction gratings are deposited on a matching layer on the substrate, and the one or more second asymmetric diffraction gratings are deposited on the one or more first asymmetric diffraction gratings.

13. A waveguide as described in claim 10, wherein the one or more first asymmetric diffraction gratings include one or more first polarization gratings having a first tilt angle, and the one or more second asymmetric diffraction gratings include one or more second polarization gratings having a second tilt angle different from the first tilt angle.

14. A waveguide as described in claim 13, wherein the one or more first polarization gratings have a first chirality and the one or more second polarization gratings have a second chirality different from the first chirality.

15. A waveguide as described in claim 14, wherein one or both of the first array and the second array include at least one diffraction grating comprising a liquid crystal material, and the tilt angle of each asymmetric diffraction grating corresponds to an amount of chiral dopant in the liquid crystal material of the asymmetric diffraction grating.

16. A waveguide as described in claim 10, wherein the one or more first asymmetric diffraction gratings exhibit a first circular polarization handedness, and the one or more second asymmetric diffraction gratings exhibit a second circular polarization handedness that is orthogonal to the first circular polarization handedness.

17. The waveguide of claim 1, wherein one or both of the first array and the second array include at least one diffraction grating comprising a cholesteric liquid crystal material.

18. The waveguide of claim 1, wherein one or both of the first array and the second array comprise at least one blazed diffraction grating.

19. The waveguide of claim 1, wherein one or both of the first array and the second array comprise at least one binary diffraction grating.

20. The waveguide of claim 1, wherein the substrate has an optically transparent portion.

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