Eyepiece for augmented reality display systems

Abstract

To provide eyepiece waveguides for an augmented reality display system.SOLUTION: An eyepiece waveguide for an augmented reality display system may include an optically transmissive substrate, an input coupling grating (ICG) region, a multi-directional pupil expander (MPE) region, and an exit pupil expander (EPE) region. The ICG region may receive an input beam of light and couple the input beam into the substrate as a guided beam. The MPE region may include a plurality of diffractive features which exhibit periodicity along at least a first axis of periodicity and a second axis of periodicity. The MPE region may be positioned to receive the guided beam from the ICG region and to diffract it in a plurality of directions to create a plurality of diffracted beams. The EPE region may be positioned to receive one or more of the diffracted beams from the MPE region and to out-couple them from the optically transmissive substrate as output beams.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] (Incorporation by reference of all priority applications) This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 599663, filed on 15 December 2017 and titled “EYEPIECES FOR AUGMENTED REALITY DISPLAY SYSTEM”, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 608555, filed on 20 December 2017 and titled “EYEPIECES FOR AUGMENTED REALITY DISPLAY SYSTEM”, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 620465, filed on 22 January 2018 and titled “EYEPIECES FOR AUGMENTED REALITY DISPLAY SYSTEM”. Any foreign or domestic priority claims relating thereto identified above and / or filed together with this application in the application data sheet are incorporated herein by reference under 37 CFR 1.57.

[0002] (Field) This disclosure relates to eyepieces for virtual reality, augmented reality, and mixed reality systems. [Background technology]

[0003] (Description of related applications) Modern computing and display technologies are driving the development of virtual reality, augmented reality, and mixed reality systems. Virtual reality, or "VR," systems create simulated environments for users to experience. This can be done by presenting computer-generated image data to the user through a head-mounted display. This image data creates a sensory experience, immersing the user in the simulated environment. Virtual reality scenarios typically involve the presentation of computer-generated image data only, without also including actual real-world image data.

[0004] Augmented reality systems generally complement the real-world environment with simulated elements. For example, an augmented reality (AR) system can provide a user with a view of their surrounding real-world environment via a head-mounted display. However, computer-generated image data can also be presented on the display to enhance the real-world environment. This computer-generated image data can include elements that are contextually relevant to the real-world environment. Such elements may include simulated text, images, objects, etc. Mixed reality (MR) systems are a type of AR system that also introduces simulated objects into the real-world environment, but these objects are typically characterized by a greater degree of interaction. Simulated elements can often be interactive in real time.

[0005] Figure 1 depicts an exemplary AR / MR scene 1, in which the user sees a real-world park setting 6 featuring people, trees, buildings in the background, and a concrete platform 20. In addition to these items, computer-generated image data is also presented to the user. The computer-generated image data may include, for example, a robot figure 10 standing on the real-world platform 20 and a flying cartoonish avatar character 2 that looks like an anthropomorphic bumblebee, although these elements 2 and 10 do not actually exist in the real-world environment. [Overview of the project] [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In some embodiments, an eyepiece waveguide for an augmented reality display system comprises an optically transparent substrate; an input coupling grid (ICG) region formed on or within the substrate, configured to receive an input beam of light and couple the input beam into the substrate as a guided beam; a multidirectional pupil expander (MPE) region formed on or within the substrate, having multiple diffraction features exhibiting periodicity along at least a first periodic axis and a second periodic axis, and positioned to receive a guided beam from the ICG region, diffract it in multiple directions, and create multiple diffracted beams; and an exit pupil expander (EPE) region formed on or within the substrate, positioned to receive one or more of the diffracted beams from the MPE region and externally couple them from the optically transparent substrate as output beams.

[0007] In some embodiments, the eyepiece waveguide for an augmented reality display system comprises an optically transparent substrate and an input coupling grating (ICG) region formed on or within the substrate, wherein the ICG region is configured to receive a set of input beams of light and couple the set of input beams into the substrate as a set of guided beams, the set of guided beams being associated at least in part with a set of k-vectors in k-space, which are located within a k-space ring associated with the eyepiece waveguide, the ICG region corresponding to a region in k-space associated with guided propagation within the eyepiece waveguide, and a multidirectional pupil expander (MP) formed on or within the substrate. E) A region comprising an MPE region positioned to receive a set of guided beams from an ICG region and configured to diffract the set of guided beams to create at least three sets of diffracted beams, the set of diffracted beams being associated at least partially with at least three sets of k-vectors centered at three different angular locations within a k-space ring; and an exit pupil expander (EPE) region formed on or within a substrate, positioned to receive one of the sets of diffracted beams from the MPE region and externally couple them as an output beam from an optically transparent substrate.

[0008] In some embodiments, an eyepiece waveguide for an augmented reality display system comprises an input coupling region for receiving an input beam of light associated with an image, the input beam of light having an associated pupil, a multidirectional pupil expander (MPE) region configured to expand the pupil in at least three directions, and an output region for projecting an output beam of light associated with the image.

[0009] In some embodiments, the eyepiece waveguide for an augmented reality display system comprises an optically transparent substrate and an input coupling grating (ICG) region formed on or within the substrate, wherein the ICG region receives a set of input beams of light, the set of input beams being associated with a set of k-vectors in k-space, and diffracting the set of input beams to create a first set of guiding beams and a first set of non-diffracting beams, the first set of guiding beams corresponding to a translated subset of k-vectors located in a k-space ring associated with the eyepiece waveguide, and the first set of non-diffracting beams located outside the k-space ring, k - An ICG region is configured to diffract an input beam set so as to create a separate second set of guided beams and a separate second set of non-diffracted beams, wherein the second set of guided beams corresponds to a translated subset of k-vectors located within the k-space ring, and the second set of non-diffracted beams corresponds to a translated subset of k-vectors located outside the k-space ring, and a first pupil expander region is formed on or within the substrate, which receives the first set of guided beams from the ICG region. The system comprises: a first pupil expander region positioned and configured to replicate them as a first set of replicated beams; a second pupil expander region formed on or within the substrate, positioned to receive a second set of guided beams from the ICG region and configured to replicate them as a second set of replicated beams; and an exit region formed on or within the substrate, the exit region positioned to receive the first and second sets of replicated beams and configured to externally couple them as an output beam, the output beam representing the complete set of input beams.

[0010] In some embodiments, the eyepiece waveguide for an augmented reality display system comprises an optically transparent substrate and an input coupling grid (ICG) region formed on or within the substrate, the ICG region receiving a set of input beams of light, the set of input beams being associated with a set of k-vectors forming a field of view (FOV) shape in k-space, the FOV shape having a first dimension in k-space greater than the width of a k-space ring associated with the eyepiece waveguide, the k-space ring corresponding to a region in k-space associated with induced propagation within the eyepiece waveguide, and the FOV shape being coupled to the substrate as induced beams at a first position in the k-space ring. The ICG region is configured to diffract an input beam so as to move it to both a first and a second position, such that at the first position, a portion of the FOV shape is outside the k-space ring and only a first sub-portion of the FOV shape is inside the k-space ring, and at the second position, a portion of the FOV shape is outside the k-space ring and only a second sub-portion of the FOV shape is inside the k-space ring; and the ICG region comprises a plurality of pupil expander regions formed on or within the substrate, which are positioned to diffract the guided beam so as to move the first and second sub-portions of the FOV shape to a third position inside the k-space ring where the complete FOV shape is reassembled.

[0011] In some embodiments, an eyepiece waveguide for an augmented reality display system comprises an optically transparent substrate and an input coupling grid (ICG) region formed on or within the substrate, the ICG region being configured to receive a set of input beams of light and coupling the set of input beams into the substrate as a set of guided beams, the set of input beams being associated with a set of k-vectors in k-space, the set of k-vectors having a first dimension in k-space greater than the width of a k-space ring associated with the eyepiece waveguide, the k-space ring corresponding to a region in k-space associated with guided propagation within the eyepiece waveguide; a plurality of pupil expander regions formed on or within the substrate, collectively positioned to receive guided beams from the ICG region and diffract them to create a set of replicated beams; and an exit region formed on or within the substrate, positioned to receive replicated beams and externally couple the replicated beams from the optically transparent substrate as a set of output beams representing the complete set of input beams.

[0012] In some embodiments, an eyepiece waveguide for an augmented reality display system comprises an optically transparent substrate and an input coupling grating (ICG) region formed on or within the substrate, the ICG region comprising a diffraction grating configured to diffract a set of input beams of light corresponding to an input image into a plurality of diffraction orders, the diffraction grating having a period Λ satisfying the following: [ka] In the formula, n2 is the refractive index of an optically transparent substrate, n1 is the refractive index of a medium surrounding the optically transparent substrate, ω is the angular frequency of the input beam of light, and c is a constant of the speed of light. The system comprises an ICG region, a plurality of pupil expander regions formed on or within the substrate, which are collectively positioned to receive beams from the ICG region and diffract them to create a set of replicated beams, and an exit region formed on or within the substrate, which is positioned to receive the replicated beams and externally couple the replicated beams from the optically transparent substrate as a set of output beams representing the complete input image.

[0013] In some embodiments, an eyepiece waveguide for an augmented reality display system comprises: an optically transparent substrate having a first surface and a second surface; a first input coupling grating (ICG) region formed on or within one of the surfaces of the substrate, configured to receive an input beam of light and couple the input beam into the substrate as a guided beam; a multidirectional pupil expander (MPE) region formed on or within the first surface of the substrate, the MPE region having a plurality of diffraction features exhibiting periodicity along at least a first periodic axis and a second periodic axis, and positioned to receive a guided beam from the first ICG region, diffract it in a plurality of directions, and create a plurality of diffracted beams; and an exit pupil expander (EPE) region formed on or within the second surface of the substrate, the EPE region overlapping the MPE region and configured to externally couple one or more of the diffracted beams from the optically transparent substrate as an output beam. This specification also provides, for example, the following items: (Item 1) An eyepiece waveguide for an augmented reality display system, wherein the eyepiece waveguide is An optically transparent substrate, An input coupling grid (ICG) region formed on or within the substrate, wherein the ICG region is configured to receive an input beam of light and couple the input beam into the substrate as a guided beam, A multidirectional pupil expander (MPE) region formed on or within the substrate, wherein the MPE region has a plurality of diffraction features exhibiting periodicity along at least a first periodic axis and a second periodic axis, and the MPE region is positioned to receive the guided beam from the ICG region, diffract it in a plurality of directions, and create a plurality of diffracted beams, An exit pupil expander (EPE) region formed on or within the substrate, wherein the EPE region is positioned to receive one or more of the diffracted beams from the MPE region and externally couple them as an output beam from the optically transparent substrate. An eyepiece waveguide equipped with an eyepiece lens. (Item 2) The eyepiece waveguide described in item 1, wherein the MPE region has a two-dimensional lattice pattern of distinct diffraction features. (Item 3) The MPE region is an eyepiece waveguide as described in item 1, comprising a cross-grid. (Item 4) The eyepiece waveguide according to item 1, wherein the MPE region is configured to create the diffracted beam by diffracting a portion of the power of the guided beam from the ICG region in at least three directions. (Item 5) One of the three directions mentioned above corresponds to the zero-order diffraction beam, as described in item 4. Waveguide. (Item 6) Two or more of the three directions mentioned above correspond to the primary diffracted beams, and are eyepiece waveguides as described in item 4. (Item 7) The three directions are separated by at least 45 degrees angularly, as described in item 4, in the eyepiece waveguide. (Item 8) The eyepiece waveguide according to item 4, wherein the MPE region and the EPE region do not overlap, and only one of the three directions of the diffracted beam intersects the EPE region. (Item 9) One of the three directions is the eyepiece waveguide described in item 4, which corresponds to the direction from the ICG region to the MPE region. (Item 10) The eyepiece waveguide according to item 4, wherein the MPE region is configured to create the diffracted beam by diffracting a portion of the power of the guided beam from the ICG region in at least four directions. (Item 11) The four directions are separated by at least 45 degrees angularly, as described in item 10, in the eyepiece waveguide. (Item 12) The eyepiece waveguide according to item 1, wherein the MPE region is further configured to increase the number of diffracted beams by diffracting, again, at multiple dispersed locations in the same multiple directions, those diffracted beams that have been initially diffracted but are still propagating within the MPE region. (Item 13) An eyepiece waveguide according to item 12, wherein only a subset of the diffracted beam propagates toward the EPE region. (Item 14) The eyepiece waveguide described in item 13, wherein the EPE region is positioned to receive only the diffracted beam that is propagating in one of the multiple directions. (Item 15) The diffracted beam propagating toward the EPE region is directed through an eyepiece waveguide as described in item 14, which has non-uniform spacing. (Item 16) The eyepiece waveguide described in item 1, wherein some of the diffraction features in the MPE region have a diffraction efficiency of 10% or less. (Item 17) The diffraction efficiency of the diffraction features in the MPE region is spatially variable, as described in item 1 for the eyepiece waveguide. (Item 18) The ICG region is an eyepiece waveguide as described in item 1, comprising a one-dimensional periodic grid. (Item 19) The eyepiece waveguide described in item 1 is a one-dimensional periodic grating in the ICG region. (Item 20) The EPE region is an eyepiece waveguide as described in item 1, comprising a one-dimensional periodic grid. (Item 21) The eyepiece waveguide according to item 20, wherein the one-dimensional periodic grating within the EPE region comprises a plurality of curved lines that impart refractive force to the output beam. (Item 22) The input beam is collimated and has a diameter of 5 mm or less, as described in item 1, through an eyepiece waveguide. (Item 23) The MPE region and the EPE region are non-overlapping eyepiece waveguides as described in item 1. (Item 24) The optically transparent substrate is planar, as described in item 1, for the eyepiece waveguide. (Item 25) The eyepiece waveguide described in item 1 is incorporated into an eyepiece for an augmented reality display system. (Item 26) The eyepiece waveguide described in item 25 is configured to display a color image in multiple depth planes. (Item 27) The ICG region is configured to receive a set of multiple light input beams and to couple the set of input beams into the substrate as a set of guided beams, the set of guided beams being associated at least partially with a set of k-vectors in k-space within a k-space ring associated with the eyepiece waveguide, the k-space ring corresponding to a region in k-space associated with guided propagation within the eyepiece waveguide, The MPE region is configured to diffract the set of guided beams to create at least three sets of diffracted beams, and the set of diffracted beams is at least partially associated with at least three sets of k-vectors located at three different angular locations within the k-space ring. The eyepiece waveguide described in item 1. (Item 28) The set of k-vectors associated with the set of guiding beams is entirely within the k-space ring of the eyepiece waveguide described in item 27. (Item 29) The set of k-vectors associated with the set of diffracted beams is entirely within the k-space ring of the eyepiece waveguide described in item 27. (Item 30) The set of k-vectors associated with the set of diffracted beams are angularly spaced apart from each other by at least 45 degrees within the k-space ring, as described in item 27, in the eyepiece waveguide. (Item 31) The sets of k-vectors associated with the individual sets of diffracted beams are non-overlapping, as described in item 27, for the eyepiece waveguide. (Item 32) An eyepiece waveguide according to item 27, wherein one of the sets of k-vectors associated with the set of diffracted beams is located at an angular position in the k-space ring corresponding to the direction from the ICG region to the MPE region. (Item 33) An eyepiece waveguide according to item 27, wherein one of the sets of k-vectors associated with the set of diffracted beams is located at an angular position in the k-space ring corresponding to the direction from the MPE region to the EPE region. (Item 34) The MPE region is configured to diffract the set of guided beams to create at least four sets of diffracted beams, the set of diffracted beams being at least partially at four different angular positions within the k-space ring, the set of k-beams being at least four sets of k-beams at four different angular positions within the k-space ring. An eyepiece waveguide, as described in item 27, associated with Torr. (Item 35) An eyepiece waveguide according to item 27, wherein while the diffracted beam propagates within the MPE region, the MPE region is configured to further diffract the beam such that its corresponding set of k-vectors transitions between three different locations within the k-space ring. (Item 36) The set of input beams is associated with the input image, and is an eyepiece waveguide as described in item 27. (Item 37) The input beam corresponds to the center of the input image and is incident perpendicularly onto the ICG region, as described in item 1, using an eyepiece waveguide. (Item 38) An eyepiece waveguide for an augmented reality display system, wherein the eyepiece waveguide is An optically transparent substrate, An input coupling grid (ICG) region formed on or within the substrate, wherein the ICG region is configured to receive a set of input beams of light and couple the set of input beams into the substrate as a set of guided beams, the set of guided beams being associated at least partially with a set of k-vectors in k-space within a k-space ring associated with the eyepiece waveguide, the k-space ring corresponding to a region in k-space associated with guided propagation within the eyepiece waveguide, and the ICG region A multidirectional pupil expander (MPE) region formed on or within the substrate, wherein the MPE region is positioned to receive the set of guided beams from the ICG region and is configured to diffract the set of guided beams to create at least three sets of diffracted beams, the set of diffracted beams being associated with at least three sets of k-vectors, the at least three sets of k-vectors being at least partially within the k-space ring and centered at three different angular locations, An exit pupil expander (EPE) region formed on or within the substrate, wherein the EPE region is positioned to receive one of the set of diffraction beams from the MPE region and externally couple them as an output beam from the optically transparent substrate. An eyepiece waveguide equipped with an eyepiece lens. (Item 39) The set of k-vectors associated with the set of guiding beams is entirely within the k-space ring of the eyepiece waveguide described in item 38. (Item 40) The set of k-vectors associated with the set of diffracted beams is entirely within the k-space ring of the eyepiece waveguide described in item 38. (Item 41) The eyepiece waveguide according to item 38, wherein the set of k-vectors associated with the set of diffracted beams are angularly spaced apart from each other by at least 45 degrees within the k-space ring. (Item 42) The sets of k-vectors associated with the individual sets of diffracted beams are non-overlapping, as described in item 38, for the eyepiece waveguide. (Item 43) An eyepiece waveguide according to item 38, wherein one of the sets of k-vectors associated with the set of diffracted beams is located at an angular position in the k-space ring corresponding to the direction from the ICG region to the MPE region. (Item 44) An eyepiece waveguide according to item 38, wherein one of the sets of k-vectors associated with the set of diffracted beams is located at an angular position in the k-space ring corresponding to the direction from the MPE region to the EPE region. (Item 45) The eyepiece waveguide according to item 38, wherein the MPE region is configured to diffract the set of guided beams to create at least four sets of diffracted beams, the set of diffracted beams being associated at least partially with at least four sets of k-vectors that are located in the k-space ring and centered at four different angular positions. (Item 46) An eyepiece waveguide according to item 38, wherein, while the diffracted beam propagates within the MPE region, the MPE region is configured to further diffract the beam such that its corresponding set of k-vectors transitions between three different locations within the k-space ring. (Item 47) The aforementioned set of input beams is associated with the input image in the eyepiece waveguide described in item 38. (Item 48) The eyepiece waveguide according to item 38, wherein the MPE region has a plurality of diffraction features that exhibit periodicity along at least a first periodic axis and a second periodic axis. (Item 49) The eyepiece waveguide described in item 38, wherein the MPE region has a two-dimensional lattice pattern of distinct diffraction features. (Item 50) The MPE region is an eyepiece waveguide as described in item 38, comprising a cross-grid. (Item 51) Each of the aforementioned input beams is collimated and has a diameter of 5 mm or less, as described in item 38, through an eyepiece waveguide. (Item 52) The MPE region and the EPE region are non-overlapping eyepiece waveguides as described in item 37. (Item 53) The eyepiece waveguide described in item 38 is incorporated into an eyepiece for an augmented reality display system. (Item 54) The eyepiece waveguide described in item 53 is configured to display a color image in multiple depth planes. (Item 55) An eyepiece waveguide for an augmented reality display system, wherein the eyepiece waveguide is An input coupling region for receiving an input beam of light associated with an image, wherein the input beam of light has an associated pupil, A multidirectional pupil expander (MPE) region configured to expand the pupil in at least three directions, An emission region for projecting the output beam of light associated with the aforementioned image and An eyepiece waveguide equipped with an eyepiece lens. (Item 56) The eyepiece waveguide according to item 55, wherein the MPE region is configured to expand the pupil size in at least four directions. (Item 57) The MPE region and the emission region do not overlap, as described in item 55 of the eyepiece guide. tube. (Item 58) The MPE region is an eyepiece waveguide as described in item 55, which creates a non-periodic array of output pupils. (Item 59) The central beam of the set of input beams is incident perpendicularly onto the ICG region in the eyepiece waveguide described in item 38. (Item 60) An eyepiece waveguide for an augmented reality display system, wherein the eyepiece waveguide is An optically transparent substrate, An input coupling grid (ICG) region formed on or within the substrate, wherein the ICG region is The process involves receiving a set of input beams of light, the set of input beams being associated with a set of k-vectors in k-space, The input beam set is diffracted to create a first set of guiding beams and a first set of non-diffraction beams, wherein the first set of guiding beams corresponds to a translated subset of the k-vectors in a k-space ring associated with the eyepiece waveguide, the first set of non-diffraction beams corresponds to a translated subset of the k-vectors outside the k-space ring, and the k-space ring corresponds to a region in k-space associated with guiding propagation in the eyepiece waveguide. Diffraction of the input beam set to create a separate second set of guided beams and a separate second set of non-diffraction beams, wherein the second set of guided beams corresponds to a translation subset of the k-vectors within the k-space ring, and the second set of non-diffraction beams corresponds to a translation subset of the k-vectors outside the k-space ring. The ICG area is configured to perform the following: A first pupil expander region formed on or within the substrate, wherein the first pupil expander region is positioned to receive the first set of guide beams from the ICG region and configured to replicate them as a first set of replicate beams, A second pupil expander region formed on or within the substrate, wherein the second pupil expander region is positioned to receive the second set of guide beams from the ICG region and is configured to replicate them as a second set of replicate beams, An exit region formed on or within the substrate, wherein the exit region is positioned to receive the first and second replicated beams, and the exit region is configured to externally couple them as an output beam, and the output beam represents the complete set of the input beams, and the exit region and An eyepiece waveguide equipped with an eyepiece lens. (Item 61) An eyepiece waveguide for an augmented reality display system, wherein the eyepiece waveguide is An optically transparent substrate, An input coupling grid (ICG) region formed on or within the substrate, wherein the ICG region is The method involves receiving a set of input beams of light, the set of input beams being associated with a set of k-vectors that form a field of view (FOV) shape in k-space, the FOV shape having a first dimension in k-space greater than the width of a k-space ring associated with the eyepiece waveguide, and the k-space ring being associated with induced propagation within the eyepiece waveguide. This corresponds to a region within the k-space, The input beam is diffracted such that the input beam is coupled to the substrate as a guided beam, and the FOV shape is shifted in parallel to both a first position and a second position within the k-space ring, wherein at the first position, a portion of the FOV shape is outside the k-space ring and only a first sub-portion of the FOV shape is within the k-space ring, and at the second position, a portion of the FOV shape is outside the k-space ring and only a second sub-portion of the FOV shape is within the k-space ring. The ICG area is configured to perform the following: A plurality of pupil expander regions formed on or within the substrate, wherein the plurality of pupil expander regions are positioned to diffract the guided beam such that the first and second sub-parts of the FOV shape are translated to a third position in the k-space ring where the complete FOV shape is reassembled. An eyepiece waveguide equipped with an eyepiece lens. (Item 62) An eyepiece waveguide for an augmented reality display system, wherein the eyepiece waveguide is An optically transparent substrate, An input coupling grid (ICG) region formed on or within the substrate, wherein the ICG region is configured to receive a set of input beams of light and couple the set of input beams into the substrate as a set of guided beams, the set of input beams is associated with a set of k-vectors in k-space, the set of k-vectors has a first dimension in k-space that is greater than the width of a k-space ring associated with the eyepiece waveguide, and the k-space ring corresponds to a region in k-space associated with guided propagation in the eyepiece waveguide, the ICG region and A plurality of pupil expander regions formed on or within the substrate, wherein the plurality of pupil expander regions are collectively positioned to receive the guided beam from the ICG region and diffract it to create a set of replicated beams, An exit region formed on or within the substrate, wherein the exit region is positioned to receive the replicated beam and externally couple the replicated beam from the optically transparent substrate as a set of output beams representing the complete set of the input beams. An eyepiece waveguide equipped with an eyepiece lens. (Item 63) An eyepiece waveguide for an augmented reality display system, wherein the eyepiece waveguide is An optically transparent substrate, An input coupling grating (ICG) region formed on or within the substrate, wherein the ICG region comprises a diffraction grating configured to diffract a set of input beams of light corresponding to an input image to a plurality of diffraction orders, and the diffraction grating is

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[0014] [Figure 1] Figure 1 illustrates the user's view of an augmented reality (AR) scene through an AR device.

[0015] [Figure 2] Figure 2 illustrates an embodiment of a wearable display system.

[0016] [Figure 3] Figure 3 illustrates a conventional display system for simulating a three-dimensional image for the user.

[0017] [Figure 4] Figure 4 illustrates aspects of an approach to simulating a 3D image using multiple depth planes.

[0018] [Figure 5] Figures 5A-5C illustrate the relationship between the radius of curvature and the radius of focus.

[0019] [Figure 6] Figure 6 illustrates an example of a waveguide stack for outputting image information to the user within an AR eyepiece.

[0020] [Figure 7] Figures 7A-7B illustrate an example of an output beam generated by a waveguide.

[0021] [Figure 8] Figure 8 illustrates an embodiment of a stacked waveguide assembly, where each depth plane includes an image formed using multiple different primary colors.

[0022] [Figure 9A] Figure 9A shows a cross-sectional side view of an embodiment of a stacked waveguide set, each including an internally coupled optical element.

[0023] [Figure 9B]Figure 9B shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the multiple stacked waveguides shown in Figure 9A.

[0024] [Figure 9C] Figure 9C shows top and bottom plan views of the embodiment of the multiple stacked waveguides shown in Figures 9A and 9B.

[0025] [Figure 10] Figure 10 is a perspective view of an exemplary AR eyepiece waveguide stack.

[0026] [Figure 11] Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of an exemplary eyepiece waveguide stack, with an edge sealing structure for supporting the eyepiece waveguides in a stacked configuration.

[0027] [Figure 12A] Figures 12A and 12B illustrate the top view of the eyepiece waveguide during operation when projecting an image toward the user's eye. [Figure 12B] Figures 12A and 12B illustrate the top view of the eyepiece waveguide during operation when projecting an image toward the user's eye.

[0028] [Figure 13A] Figure 13A illustrates a k-vector, which can be used to represent the propagation direction of a ray or beam of light.

[0029] [Figure 13B] Figure 13B illustrates the light rays within a planar waveguide.

[0030] [Figure 13C] Figure 13C illustrates the acceptable k-vectors for light of a given angular frequency ω propagating through a non-boundary homogeneous medium with refractive index n.

[0031] [Figure 13D]Figure 13D illustrates the allowable k-vectors for light of a given angular frequency ω propagating through a homogeneous planar waveguide medium with refractive index n.

[0032] [Figure 13E] Figure 13E illustrates a ring in k-space corresponding to the k-vector of a light wave that can be induced in a waveguide with refractive index n2.

[0033] [Figure 13F] Figure 13F shows a k-space schematic and an eyepiece waveguide illustrating the relationship between the k-vector and the density of interaction between the k-vector and the corresponding guided beam and the diffraction grating formed on or inside the waveguide.

[0034] [Figure 13G] Figure 13G shows a top view of the diffraction grating and some of its associated k-space diffraction grating vectors (G-2, G-1, G1, G2).

[0035] [Figure 13H] Figure 13H illustrates a side view of the diffraction grating and its effect in k-space on the k-vector corresponding to the normal incident ray or beam of light.

[0036] [Figure 13I] Figure 13I illustrates a side view of the diffraction grating shown in Figure 13G and its effect in k-space on the k-vector corresponding to the obliquely incident light ray or beam of light.

[0037] [Figure 13J] Figure 13J is a k-space schematic diagram illustrating the field of view of the image projected into the AR eyepiece waveguide.

[0038] [Figure 13K] Figure 13K is a k-space schematic diagram showing the k-space translational shift of the FOV rectangle caused by the input coupling grating (ICG) located at the entrance pupil of the eyepiece waveguide.

[0039] [Figure 14A] Figure 14A illustrates an exemplary eyepiece waveguide with an ICG region, an orthogonal pupil expander (OPE) region, and an exit pupil expander (EPE) region.

[0040] [Figure 14B] Figure 14B illustrates the k-space action of the eyepiece waveguide shown in Figure 14A.

[0041] [Figure 14C] Figure 14C illustrates the optical effects of the OPE region shown in Figures 14A and 14B.

[0042] [Figure 14D] Figure 14D illustrates the techniques used to determine the size and shape of the OPE and EPE regions.

[0043] [Figure 15A] Figure 15A illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a waveguide eyepiece in which the OPE region is tilted and positioned such that its lower boundary is parallel to the upper boundary of the EPE region.

[0044] [Figure 15B] Figure 15B includes a k-space schematic diagram illustrating the operation of the eyepiece waveguide shown in Figure 15A.

[0045] [Figure 15C] Figure 15C is another k-space schematic diagram illustrating the operation of the eyepiece waveguide shown in Figure 15A.

[0046] [Figure 15D] Figure 15D is a schematic diagram of the first generation of interaction between the input beam and the OPE region of the eyepiece waveguide embodiment shown in Figure 15A.

[0047] [Figure 15E]Figure 15E is a schematic diagram of the second generation of interaction between the input beam and the OPE region of the eyepiece waveguide embodiment shown in Figure 15A.

[0048] [Figure 15F] Figure 15F is a schematic diagram of the third generation of interaction between the input beam and the OPE region of the eyepiece waveguide embodiment shown in Figure 15A.

[0049] [Figure 15G] Figure 15G is a schematic diagram illustrating how a single input beam from the ICG region is duplicated by the OPE region and redirected as multiple beams toward the EPE region.

[0050] [Figure 16A] Figure 16A illustrates an exemplary eyepiece waveguide that has a multidirectional pupil expander (MPE) region rather than an OPE region.

[0051] [Figure 16B] Figure 16B illustrates a portion of an exemplary 2D grid that may be used within the MPE region shown in Figure 16A, along with its associated grid vectors.

[0052] [Figure 16C] Figure 16C is a k-space schematic diagram illustrating the k-space action in the MPE region of the eyepiece waveguide shown in Figure 16A.

[0053] [Figure 16D] Figure 16D is a k-space schematic diagram that further illustrates the k-space action in the MPE region of the eyepiece waveguide shown in Figure 16A.

[0054] [Figure 16E] Figure 16E is a schematic k-space diagram illustrating the k-space action of the eyepiece waveguide shown in Figure 16A.

[0055] [Figure 16F]Figure 16F is a schematic diagram of the first generation of interaction between the input beam and the MPE region of the eyepiece waveguide embodiment shown in Figure 16A.

[0056] [Figure 16G] Figure 16G is a schematic diagram of the second generation of interaction between the input beam and the MPE region of the eyepiece waveguide embodiment shown in Figure 16A.

[0057] [Figure 16H] Figure 16H is a schematic diagram of the third generation of interaction between the input beam and the MPE region of the eyepiece waveguide embodiment shown in Figure 16A.

[0058] [Figure 16I] Figure 16I is a schematic diagram of the fourth generation of interaction between the input beam and the MPE region of the eyepiece waveguide embodiment shown in Figure 16A.

[0059] [Figure 16J] Figure 16J is a schematic diagram illustrating various paths through which the beam can follow from the MPE region to the EPE region, ultimately, according to the eyepiece waveguide embodiment shown in Figure 16A.

[0060] [Figure 16K] Figure 16K is a schematic diagram illustrating how a single input beam from the ICG region is duplicated by the MPE region and redirected as multiple beams toward the EPE region.

[0061] [Figure 16L] Figure 16L is a comparative diagram illustrating the performance of an eyepiece waveguide with an OPE region versus an eyepiece waveguide with an MPE region.

[0062] [Figure 16M] Figure 16M further illustrates the performance of an eyepiece waveguide with an MPE region versus an eyepiece waveguide with an OPE region.

[0063] [Figure 17A] Figure 17A illustrates a portion of an exemplary 2D grid that may be used within the MPE region of an eyepiece waveguide, along with its associated grid vector.

[0064] [Figure 17B] Figure 17B is a k-space schematic diagram illustrating the k-space action in the MPE region of an eyepiece waveguide.

[0065] [Figure 17C] Figure 17C is a k-space schematic diagram illustrating the k-space action of an eyepiece waveguide with an MPE region.

[0066] [Figure 17D] Figure 17D is a schematic diagram of the first generation of interaction between the input beam and the MPE region of the eyepiece waveguide.

[0067] [Figure 17E] Figure 17E is a schematic diagram of the second generation of interaction between the input beam and the MPE region of the eyepiece waveguide.

[0068] [Figure 17F] Figure 17F is a schematic diagram of the third generation of interaction between the input beam and the MPE region of the eyepiece waveguide.

[0069] [Figure 17G] Figure 17G is a schematic diagram of the fourth generation of the interaction between the input beam and the MPE region of the eyepiece waveguide.

[0070] [Figure 18A] Figure 18A illustrates an exemplary eyepiece waveguide with an ICG region, two orthogonal pupil expander regions, and an exit pupil expander region.

[0071] [Figure 18B] Figures 18B and 18C illustrate the top view of the EPE region of the eyepiece waveguide shown in Figure 18A. [Figure 18C] Figures 18B and 18C illustrate the top view of the EPE region of the eyepiece waveguide shown in Figure 18A.

[0072] [Figure 19] Figure 19 illustrates an embodiment of an eyepiece waveguide with an extended field of view.

[0073] [Figure 20A] Figure 20A illustrates an embodiment of an extended FOV eyepiece waveguide with an MPE region overlapping with the EPE region.

[0074] [Figure 20B] Figure 20B illustrates a portion of an exemplary 2D grid that may be used within the MPE region of the eyepiece waveguide in Figure 20A, along with its associated grid vectors.

[0075] [Figure 20C] Figure 20C is a k-space schematic diagram illustrating the k-space action in the ICG region of the eyepiece waveguide in Figure 20A.

[0076] [Figure 20D] Figure 20D is a k-space schematic diagram illustrating a portion of the k-space action in the MPE region of the eyepiece waveguide in Figure 20A.

[0077] [Figure 20E] Figure 20E is a k-space schematic diagram illustrating another portion of the k-space action in the MPE region of the eyepiece waveguide in Figure 20A.

[0078] [Figure 20F] Figure 20F is similar to Figure 20E, but shifted to the 9 o'clock position (instead of the 3 o'clock position as shown in Figure 20E), showing the k-space action of the MPE region on the FOV rectangle from Figure 20D.

[0079] [Figure 20G]Figure 20G is a k-space schematic diagram illustrating the k-space action of the EPE region within the eyepiece waveguide in Figure 20A.

[0080] [Figure 20H] Figure 20H is a k-space schematic diagram summarizing the k-space action of the eyepiece waveguide in Figure 20A.

[0081] [Figure 20I] Figure 20I is a schematic diagram illustrating how a beam of light diffuses through the eyepiece waveguide shown in Figure 20A.

[0082] [Figure 20J] Figure 20J illustrates a method by which the diffraction efficiency of the MPE region within the eyepiece waveguide in Figure 20A can be spatially varied to improve the uniformity of brightness within the waveguide.

[0083] [Figure 20K] Figure 20K illustrates a method by which the diffraction efficiency of the EPE region within the eyepiece waveguide in Figure 20A can be spatially varied to improve the uniformity of brightness within the waveguide.

[0084] [Figure 20L] Figure 20L illustrates an embodiment of the eyepiece waveguide in Figure 20A, which includes one or more diffraction mirrors around the peripheral edge of the waveguide.

[0085] [Figure 20M] Figure 20M illustrates an exemplary embodiment of eyeglasses that incorporates one or more instances of the eyepiece waveguide shown in Figure 20A.

[0086] [Figure 20N] Figure 20N illustrates another exemplary embodiment of eyeglasses that incorporates one or more instances of the eyepiece waveguide in Figure 20A.

[0087] [Figure 21A]Figure 21A illustrates another embodiment of an eyepiece waveguide, with an MPE region overlapping the EPE region.

[0088] [Figure 21B] Figure 21B is a k-space schematic illustrating the k-space action of the eyepiece waveguide in Figure 20A on a set of first input beams corresponding to a first sub-part of the FOV of the input image.

[0089] [Figure 21C] Figure 21C is a k-space schematic illustrating the k-space action of the eyepiece waveguide in Figure 21A on a second set of input beams corresponding to a second sub-part of the input image's FOV.

[0090] [Figure 21D] Figure 21D is a k-space schematic diagram summarizing the k-space action of the eyepiece waveguide in Figure 21A.

[0091] [Figure 21E] Figure 21E illustrates an exemplary embodiment of eyeglasses that incorporates one or more instances of the eyepiece waveguide shown in Figure 21A.

[0092] [Figure 21F] Figure 21F illustrates an exemplary FOV corresponding to the eyeglasses in Figure 21E.

[0093] [Figure 21G] Figure 21G illustrates the k-space action of another embodiment of the eyepiece waveguide shown in Figure 21A.

[0094] [Figure 22A] Figure 22A illustrates an embodiment of an eyepiece waveguide capable of projecting an extended field of view in two directions.

[0095] [Figure 22B] Figure 22B shows the opposite side of the eyepiece waveguide shown in Figure 22A.

[0096] [Figure 22C] Figure 22C illustrates the k-space interaction of the ICG region and OPE region within the eyepiece waveguide embodiment shown in Figure 22A.

[0097] [Figure 22D] Figure 22D illustrates the k-space action of the MPE region within the eyepiece waveguide embodiment shown in Figure 22A.

[0098] [Figure 22E] Figure 22E illustrates the k-space action of the EPE region within the eyepiece waveguide embodiment shown in Figure 22A.

[0099] [Figure 23] Figure 23 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of an eyepiece waveguide designed to function with an angled projector. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0100] (overview) This disclosure describes various eyepiece waveguides that may be used in AR display systems to project images onto a user's eye. Eyepiece waveguides are described in physical terms and k- This is explained in both the use of spatial representation.

[0101] (Example HMD device) Figure 2 illustrates an embodiment of a wearable display system 60. The display system 60 includes a display or eyepiece 70 and various mechanical and electronic modules and systems to support the functionality of the display 70. The display 70 may be coupled to a frame 80, which is wearable by the display system user 90 and configured to position the display 70 in front of the user 90's eyes. In some embodiments, the display 70 may be considered eyewear. In some embodiments, a speaker 100 is coupled to the frame 80 and positioned adjacent to the user 90's ear canal. The display system may also include one or more microphones 110 to detect sound. The microphones 110 can enable the user to provide input or commands to the system 60 (e.g., selection of voice menu commands, natural language questions, etc.) and / or enable audio communication with other persons (e.g., other users of a similar display system). The microphones 110 can also collect audio data (e.g., sounds from the user and / or the environment) from the user's surroundings. In some embodiments, the display system may also include a peripheral sensor 120a, which is separate from the frame 80 and may be mounted on the user 90's body (e.g., on the head, torso, limbs, etc.). In some embodiments, the peripheral sensor 120a may acquire data characterizing the user 90's physiological state.

[0102] The display 70 is operably coupled to the local data processing module 140 by a communication link 130, such as a wired connection or wireless connectivity, which can be mounted in various configurations, such as being fixedly attached to the frame 80, fixedly attached to a helmet or hat worn by the user, built into headphones, or detachably attached to the user 90 (e.g., in a backpack configuration or a belt-mounted configuration). Similarly, the sensor 120a may be operably coupled to the local processor and data module 140 by a communication link 120b (e.g., a wired connection or wireless connectivity). The local processing and data module 140 may include a hardware processor and digital memory such as non-volatile memory (e.g., flash memory or a hard disk drive), both of which may be used to assist in data processing, caching, and storage. The data may include 1) data captured from sensors such as image acquisition devices (e.g., cameras), microphones, inertial measurement units, accelerometers, compasses, GPS units, wireless devices, gyroscopes, and / or other sensors disclosed herein (e.g., operably coupled to frame 80 or otherwise attached to user 90), and / or 2) data acquired and / or processed using the remote processing module 150 and / or remote data repository 160 (including data related to virtual content) for passing to display 70 after processing or reading, if applicable. The local processing and data module 140 may be operably coupled to the remote processing module 150 and the remote data repository 160 by communication links 170, 180 via wired or wireless communication links, etc., so that these remote modules 150, 160 are operably coupled to each other and available as resources for the local processing and data module 140. In some embodiments, the local processing and data module 140 may include one or more of the following: an image acquisition 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 80, or they may be standalone devices communicating with the local processing and data module 140 via a wired or wireless communication path.

[0103] The remote processing module 150 may include one or more processors for analyzing and processing data such as image and audio information. In some embodiments, the remote data repository 160 may be a digital data storage facility, which may be available through the internet or other networking configurations in a “cloud” resource configuration. In some embodiments, the remote data repository 160 may include one or more remote servers that provide information (e.g., information for generating augmented reality content) to the local processing and data module 140 and / or the remote processing module 150. In other embodiments, all data is stored, and all calculations are performed in the local processing and data module, enabling fully autonomous use from the remote module.

[0104] The perception of an image as "three-dimensional" or "3-D" can be achieved by providing slightly different presentations of the image to each of the user's eyes. Figure 3 illustrates a conventional display system for simulating three-dimensional image data relating to a user. Two distinctly different images 190, 200, one for each eye 210, 220, are output to the user. Images 190, 200 are spaced only 230 units apart from eyes 210, 220 along the optical axis or z-axis parallel to the user's line of sight. Images 190, 200 are flat, and eyes 210, 220 can focus on the image by taking a single, focused state. Such a 3-D display system relies on the human visual system, combines images 190, 200, and provides a perception of depth and / or scale of the combined image.

[0105] However, the human visual system is complex, and providing a realistic perception of depth is difficult. For example, many users of conventional "3-D" display systems find such systems unpleasant or perceive no sense of depth at all. Objects can be perceived as "three-dimensional" due to a combination of convergence-divergence and accommodation. The convergence-divergence movement of two eyes relative to each other (e.g., rotation of the eyes such that the pupils move toward or away from each other, converging the individual lines of sight of the eyes and fixing on an object) is closely related to the focusing (or "accommodation") of the eye's lens. Under normal conditions, a change in the focus of the eye's lens or the eye's accommodation to change the focus from one object to another object at a different distance will automatically result in a consistent change in convergence-divergence movement at the same distance, under the relationship known as the "accommodation-convergence-divergence reflex" and pupillary dilation or miosis. Similarly, under normal conditions, changes in convergence and divergence movements will induce changes in the alignment of accommodative properties of lens shape and pupil size. As described herein, many stereoscopic or "3-D" display systems display a scene using slightly different presentations (and therefore slightly different images) to each eye so that the three-dimensional viewpoint is perceived by the human visual system. However, such systems can be uncomfortable for many users because they simply provide image information in a single accommodative state and function against the "accommodative-convergence / divergence reflex." A display system that provides better alignment between accommodation and convergence / divergence movements can form a more realistic and comfortable simulation of three-dimensional image data.

[0106] Figure 4 illustrates aspects of an approach for simulating 3D image data using multiple depth planes. Referring to Figure 4, eyes 210, 220 take on different perspective-accommodated states, focusing objects at various distances on the z-axis. As a result, a particular perspective-accommodated state can be associated with one of the illustrated depth planes 240, each having an associated focal length such that an object or part of an object in a particular depth plane is in focus when the eye is in a perspective-accommodated state relative to that depth plane. In some embodiments, the 3D image data is plotted for each eye 210, 220. This may be simulated by providing different presentations of the image, and by providing different presentations of the image corresponding to different depth planes. The individual fields of view of eyes 210 and 220 are shown as distinct for the sake of clarity in the illustration, but they may overlap, for example, as the distance along the z-axis increases. In addition, for the sake of ease of illustration, the depth plane is shown as flat, but it should be understood that the contour of the depth plane may be curved in physical space so that all features within the depth plane are in focus with the eye in a particular distance-accommodated state.

[0107] The distance between an object and the eye 210 or 220 can also change the amount of light diverging from that object as visible to that eye. Figures 5A-5C illustrate the relationship between distance and ray divergence. The distance between the object and the eye 210 is expressed in the order of decreasing distances R1, R2, and R3. As shown in Figures 5A-5C, the ray diverges more as the distance to the object decreases. As the distance increases, the ray becomes more collimated. In other words, the light field generated by a point (object or part of an object) can be said to have a spherical wavefront curvature, which is a function of the distance the point is from the user's eye. The curvature increases with decreasing distance between the object and the eye 210. Consequently, in different depth planes, the ray divergence is also different, and the divergence increases with decreasing distance between the depth plane and the user's eye 210. Only a single eye 210 is illustrated in Figures 5A–5C and other figures herein for illustrative purposes, but it should be understood that the discussion relating to eye 210 may apply to both eyes 210 and 220 of the user.

[0108] A highly realistic simulation of perceived depth can be achieved by providing the eye with different presentations of images corresponding to each of a limited number of depth planes. These different presentations may be individually focused by the user's eye and thereby help provide the user with depth cues based on the amount of eye accommodation required to focus on different image features for scenes located on different depth planes, and / or based on observation of different image features on different depth planes that are out of focus.

[0109] (An example of a waveguide stack assembly for AR or MR eyepieces) Figure 6 illustrates an embodiment of a waveguide stack for outputting image information to the user within an AR eyepiece. The display system 250 includes a waveguide stack or stacked waveguide assembly 260, which may be used to provide three-dimensional perception to the eye / brain using a plurality of waveguides 270, 280, 290, 300, 310. In some embodiments, the display system 250 is system 60 in Figure 2, and Figure 6 shows some parts of that system 60 in more detail. For example, the waveguide assembly 260 may be part of the display 70 in Figure 2. It should be understood that the display system 250 may be considered a light field display in some embodiments.

[0110] Waveguide assembly 260 may also include a plurality of features 320, 330, 340, 350 between the waveguides. In some embodiments, features 320, 330, 340, 350 may be one or more lenses. Waveguides 270, 280, 290, 300, 310 and / or the plurality of lenses 320, 330, 340, 350 may be configured to transmit image information to the eye using various levels of wavefront curvature or ray divergence. Each waveguide level may be associated with a specific depth plane and may be configured to output image information corresponding to that depth plane. Image input devices 360, 370, 380, 390, 400 may function as light sources for the waveguides and may be used to input image information into waveguides 270, 280, 290, 300, 310, respectively, dividing incident light across each individual waveguide for output toward the eye 210, as described herein. The light may be configured to scatter. Light exits from the output surfaces 410, 420, 430, 440, and 450 of each individual image input device 360, 370, 380, 390, and 400 and enters the corresponding input surfaces 460, 470, 480, 490, and 500 of the individual waveguides 270, 280, 290, 300, and 310. In some embodiments, the input surfaces 460, 470, 480, 490, and 500 may each be the edge of the corresponding waveguide or a part of the main surface of the corresponding waveguide (i.e., one of the waveguide surfaces that directly faces the world 510 or the user's eye 210). In some embodiments, a beam of light (e.g., a collimated beam) may be introduced into each waveguide, replicated by sampling into a beamlet, etc., due to refraction within the waveguide, and then directed toward the eye 210 with an amount of refractive force corresponding to the depth plane associated with that particular waveguide. In some embodiments, one of the image input devices 360, 370, 380, 390, 400 may be associated with a plurality (e.g., three) of waveguides 270, 280, 290, 300, 310, into which light may be introduced.

[0111] In some embodiments, the image input devices 360, 370, 380, 390, and 400 are discrete displays that generate image information for input into the corresponding waveguides 270, 280, 290, 300, and 310, respectively. In some other embodiments, the image input devices 360, 370, 380, 390, and 400 are output terminals of a single multiplexed display that can transmit image information to each of the image input devices 360, 370, 380, 390, and 400 via one or more optical conduits (such as optical fiber cables). It should be understood that the image information provided by the image input devices 360, 370, 380, 390, and 400 may include light of different wavelengths or colors.

[0112] In some embodiments, the light introduced into waveguides 270, 280, 290, 300, and 310 is provided by an optical projector system 520, which includes an optical module 530, which may include a light source or optical emitter such as a light-emitting diode (LED). The light from the optical module 530 may be directed and modulated by an optical modulator 540 (e.g., a spatial light modulator) via a beam splitter (BS) 550. The optical modulator 540 may spatially and / or temporally vary the perceived intensity of the light introduced into waveguides 270, 280, 290, 300, and 310. Embodiments of the spatial light modulator include liquid crystal displays (LCDs) and digital light processing (DLP) displays, including liquid crystal displays on silicon (LCOS).

[0113] In some embodiments, the optical projector system 520 or one or more components thereof may be mounted on the frame 80 (Figure 2). For example, the optical projector system 520 may be part of the temple portion (e.g., the ear hook portion 82) of the frame 80, or it may be positioned on the edge of the display 70. In some embodiments, the optical module 530 may be separate from the BS550 and / or the optical modulator 540.

[0114] In some embodiments, the display system 250 may be a scanning fiber display, comprising one or more scanning fibers for projecting light in various patterns (e.g., raster scanning, helical scanning, Lissajous patterns, etc.) into one or more waveguides 270, 280, 290, 300, 310, and ultimately into the user's eye 210. In some embodiments, the illustrated image input devices 360, 370, 380, 390, 400 may schematically represent a single scanning fiber or a bundle of scanning fibers configured to input light into one or more waveguides 270, 280, 290, 300, 310. In some other embodiments, the illustrated image input devices 360, 370, 380, 390, 400 may schematically represent a plurality of scanning fibers or a plurality of bundles of scanning fibers, each configured to input light into one of the associated waveguides 270, 280, 290, 300, 310. One or more optical fibers transmit light to the optical module 530. The light may be transmitted from to one or more waveguides 270, 280, 290, 300, and 310. In addition, one or more intervening optical structures may be provided between the scanning fiber or a plurality of fibers and one or more waveguides 270, 280, 290, 300, and 310 to, for example, redirect the light emitted from the scanning fiber into one or more waveguides 270, 280, 290, 300, and 310.

[0115] The controller 560 controls the operation of the stacked waveguide assembly 260, including the operation of the image input devices 360, 370, 380, 390, 400, the light source 530, and the optical module 540. In some embodiments, the controller 560 is part of the local data processing module 140. The controller 560 includes programming (e.g., instructions in a non-transient medium) to coordinate the timing and delivery of image information to the waveguides 270, 280, 290, 300, 310. In some embodiments, the controller may be a single integrated device or a distributed system connected by wired or wireless communication channels. In some embodiments, the controller 560 may be part of the processing module 140 or 150 (Figure 2).

[0116] Waveguides 270, 280, 290, 300, and 310 may be configured to propagate light within each individual waveguide by total internal reflection (TIR). Waveguides 270, 280, 290, 300, and 310 may each be planar or have another shape (e.g., curved), with a main upper surface and a main bottom surface and edges extending between their main upper and main bottom surfaces. In the illustrated configuration, waveguides 270, 280, 290, 300, and 310 may each include external coupling optical elements 570, 580, 590, 600, and 610, respectively, configured to extract light from the waveguides by redirecting the light, propagating it within each individual waveguide, and outputting image information from the waveguides to the eye 210. The extracted light may also be referred to as externally coupled light, and the optical elements that externally couple the light may also be referred to as light extraction optical elements. The extracted beam of light can be output by the waveguide at the point where light propagating within the waveguide strikes the light extraction optical element. The external coupling optical elements 570, 580, 590, 600, 610 may be diffractive optical features, including, for example, a diffraction grating, as further discussed herein. The external coupling optical elements 570, 580, 590, 600, 610 are shown positioned on the bottom main surface of the waveguides 270, 280, 290, 300, 310, but in some embodiments they may be positioned on the upper main surface and / or the bottom main surface, and / or directly within the volume of the waveguides 270, 280, 290, 300, 310, as further discussed herein. In some embodiments, the external coupling optical elements 570, 580, 590, 600, 610 may be mounted on a transparent substrate and formed within a layer of material that forms the waveguides 270, 280, 290, 300, 310. In some other embodiments, the waveguides 270, 280, 290, 300, 310 may be monolithic material components, and the external coupling optical elements 570, 580, 590, 600, 610 may be formed on and / or inside the surface of that material component.

[0117] Each waveguide 270, 280, 290, 300, and 310 may output light and form an image corresponding to a specific depth plane. For example, waveguide 270, closest to the eye, may deliver a collimated beam of light to the eye 210. The collimated beam of light may represent the optical infinity focal plane. The next upper waveguide 280 may output a collimated beam of light that passes through a first lens 350 (e.g., a negative lens) before reaching the eye 210. The first lens 350 may add some convex wavefront curvature to the collimated beam so that the eye / brain interprets the light emanating from its waveguide 280 as emanating from a first focal plane closer inward from optical infinity toward the eye 210. Similarly, the third waveguide 290 passes its output light through both the first lens 350 and the second lens 340 before reaching the eye 210. The combined refractive power of the first lens 350 and the second lens 340 is such that the light originating from the third waveguide 290 is reflected in the second waveguide. Another gradually increasing wavefront curvature may be added to interpret the light as originating from a second focal plane that is even closer inward from optical infinity than the light from tube 280.

[0118] Other waveguide layers 300, 310 and lenses 330, 320 are configured similarly, with the highest waveguide 310 in the stack emitting its output through all the lenses between it and the eye for a concentrated focusing force representing the focal plane closest to the person. When viewing / interpreting light originating from the other side world 510 of the stacked waveguide assembly 260, a compensating lens layer 620 may be positioned on top of the stack to compensate for the stack of lenses 320, 330, 340, 350, and to compensate for the concentrated refractive force of the lower lens stacks 320, 330, 340, 350. Such a configuration provides the same number of perceived focal planes as there are available waveguide / lens pairs. Both the external coupling 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.

[0119] In some embodiments, two or more of the waveguides 270, 280, 290, 300, and 310 may have the same associated depth plane. For example, multiple waveguides 270, 280, 290, 300, and 310 may output images set in the same depth plane, or multiple subsets of waveguides 270, 280, 290, 300, and 310 may output images set in the same multiple depth planes, with one set for each depth plane. This may offer the advantage of forming tiled images that provide an extended field of view in those depth planes.

[0120] External coupling optical elements 570, 580, 590, 600, 610 may be configured to redirect light from their respective waveguides for specific depth planes associated with the waveguides and to output the light with an appropriate amount of divergence or collimation. As a result, waveguides with different associated depth planes may have different configurations of the external coupling optical elements 570, 580, 590, 600, 610, which output light with different amounts of divergence depending on the associated depth plane. In some embodiments, the light extraction optical elements 570, 580, 590, 600, 610 may be volumetric or surface features, which may be configured to output light at specific angles. For example, the light extraction optical elements 570, 580, 590, 600, 610 may be volumetric holograms, surface holograms, and / or diffraction gratings. In some embodiments, features 320, 330, 340, 350 may not be lenses. Rather, they may simply be spacers (for example, structures for forming cladding layers and / or voids).

[0121] In some embodiments, the external coupling optical elements 570, 580, 590, 600, and 610 are diffraction features with sufficiently low diffraction efficiency such that only a portion of the light power in the beam is redirected toward the eye 210 with each interaction, while the remainder continues to travel through the waveguide via TIR. Thus, the exit pupil of the optical module 530 is replicated across the waveguide, creating multiple output beams that carry image information from the light source 530, effectively expanding the number of locations where the eye 210 can capture the replicated light source exit pupil. These diffraction features may also have variable diffraction efficiency across their geometry, improving the uniformity of the light output by the waveguide.

[0122] In some embodiments, one or more diffraction features 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, the switchable diffraction element may include a layer of polymer-dispersed liquid crystal, in which microdroplets form a diffraction pattern in the 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 the incident light.)

[0123] In some embodiments, a camera assembly 630 (e.g., a digital camera including a visible light and IR light camera) is provided to capture images of the eye 210, a portion of the eye 210, or at least a portion of the tissue surrounding the eye 210, and may perform, for example, detecting user input, extracting biometric information from the eye, estimating and tracking the direction of the eye's gaze, monitoring the user's physiological state, etc. In some embodiments, the camera assembly 630 may include an image capture device and a light source for projecting light (e.g., IR or near-IR light) onto the eye (the light is then reflected by the eye and can be detected by the image capture device). In some embodiments, the light source includes a light-emitting diode ("LED") that emits IR or near-IR. In some embodiments, the camera assembly 630 may be mounted on a frame 80 (Figure 2) and may communicate with a processing module 140 or 150, which can process image information from the camera assembly 630 and make various decisions, for example, regarding the user's physiological state, the wearer's gaze direction, iris identification, etc. In some embodiments, one camera assembly 630 may be used for each eye, monitoring each eye separately.

[0124] Figure 7A illustrates an embodiment of an output beam produced by a waveguide. One waveguide is shown (using a perspective view), but other waveguides in the waveguide assembly 260 (Figure 6) can function similarly. Light 640 is introduced into the waveguide 270 at the input surface 460 of the waveguide 270 and propagates through the waveguide 270 by TIR. Through interaction with diffraction features, the light exits the waveguide as an output beam 650. The output beam 650 replicates the exit pupil from a projector device that projects an image into the waveguide. Any one of the output beams 650 contains a sub-portion of the total energy of the input light 640. Also, in a perfectly efficient system, the sum of the energies in all the output beams 650 will be equal to the energy of the input light 640. The outgoing beam 650 is illustrated as substantially parallel in Figure 7A, but as discussed herein, a certain amount of refractive force may be imparted depending on the depth plane associated with the waveguide 270. A parallel outgoing beam may represent a waveguide with an externally coupled optical element that externally couples the light and forms an image that appears to be set on the depth plane at long distances from the eye 210 (e.g., optical infinity). Other waveguides or other sets of externally coupled optical elements may output a more divergent outgoing beam pattern, as shown in Figure 7B, which would require the eye 210 to adjust 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 210 than optical infinity.

[0125] In some embodiments, a full-color image may be formed in each depth plane by overlaying an image onto each of the primary colors (e.g., three or more primary colors such as red, green, and blue). Figure 8 illustrates an embodiment of a stacked waveguide assembly, where each depth plane includes an image formed using several different primary colors. The illustrated embodiment shows depth planes 240a–240f, but more or fewer depths may also be considered. Each depth plane may have three or more associated primary color images, 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. Different depth planes are indicated in the figure by different diopter degrees following the letters G, R, and B. The numbers following each of these letters indicate diopters (1 / m), i.e., the inverse distance of the depth plane from the user, and each box in the figure represents an individual primary color image. In some embodiments, the exact location of the depth planes with respect to different primary colors may vary to account for differences in the focusing of light of different wavelengths. For example, different primary color images with respect to 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, or reduce chromatic aberration.

[0126] In some embodiments, each primary color light may be output by a single dedicated waveguide, and as a result, each depth plane may have multiple waveguides associated with it. In such embodiments, each box in the figure can be understood to represent an individual waveguide, and three waveguides may be provided for each depth plane to display three primary color images for each 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, all waveguides may be arranged in a stack with one waveguide per level. In some other embodiments, multiple primary colors may be output by the same waveguide, for example, so that only a single waveguide may be provided for each depth plane.

[0127] Continuing to refer to FIG. 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 yellow, magenta, and cyan, may also be used in addition or may replace one or more of red, green, or blue. In some embodiments, features 320, 330, 340, and 350 may be active or passive optical filters configured to selectively block or pass light from the surrounding environment to the user's eyes.

[0128] It should be understood that references to the color of a given light throughout this disclosure encompass light of one or more wavelengths within the range of wavelengths of the light that is perceived by the user as that given color. For example, red light may include light of one or more wavelengths within the range of about 620 to 780 nm, green light may include light of one or more wavelengths within the range of about 492 to 577 nm, and blue light may include light of one or more wavelengths within the range of about 435 to 493 nm.

[0129] In some embodiments, the light source 530 (FIG. 6) may be configured to emit light of one or more wavelengths outside the user's visual perception range, such as IR and / or ultraviolet wavelengths. IR light can include light with wavelengths in the range of 700 nm to 10 μm. In some embodiments, the IR light can include near-IR light with wavelengths in the range of 700 nm to 1.5 μm. Additionally, the internal coupling, external coupling, and other light redirection structures of the waveguide of the display 250 may be configured to direct and emit this light from the display towards the user's eyes 210, for example, for imaging and / or user stimulation purposes.

[0130] Referring now to FIG. 9A, in some embodiments, light impinging on the waveguide may need to be redirected to internally couple the light into the waveguide. An internal coupling optical element may be used to redirect and internally couple the light into its corresponding waveguide. FIG. 9A illustrates a cross-sectional side view of an example of a set 660 of stacked waveguides each including an internal coupling optical element. Each waveguide may be configured to output light of one or more different wavelengths or one or more different wavelength ranges. Stack 660 may correspond to stack 260 (FIG. 6), and the illustrated waveguides of stack 660 may correspond to a portion of the plurality of waveguides 270, 280, 290, 300, 310, but it should be understood that light from one or more of the image input devices 360, 370, 380, 390, 400 is input into the waveguide from a position or orientation that requires the light to be redirected for internal coupling.

[0131] The illustrated set 660 of stacked waveguides includes waveguides 670, 680, and 690. Each waveguide includes an associated internal coupling optical element (which may also be referred to as a light input area on the waveguide). For example, internal coupling optical element 700 is disposed on a major surface (e.g., the upper major surface) of waveguide 670, internal coupling optical element 710 is disposed on a major surface (e.g., the upper major surface) of waveguide 680, and internal coupling optical element 720 is on the They are located on a primary surface (e.g., the upper primary surface). In some embodiments, one or more of the internal coupling optical elements 700, 710, 720 may be located on the bottom primary surface of the individual waveguides 670, 680, 690 (in particular, one or more internal coupling optical elements are reflective optical elements). As shown, the internal coupling optical elements 700, 710, 720 may also be located on the upper primary surface of their individual waveguides 670, 680, 690 (or the top of the following lower waveguide), in particular, their internal coupling optical elements are transmissive optical elements. In some embodiments, the internal coupling optical elements 700, 710, 720 may be located within the body of the individual waveguides 670, 680, 690. In some embodiments, as discussed herein, the internal coupling optical elements 700, 710, 720 are wavelength-selective, selectively redirecting one or more wavelengths of light while transmitting other wavelengths of light. Although the internal coupling optical elements 700, 710, and 720 are shown on one side or corner of the individual waveguides 670, 680, and 690, it should be understood that in some embodiments, they may be located within other areas of the individual waveguides 670, 680, and 690.

[0132] As illustrated, the internally coupled optical elements 700, 710, and 720 may be offset laterally from one another. In some embodiments, each internally coupled optical element may be offset so that its light does not pass through another internally coupled optical element before receiving light. For example, each internally coupled optical element 700, 710, and 720 may be configured to receive light from different image input devices 360, 370, 380, 390, and 400, as shown in Figure 6, and may be separated from the other internally coupled optical elements 700, 710, and 720 (e.g., separated laterally) so that it does not substantially receive light from the other internally coupled optical elements 700, 710, and 720.

[0133] Each waveguide also includes associated optical dispersion elements, for example, optical dispersion element 730 is located on the main surface (e.g., upper main surface) of waveguide 670, optical dispersion element 740 is located on the main surface (e.g., upper main surface) of waveguide 680, and optical dispersion element 750 is located on the main surface (e.g., upper main surface) of waveguide 690. In some other embodiments, optical dispersion elements 730, 740, and 750 may be located on the bottom main surfaces of the associated waveguides 670, 680, and 690, respectively. In some other embodiments, the optical dispersion elements 730, 740, and 750 may be located on both the upper and lower main surfaces of the associated waveguides 670, 680, and 690, respectively, or the optical dispersion elements 730, 740, and 750 may be located on different upper and lower main surfaces within different associated waveguides 670, 680, and 690, respectively.

[0134] Waveguides 670, 680, and 690 may be separated and isolated by, for example, gaseous, liquid, and / or solid layers of material. For example, as shown, layer 760a may separate waveguides 670 and 680, and layer 760b may separate waveguides 680 and 690. In some embodiments, layers 760a and 760b are formed from a low refractive index material (i.e., a material having a lower refractive index than the material forming the immediate vicinity of waveguides 670, 680, and 690). Preferably, the refractive index of the material forming layers 760a and 760b is at least 0.05 or at least 0.10 lower than the refractive index of the material forming waveguides 670, 680, and 690. Advantageously, lower refractive index layers 760a, 760b may function as cladding layers that facilitate the TIR of light through the waveguides 670, 680, 690 (e.g., TIR between the upper and lower principal surfaces of each waveguide). In some embodiments, layers 760a, 760b are formed from air. It should be understood that the upper and lower parts of the illustrated set of waveguides 660 may also include immediate cladding layers, although these are not shown.

[0135] Preferably, to facilitate manufacturing and other considerations, the materials forming waveguides 670, 680, and 690 are similar or identical, and the materials forming layers 760a and 760b are , similar or identical. In other embodiments, the materials forming the waveguides 670, 680, 690 may differ between one or more waveguides, or the materials forming layers 760a, 760b may differ while still maintaining the various refractive index relationships described above.

[0136] Continuing to refer to Figure 9A, rays 770, 780, and 790 are incident on the waveguide set 660. Rays 770, 780, and 790 may also be introduced into waveguides 670, 680, and 690 by one or more image input devices 360, 370, 380, 390, and 400 (Figure 6).

[0137] In some embodiments, the rays 770, 780, and 790 have different properties (e.g., different wavelengths or different wavelength ranges) that may correspond to different colors. The internally coupled optical elements 700, 710, and 720 each redirect the incident light so that it propagates through one of the waveguides 670, 680, and 690 by TIR.

[0138] For example, the internally coupled optical element 700 may be configured to selectively redirect a ray 770 having a first wavelength or wavelength range. Similarly, the transmitted ray 780 collides with the internally coupled optical element 710, which is configured to redirect light of a second wavelength or wavelength range, and is thereby redirected. Likewise, the ray 790 is redirected by the internally coupled optical element 720, which is configured to selectively redirect light of a third wavelength or wavelength range.

[0139] Continuing with Figure 9A, the rays 770, 780, and 790 are redirected to propagate through their corresponding waveguides 670, 680, and 690. That is, the internal coupling optical elements 700, 710, and 720 of each waveguide redirect the light into their corresponding waveguides 670, 680, and 690, and internally couple the light into their corresponding waveguides. The rays 770, 780, and 790 are redirected at an angle that causes the light to propagate through the individual waveguides 670, 680, and 690 by TIR. The rays 770, 780, and 790 propagate through the individual waveguides 670, 680, and 690 by TIR until they interact with the corresponding optical dispersion elements 730, 740, and 750 of the waveguides.

[0140] Referring now to Figure 9B, a perspective view of an embodiment of the multiple stacked waveguides shown in Figure 9A is illustrated. As previously mentioned, rays 770, 780, and 790 are internally coupled by the internal coupling optical elements 700, 710, and 720, respectively, and then propagate by TIR within waveguides 670, 680, and 690, respectively. Rays 770, 780, and 790 then interact with the optical dispersion elements 730, 740, and 750, respectively. The optical dispersion elements 730, 740, and 750 redirect the rays 770, 780, and 790 to propagate toward the external coupling optical elements 800, 810, and 820, respectively.

[0141] In some embodiments, the light-dispersing elements 730, 740, and 750 are orthogonal pupil expanders (OPEs). In some embodiments, the OPEs both redirect the light to the external coupling optical elements 800, 810, and 820, and expand the pupil associated with the light by sampling rays 770, 780, and 790 at many locations across the light-dispersing elements 730, 740, and 750 as they propagate to the external coupling optical elements. In some embodiments (for example, when the exit pupil is already of a desired size), the light-dispersing elements 730, 740, and 750 may be omitted, and the internal coupling optical elements 700, 710, and 720 may be configured to directly redirect the light to the external coupling optical elements 800, 810, and 820. For example, referring to Figure 9A, the light-dispersing elements 730, 740, and 750 may be replaced by the external coupling optical elements 800, 810, and 820, respectively. In some embodiments, the external coupling optical elements 800, 810, 820 redirect the light from the waveguide towards the user's eye 210 (Figure 7) via an exit pupil (EP) or exit pupil expander. This is an EPE. The OPE may be configured to increase the dimensions of the eyebox on at least one axis, and the EPE may be configured to increase the eyebox on an axis that intersects (e.g., orthogonal to) the axis of the OPE.

[0142] Therefore, referring to Figures 9A and 9B, in some embodiments, the set of waveguides 660 includes, for each primary color, waveguides 670, 680, 690, internally coupled optical elements 700, 710, 720, optical dispersion elements (e.g., OPE) 730, 740, 750, and externally coupled optical elements (e.g., EPE) 800, 810, 820. Waveguides 670, 680, 690 may be stacked with air gaps / cladding layers between each one. The internally coupled optical elements 700, 710, 720 direct incident light into the corresponding waveguide (using different internally coupled optical elements that receive light of different wavelengths). The light then propagates at angles that support TIR within the individual waveguides 670, 680, 690. Since TIR occurs only over a certain angular range, the range of propagation angles for rays 770, 780, and 790 is limited. The angular range supporting TIR can be considered the angular limit of the field of view, which can be represented by waveguides 670, 680, and 690 in such embodiments. In the embodiments shown, ray 770 (e.g., blue light) is internally coupled by the first internal coupling optical element 700 in the manner described above, and then continues to reflect back and forth from the surface of the waveguide as it propagates along the waveguide, and an optical dispersion element (e.g., OPE) 730 gradually samples it and directs it toward the external coupling optical element (e.g., EPE) 800, creating an additional duplicate ray. Rays 780 and 790 (e.g., green and red light, respectively) pass through waveguide 670, and ray 780 collides onto internal coupling optical element 710, thereby internally coupling. The ray 780 will then propagate along waveguide 680 via TIR, passing through its optical dispersion element (e.g., OPE) 740, and then to its external coupling optical element (e.g., EPE) 810. Finally, the ray 790 (e.g., red light) will pass through waveguides 670 and 680 and collide with the internal optical coupling optical element 720 of waveguide 690. The internal optical coupling optical element 720 internally couples the ray 790 so that the ray propagates via TIR to the optical dispersion element (e.g., OPE) 750, and then via TIR to the external coupling optical element (e.g., EPE) 820. The external coupling optical element 820 then finally externally couples the ray 790 to the user, who also receives externally coupled light from the other waveguides 670 and 680.

[0143] Figure 9C illustrates upper and lower plan views of embodiments of the multiple stacked waveguides shown in Figures 9A and 9B. As shown, waveguides 670, 680, and 690 may be vertically aligned with their associated optical dispersion elements 730, 740, and 750 and associated external coupling optical elements 800, 810, and 820. However, as discussed herein, the internal coupling optical elements 700, 710, and 720 are not vertically aligned. Rather, the internal coupling optical elements may be non-overlapping (e.g., laterally spaced, as seen in the upper and lower figures). This non-overlapping spatial arrangement facilitates the ingress of light from different sources into different waveguides on a one-to-one basis, thereby enabling a specific light source to be uniquely optically coupled to a specific waveguide. In some embodiments, arrangements including non-overlapping, spatially separated internal coupling optical elements may be referred to as pupil-shifting systems, where the internal coupling optical elements in these arrangements may correspond to subpupils.

[0144] Figure 10 is a perspective view of an exemplary AR eyepiece waveguide stack 1000. The eyepiece waveguide stack 1000 includes a world-side cover window 1002 and an eye-side cover window 1006, which may protect one or more eyepiece waveguides 1004 positioned between the cover windows. In other embodiments, one or both of the cover windows 1002 and 1006 may be omitted. As already discussed, the eyepiece waveguides 1004 may be arranged in a layered configuration. The eyepiece waveguides 1004 may be coupled together, for example, each individual eyepiece waveguide is coupled to one or more adjacent eyepiece waveguides. In some embodiments, waveguides 1004 are coupled to adjacent eyepiece waveguides The pipes 1004 may be joined together with edge seals (such as the edge seal 1108 shown in Figure 11) so that they do not come into direct contact with each other.

[0145] Each eyepiece waveguide 1004 can be made from a substrate material that is at least partially transparent, such as glass, plastic, polycarbonate, or sapphire. The selected material may have a refractive index greater than 1.4, for example, greater than 1.6 or greater than 1.8, to promote light induction. The thickness of each eyepiece waveguide substrate may be, for example, 325 microns or less, but other thicknesses can also be used. Each eyepiece waveguide may include one or more internal coupling regions, light dispersion regions, image expansion regions, and external coupling regions, which may consist of diffraction features formed on or within each waveguide substrate 902.

[0146] Although not shown in Figure 10, the eyepiece waveguide stack 1000 may include a physical support structure to support it in front of the user's eye. In some embodiments, the eyepiece waveguide stack 1000 is part of a head-mounted display system 60, as shown in Figure 2. Generally, the eyepiece waveguide stack 1000 is supported so that its external coupling region is directly in front of the user's eye. It should be understood that Figure 10 shows only a portion of the eyepiece waveguide stack 1000 corresponding to one of the user's eyes. The finished eyepiece may include mirror images of the same structure, possibly with two halves separated by a nose rest.

[0147] In some embodiments, the eyepiece waveguide stack 1000 can project color image data into the user's eye from multiple depth planes. The image data displayed by each individual eyepiece waveguide 1004 within the eyepiece 1000 may correspond to selected color components of the image data for a selected depth plane. For example, since the eyepiece waveguide stack 1000 includes six eyepiece waveguides 1004, it can project color image data (e.g., consisting of red, green, and blue components) corresponding to two different depth planes, i.e., one eyepiece waveguide 1004 per color component per depth plane. Other embodiments may include more or fewer color components and / or more or fewer depth planes for which eyepiece waveguides 1004 are provided.

[0148] Figure 11 is a partial cross-sectional view of an exemplary eyepiece waveguide stack 1100, with an edge seal structure 1108 for supporting the eyepiece waveguides 1104 in a stacked configuration. The edge seal structure 1108 aligns the eyepiece waveguides 1104 and separates them from each other using air space or another material placed between them. Although not shown, the edge seal structure 1108 can extend around the entire circumference of the stacked waveguide configuration. In Figure 11, the separation between each eyepiece waveguide is 0.027 mm, but other distances are also possible.

[0149] In the illustrated embodiment, there are two eyepiece waveguide 1104 designed to display red image data, one for the 3m depth plane and the other for the 1m depth plane. (Again, the divergence of the light beam output by the eyepiece waveguide 1104 can be made to appear as originating from a depth plane located at a specific distance for the image data.) Similarly, there are two eyepiece waveguide 1104 designed to display blue image data, one for the 3m depth plane and the other for the 1m depth plane, and two eyepiece waveguide 1104 designed to display green image data, one for the 3m depth plane and the other for the 1m depth plane. These six eyepiece waveguide 1104 are each illustrated as being 0.325 mm thick, although other thicknesses are also conceivable as possibilities.

[0150] The world-side cover window 1102 and the eye-side cover window 1106 are also shown in FIG. 11. These cover windows can be, for example, 0.330 mm thick. Considering the thicknesses of the six eyepiece waveguide 1104, the seven air gaps, the two cover windows 1102, 1106, and the edge seal 1108, the total thickness of the illustrated eyepiece waveguide stack 1100 is 2.8 mm.

[0151] (k-space representation of the AR eyepiece waveguide) Figures 12A and 12B illustrate top views of the eyepiece waveguide 1200 in operation when projecting an image toward the user's eye 210. The image can first be projected from the image plane 1207 toward the entrance pupil 1208 of the eyepiece waveguide 1200 using the projection lens 1210 or some other projector device. Each image point (e.g., an image pixel or a portion of an image pixel) has a corresponding input beam of light (e.g., 1202a, 1204a, 1206a) which propagates in a specific direction at the entrance pupil 1208 (e.g., a specific angle with respect to the optical axis of the projector lens 1210). Although illustrated as rays, the input beams of light 1202a, 1204a, 1206a may be collimated beams, for example, with a diameter of a few millimeters or less when they enter the eyepiece waveguide 1200.

[0152] In Figures 12A and 12B, the central image point corresponds to input beam 1204a, which is illustrated with a solid line. The right image point corresponds to input beam 1202a, illustrated with a dashed line. The left image point corresponds to input beam 1206a, illustrated with a dashed line. To clarify the illustration, only three input beams 1202a, 1204a, and 1206a are shown in the entrance pupil 1208, but a typical input image would contain many input beams propagating within a certain angular range in both the x- and y-directions, corresponding to different image points in the two-dimensional image plane.

[0153] A unique correspondence exists between the various propagation angles of the input beam (e.g., 1202a, 1204a, 1206a) in the entrance pupil 1208 and the individual image points in the image plane 1207. The eyepiece waveguide 1200 can be designed to internally combine the input beams (e.g., 1202a, 1204a, 1206a), replicate them in a dispersed manner through space, guide them, and form an exit pupil 1210 larger than the entrance pupil 1208 and consisting of the replicated beams, all while substantially maintaining the correspondence between the image points and beam angles. The eyepiece waveguide 1200 can transform a given input beam of light (e.g., 1202a) which propagates into many replicated beams (e.g., 1202b) at a particular angle and is output across the exit pupil 1210 at an angle substantially uniquely correlated with that particular input beam and its corresponding image point. For example, a duplicate output beam corresponding to each input beam may be emitted from the eyepiece waveguide 1200 at substantially the same angle as its corresponding input beam.

[0154] As shown in Figures 12A and 12B, the input beam 1204a of light corresponds to the central image point in the image plane 1207 and is converted into a set of replicated output beams 1204b, shown as solid lines, which are aligned with an optical axis perpendicular to the exit pupil 1210 of the eyepiece waveguide 1200. The input beam 1202a of light corresponding to the right image point in the image plane 1207 is converted into a set of replicated output beams 1202b, shown as dashed lines, which exit the eyepiece waveguide 1200 at a propagation angle such that they appear to originate from a location within the right portion of the user's field of view. Similarly, the input beam 1206a of light corresponding to the left image point in the image plane 1207 is converted into a set of replicated output beams 1206b, shown as dashed lines, which exit the eyepiece waveguide 1200 at a propagation angle such that they appear to originate from a location within the left portion of the user's field of view. Input beam angle and / or output beam The larger the angle range, the larger the field of view (FOV) of the eyepiece waveguide 1200.

[0155] For each image, there is a set of duplicated output beams (e.g., 1202b, 1204b, 1206b), i.e., one set of duplicated beams per image point, which are output at different angles across the exit pupil 1210. Each individual output beam (e.g., 1202b, 1204b, 1206b) can be collimated. The set of output beams corresponding to a given image point may consist of beams propagating along parallel paths (as shown in Figure 12A) or divergent paths (as shown in Figure 12B). In either case, the specific propagation angle of the set of duplicated output beams depends on the location of the corresponding image point on the image plane 1207. Figure 12A illustrates the case where each set of output beams (e.g., 1202b, 1204b, 1206b) consists of beams propagating along parallel paths. This results in the image being projected to appear as if it originates from optical infinity. This is represented in Figure 12A by thin lines extending from the peripheral output beams 1202b, 1204b, and 1206b toward optical infinity on the world side of the eyepiece waveguide 1200 (opposite to where the user's eye 210 is located). Figure 12B illustrates the case where each set of output beams (e.g., 1202b, 1204b, and 1206b) consists of beams propagating along divergent paths. This results in a projection that makes the image appear to originate from a virtual depth plane with a distance closer than optical infinity. This is represented in Figure 12B by thin lines extending from the peripheral output beams 1202b, 1204b, and 1206b toward a point on the world side of the eyepiece waveguide 1200.

[0156] Again, each set of replicated power beams (e.g., 1202b, 1204b, 1206b) has a propagation angle corresponding to a specific image point in the image plane 1207. In the case of a set of replicated power beams propagating along parallel paths (see Figure 12A), the propagation angles of all beams are identical. However, in the case of a set of replicated power beams propagating along a divergent path, the individual power beams may propagate at different angles, but these angles are related in that they appear to form a convergent divergent wavefront, arising from a common point along the axis of the beam set (see Figure 12B). This axis defines the propagation angle for the set of divergent power beams and corresponds to a specific image point in the image plane 1207.

[0157] All various beams of light that enter the eyepiece waveguide 1200, propagate within the eyepiece waveguide, and exit the eyepiece waveguide are described using one or more wave vectors, i.e., k-vectors, which describe the direction of beam propagation. k-space is an analytical framework that relates k-vectors to geometric points. In k-space, each point in space corresponds to a unique k-vector, which can in turn represent a beam or ray of light with a specific direction of propagation. This allows input and output beams with their corresponding propagation angles to be understood as a set of points in k-space (e.g., a rectangle). Diffraction features, which change the direction of propagation of a light beam as it travels through the eyepiece, can be understood in k-space simply as translating the locations of the set of k-space points that make up the image. This new translated k-space location corresponds to a new set of k-vectors, which in turn represent the new propagation angle of the beam or ray after interacting with the diffraction feature.

[0158] The operation of an eyepiece waveguide can be understood by moving a set of points, such as points inside a k-space rectangle, in k-space, corresponding to the projected image. This is in contrast to more complex ray tracing diagrams, which can be used to illustrate a beam and its propagation angle. K-space is therefore an effective tool for describing the design and operation of eyepiece waveguides. The following discussion describes the k-space representation of the features and functions of various AR eyepiece waveguides.

[0159] Figure 13A shows a k-vector that can be used to represent the propagation direction of a ray or beam of light. Diagram 1302 is shown. A specific illustrated k-vector 1302 represents a plane wave with a plane wavefront 1304. The k-vector 1302 indicates the direction of propagation of the ray or beam it represents. The magnitude, i.e., length, of the k-vector 1302 is defined by the wave number k. The dispersion equation ω=ck relates the angular frequency of light ω, the speed of light c, and the wave number k. (In a vacuum, the speed of light is equal to the constant c of the speed of light. However, in a medium, the speed of light is inversely proportional to the refractive index of the medium. Thus, in a medium, the equation becomes k=nω / c.) Note that by definition, k=2π / λ and ω=2πf, where f is the frequency of light (e.g., in Hertz). As is evident from this equation, a light beam with a higher angular frequency ω has a higher wave number, and therefore a larger magnitude k-vector (assuming the same propagation medium). For example, assuming the same propagation medium, the blue light beam has a k-vector with a larger magnitude than the red light beam.

[0160] Figure 13B illustrates a ray 1301 corresponding to a k-vector 1302 within a planar waveguide 1300. Waveguide 1300 may represent any of the waveguides described herein and may be part of an eyepiece for an AR display system. Waveguide 1300 can induce a ray having a certain k-vector via total internal reflection (TIR). For example, as shown in Figure 13B, a ray 1301 illustrated by k-vector 1302 is directed toward the upper surface of waveguide 1300 at a certain angle. If the angle is not too steep, as governed by Snell's law, the ray 1301 will reflect at the upper surface of waveguide 1300 at an angle equal to the angle of incidence, then propagate downward toward the lower surface of waveguide 1300, where it will reflect again toward the upper surface. The ray 1301 will propagate inductively within the waveguide 1300, continuously reflecting back and forth between its upper and lower surfaces.

[0161] Figure 13C illustrates the permissible k-vectors for light of a given angular frequency ω propagating in a non-boundary homogeneous medium with refractive index n. The length, i.e., magnitude k, of the illustrated k-vector 1302 is equal to the refractive index n of the medium × the angular frequency ω of the light, divided by the constant c of the speed of light. For a ray or beam of light of a given angular frequency ω propagating in a homogeneous medium with refractive index n, the magnitudes of all permissible k-vectors are identical. Furthermore, for uninductive propagation, all propagation directions are permissible. Therefore, the manifold in k-space that defines all permissible k-vectors is a hollow sphere 1306, the size of which depends on the angular frequency of the light and the refractive index of the medium.

[0162] Figure 13D illustrates the permissible k-vectors for light of a given angular frequency ω propagating in a homogeneous planar waveguide medium with refractive index n. In a non-boundary medium, all permissible k-vectors lie on the hollow sphere 1306; however, to determine the permissible k-vectors in the planar waveguide, the sphere 1306 of permissible k-vectors on a plane (e.g., the xy-plane) can be projected. This results in a projected solid disk 1308 in k-space representing the k-vectors that can propagate in the planar waveguide. As shown in Figure 13D, all k-vectors that can propagate in a planar waveguide (e.g., waveguide 1300) in the xy-plane are those whose components in the xy-plane are less than or equal to the refractive index n of the medium × the angular frequency ω of light, divided by the constant c of the speed of light.

[0163] Every point within the solid disk 1308 corresponds to a k-vector of a wave that can propagate within the waveguide (however, not all of these k-vectors result in induced propagation within the waveguide, as will be discussed below with respect to Figure 13E). At each point within the solid disk 1308, there are two possible waves: one with a z-component of propagation inward from the page, and the other with a z-component of propagation outward from the page. Thus, the out-of-plane component k of the k-vector z is, equation [ka] The sign obtained and selected using determines whether the wave propagates in and out of the page. All light waves of a given angular frequency ω propagating in a homogeneous medium with refractive index n have k-vectors of the same magnitude. Therefore, light waves with k-vectors whose xy components are closer in size to the radius of the solid disk 1308 have a smaller z-component of propagation (resulting in a less steep propagation angle necessary for TIR, as discussed with respect to Figure 13B), while light waves with k-vectors whose xy components are closer to the center of the solid disk 1308 have a larger z-component of propagation (resulting in a steeper propagation angle that cannot be TIR'd). Thus, all references to k-space refer to projected k-space, in which the 2-dimensional k-plane corresponds to the plane of the waveguide (unless otherwise evident from the context). In other words, unless explicitly stated, the propagation direction between waveguide surfaces is generally considered only in directions parallel to the waveguide surfaces. Furthermore, when plotting k-space, it is typically most convenient to normalize the free-space disk radius to 1 so that the plot is effectively normalized to ω / c.

[0164] Figure 13E illustrates the ring 1310 in k-space, corresponding to the k-vector of a light wave, which can be induced in a waveguide having a refractive index n2 (e.g., n2 = 1.5). Waveguides have a lower refractive index n1 [ka] The k-vectors are physically surrounded by a medium (e.g., air) that has the following properties. As just discussed with respect to Figure 13D, all k-vectors corresponding to allowable waves in the plane waveguide medium in the xy plane are those k-vectors whose individual xy components lie within the solid disk 1308 in k-space. The radius of the solid disk 1308 is proportional to the refractive index of the waveguide medium. Therefore, referring back to Figure 13E, the k-vectors corresponding to light waves that can propagate in the plane waveguide medium with refractive index n2=1.5 are those whose individual xy components lie within the larger disk 1308a. On the other hand, the k-vectors corresponding to light waves that can propagate in the surrounding medium with refractive index n1=1 are those whose individual xy components lie within the smaller disk 1308b. All k-vectors whose individual xy components lie inside the ring 1310 correspond to light waves that can propagate in the waveguide medium but not in the surrounding medium (e.g., air). These are light waves induced within the waveguide medium via total internal reflection, as explained with respect to Figure 13B. Therefore, light rays or beams can only undergo induced propagation within the waveguide of the AR eyepiece if they have k-vectors within the k-space ring 1310. Note that propagating light waves with k-vectors outside the larger disk 1308a are prohibited; that is, no propagating wave exists whose k-vector lies within that region (waves within that region have an evanescent decay amplitude, not a constant amplitude along their propagation direction).

[0165] The various AR eyepiece waveguides described herein utilize diffraction features such as diffraction structures to internally couple light into free space (e.g., from a projector). [ka] The k-vector of the light beam propagating inside is pointed into the k-space ring 1310 of the eyepiece waveguide. Any light wave whose k-vector lies within the ring 1310 can propagate in an induced manner within the eyepiece waveguide. The width of the ring 1310 determines the range of k-vectors that can be induced within the eyepiece waveguide, and therefore the range of propagation angles. Thus, the width of the k-space ring 1310 is typically considered to determine the maximum field of view (FOV) that can be projected by the eyepiece waveguide. Since the width of the ring 1310 depends on the radius of the larger disk 1308a, which itself partially depends on the refractive index n2 of the eyepiece waveguide medium, one technique to increase the eyepiece FOV is to use an eyepiece waveguide medium with a larger refractive index (compared to the refractive index of the medium surrounding the eyepiece waveguide). However, there are practical limitations regarding the refractive index of waveguide mediums that can be used in AR eyepieces, such as material costs. This, in turn, is considered to impose practical limitations on the FOV of the AR eyepiece. However, as described herein, there are techniques that can be used to overcome these limitations in order to enable a larger field of view (FOV).

[0166] The radius of the larger disk 1308a in Figure 13E also depends on the angular frequency ω of the light and the width of the ring 1310, and therefore on the color of the light. However, this does not imply that the FOV supported by the eyepiece waveguide is larger with respect to light with higher angular frequencies, since any given angular range corresponding to the FOV is scaled in line with the angular frequency, as well.

[0167] Figure 13F shows a k-space schematic similar to that depicted in Figure 13E. The k-space schematic shows a smaller disk 1308b corresponding to the allowable k-vectors in a first medium with refractive index n1, a larger disk 1308a corresponding to the allowable k-vectors in a second medium with refractive index n2 (n2>n1), and a ring 1310 between the outer boundaries of the smaller disk 1308a and the larger disk 1308b. All k-vectors within the width 1342 of ring 1310 correspond to the induced propagation angle, but it is also possible that fewer than all k-vectors within the width 1342 of ring 1310 may be sufficient for use when displaying the image.

[0168] Figure 13F also shows waveguide 1350 with two guided beams shown for comparison with each other. The first light beam has a first k-vector 1344a near the outer edge of the ring 1310. The first k-vector 1344a corresponds to a first TIR propagation path 1344b shown in a cross-sectional view of waveguide 1350 having refractive index n2 surrounded by air of refractive index n1. A second light beam is also shown, having a second k-vector 1346a closer to the center of the k-space ring 1310. The second k-vector 1346a corresponds to a second TIR propagation path 1346b within waveguide 1350. Waveguide 1350 may include a diffraction grating 1352 on or within waveguide 1350. When the light beam encounters the surface of the waveguide 1350 with the diffraction grating 1352, an interaction occurs, which can send a sample of the light beam energy out of the waveguide while the beam continues to undergo TIR within the waveguide. The angle at which the light beam propagates through the waveguide with TIR determines the density of reflection events per unit length against the surface of the waveguide 1350 with the diffraction grating 1352, i.e., the number of bounces. Returning to the example of light beam comparison, the first light beam in the first TIR propagation path 1344b is reflected four times from the waveguide surface with the diffraction grating 1352, producing four exit pupils 1354 (illustrated with solid lines) along the length of the diffraction grating 1352, while the second light beam in the second TIR propagation path 1346b is reflected ten times from the waveguide surface with the diffraction grating 1352 over the same or similar distance, traversing the length of the diffraction grating 1352 and producing ten exit pupils 1356 (illustrated with dashed lines).

[0169] In practice, the output beam, i.e., the exit pupil distance, is equal to or constrained to a pre-selected range, and the content projected to the user is arbitrary within a predefined eye box. It may be desirable to ensure that it will be visible from the position. Using this information, the width 1342 of the ring 1310 can be limited to a subset of the k-vectors 1344 to which this constraint applies, and angles of too much grazing incidence can be excluded so that they are not included in the design calculations. Angles greater or less than the subset 1344 may also be acceptable depending on the desired performance, diffraction grating design, and other optimization factors. Similarly, in some embodiments, k-vectors corresponding to propagation angles that are too steep with respect to the waveguide surface and provide too much interaction with the diffraction grating 1352 may also be excluded from use. In such embodiments, the width 1342 of the ring 1310 can be reduced by effectively shifting the boundary of usable angles radially outward from the boundary between the larger disk 1308a and the smaller disk 1308b. Any design of the eyepiece waveguide disclosed herein can be adjusted by thus constraining the width 1310 of the k-space ring.

[0170] As described above, k-vectors in the ring 1310 corresponding to suboptimal TIR propagation paths may be omitted from use in eyepiece design calculations. Alternatively, k-vectors corresponding to TIR propagation paths with too many glancing incident angles, and therefore too few reflection events on the surface of the waveguide with the diffraction grating, may be compensated using various techniques described herein. One technique is to use an internally coupled grating to direct a portion of the field of view (FOV) of the incident image to two different areas of the k-space ring 1310. In particular, it may be advantageous to direct the incident image to a first side of the k-space ring 1310 represented by a first group of k-vectors and to a second side of the k-space ring 1310 represented by a second group of k-vectors, where the first and second sides of the k-space ring 1310 are substantially opposite each other. For example, the first group of k-vectors may correspond to the FOV rectangle of the k-vectors on the left side of ring 1310, and the second group of k-vectors may correspond to the FOV rectangle of the k-vectors on the right side of ring 1310. The left FOV rectangle has its left edge near the outer edge of the larger disk 1308a and corresponds to a near-grazing incidence k-vector angle. Light at this edge will produce a sparsely spaced exit pupil. However, the same left edge of the right FOV rectangle, located on the right side of ring 1310, will be closer to the center of the larger disk 1308a. Light at the same left edge of the right FOV rectangle will have a densely spaced exit pupil. Therefore, when the left and right FOV rectangles are recombined and emitted from the waveguide toward the user's eye to produce an image, a sufficient number of exit pupils are produced in all areas of the field of view.

[0171] Diffraction features, such as those of a diffraction grating, can be used to couple light into and out of an eyepiece waveguide, and / or to change the direction of light propagation within the eyepiece waveguide. In k-space, the effect of a diffraction grating on a ray or beam of light represented by a particular k-vector is determined by the vector addition of the k-vector component in the plane of the diffraction grating, with a given grating vector. The magnitude and direction of the grating vector depend on the specific properties of the diffraction grating. Figures 13G, 13H, and 13I illustrate the effect of a diffraction grating on a k-vector in k-space.

[0172] Figure 13G shows a top view of the diffraction grating 1320 and some of its associated k-space diffraction grating vectors (G -2 , G -1 Figure 13G shows the k-space diffraction grating vectors (e.g., G1, G2) oriented in the xy-plane. The diffraction grating 1320 is oriented in the xy-plane, and Figure 13G shows the grating from the line of sight of a ray or beam incident on it from the z-direction. The diffraction grating 1320 is oriented coplanar with the diffraction grating, and the k-space diffraction grating vectors (e.g., G1, G2) are shown. -2 , G -1 It has an associated set of G1 and G2. -1 The lattice vectors correspond to ±1 diffraction orders, respectively, while G2 and G -2 The lattice vectors correspond to ±2 diffraction orders, respectively. The lattice vectors for ±1 diffraction order point in opposite directions (along the periodic axis of the lattice) and have equal magnitude, inversely proportional to the period Λ of diffraction grating 1320. Therefore, diffraction gratings with finer pitches have larger lattice vectors. The loops also point in the opposite direction and have equal magnitudes that are twice the lattice vectors with respect to the ±1 diffraction order. Additional lattice vectors with respect to higher diffraction orders may also exist, but they are not shown. For example, the magnitudes of the lattice vectors with respect to the ±3 diffraction order are three times those of the lattice vectors with respect to the ±1 diffraction order and so on. The basic lattice vector G1 is simply determined by the periodicity (direction and pitch) of the lattice, while it should be noted that the composition of the lattice (e.g., surface profile, material, layer structure) can affect other properties of the lattice such as diffraction efficiency and diffraction phase. All harmonics of the basic lattice vectors (e.g., G -1 , G2, G -2 etc.) are simply integer multiples of the basic G1, so all diffraction directions of the lattice are simply determined by the periodicity of the lattice. The function of the diffraction grating 1320 is to add the lattice vectors to the in-plane components of the k-vector corresponding to the incident light ray or beam. This is shown in FIG. 13H.

[0173] FIG. 13H illustrates the cross-sectional view of the diffraction grating 1320 and its effect in k-space on the k-vector 1302 corresponding to a normally incident light ray or beam of light. The diffraction grating 1320 diffracts the incident light ray or beam of light into one or more diffraction orders. The new light rays or beams of light at each of these diffraction orders are represented by new k-vectors (e.g., 1302a-e). These new k-vectors (e.g., 1302a-e) are determined by the vector addition of the in-plane components of the k-vector 1302 with each of the lattice vectors (e.g., G -2 , G -1 , G1, G2). In the case of the normally incident light ray or beam of light shown, the k-vector 1302 has no components in the x-y plane of the diffraction grating. Thus, the effect of the diffraction grating 1320 is to create one or more new diffracted light rays or beams of light whose k-vectors (e.g., 1302a-e) have x-y components equal to the corresponding lattice vectors. For example, the x-y components of the ±1 diffraction order of the incident light ray or beam of light are G1 and G -1This is the result. On the other hand, the magnitude of the new k-vectors is constrained to 2π / ω, and therefore all the new k-vectors (e.g., 1302a-e) lie on a semicircle, as shown in Figure 13H. The in-plane component of the incident k-vector 1302 is added to a lattice vector whose length is equal to or twice the basic increment, etc., while the magnitude of each resulting k-vector is constrained, so the angles between k-vectors (e.g., 1302a-e) with respect to various diffraction orders are not equal. Rather, the k-vectors (e.g., 1302a-e) become more angularly spaced as the diffraction order increases.

[0174] In the case of a diffraction grating formed on or within a plane-facing eyepiece waveguide, the in-plane components of new k-vectors (e.g., 1302a-e) are of most interest because, if they are within the k-space ring 1310 of the eyepiece waveguide, the diffracted rays or beams of light will undergo induced propagation through the eyepiece waveguide. However, if the in-plane components of new k-vectors (e.g., 1302a-e) are within the central disk 1308b, the diffracted rays or beams of light will exit the eyepiece waveguide.

[0175] Figure 13I illustrates a side view of the diffraction grating 1320 and its effect in k-space on the k-vector 1302 corresponding to the obliquely incident ray or beam of light. The effect is similar to that described with respect to Figure 13H. Specifically, the k-vector of the diffracted ray or beam of light is affected by the grating vector (G -2 , G -1The in-plane component of the incident k-vector is determined by the addition of vectors (G1, G2) to the incident k-vector. With respect to the obliquely incident k-vector 1302, the component of the k-vector in the xy-plane of the diffraction grating 1320 is non-zero. This component is added to the grating vector and determines the in-plane component of the new k-vector with respect to the diffracted ray or beam of light. The magnitude of the new k-vector is constrained to 2π / ω. Again, if the in-plane component of the k-vector of the diffracted ray or beam of light is within the k-space ring 1310 of the eyepiece waveguide, the diffracted ray or beam of light will undergo induced propagation through the eyepiece waveguide.

[0176] Figure 13J is a k-space schematic illustrating the field of view (FOV) of an image projected into an AR eyepiece waveguide (e.g., 1200, 1300). The k-space schematic includes a larger disk 1308a that defines the k-vectors of a light beam or ray that can propagate within the eyepiece waveguide. The k-space schematic also includes a smaller disk 1308b that defines the k-vectors of a light beam or ray that can propagate within a medium such as air surrounding the eyepiece waveguide. Furthermore, as already discussed, the k-space ring 1310 defines the k-vectors of a light beam or ray that can undergo induced propagation within the eyepiece waveguide.

[0177] The input beams (e.g., 1202a, 1204a, 1206a) projected into the entrance pupil of the eyepiece waveguide are shown in Figures 12A and 12B. Each input beam has a propagation angle, uniquely defined by the spatial location of the corresponding image point in the image plane. The set of input beams has angular spreads in both the x-direction and the y-direction. The angular spread in the x-direction may define the horizontal field of view, while the angular spread in the y-direction may define the vertical field of view. In addition, for example, the angular spread of the input beams along the diagonal between the x-direction and the y-direction may define the diagonal field of view.

[0178] In k-space, the field of view of the input image can be approximated by the FOV rectangle 1330. The FOV rectangle 1330 surrounds a set of k-vectors corresponding to the set of input light beams. The FOV rectangle 1330 is k x -It has dimensions along the axis, which correspond to the angular spread of the input beam in the x-direction. Specifically, the horizontal width of the FOV rectangle 1330 is, [ka] And in the formula, θ x is the total horizontal FOV, and n is the refractive index of the incident medium. The FOV rectangle 1330 is also k y -It has dimensions along the axis, which define the angular spread of the input beam in the y-direction. Similarly, the vertical height of the FOV rectangle 1330 is, [ka] And in the formula, θ y This is the total vertical FOV. The rectangle is shown to represent a set of input beams, but in some embodiments, the set of input beams may be such that they correspond to different shapes in k-space. However, generally, the k-space analysis herein, shown using FOV rectangles or FOV squares, can be equally applied to other shapes in k-space as well.

[0179] As shown in Figure 13J, the FOV rectangle 1330 is centered on and entirely located within the smaller disk 1308b. The position of the FOV rectangle 1330 corresponds to the k-vectors of the set of input beams (e.g., on the axis from the image source, i.e., in a configuration with telecentric projection), or generally, the set of output beams propagating in the ±z-direction (where the set of beams is centered on the z-axis, and all beams, except those normal to the entrance or exit pupil, have some degree of angular deviation in the ±z-direction). In other words, when the FOV rectangle 1330 is within the smaller disk 1308b in the k-space schematic, it can represent the input beams as they propagate from the image source through free space to the eyepiece waveguide, and it can also represent the output beams as they propagate from the eyepiece waveguide to the user's eye. Each k-space point corresponds to a k-vector representing either one of the input beam directions or one of the output beam directions. For the input beam represented by the FOV rectangle 1330 to undergo induced propagation within the eyepiece waveguide, the FOV rectangle 1330 must be translated parallel to the k-space ring 1310. Conversely, for the output beam represented by the FOV rectangle 1330 to exit the eyepiece waveguide, the FOV rectangle 1330 must be de-translated parallel to the k-space ring 1310 to a smaller disk 1308b. To avoid introducing geometric and chromatic dispersion from propagation through the waveguide, the FOV rectangle 1330 of the input beam can coincide with the FOV rectangle of the output beam. In other words, in this configuration, the eyepiece waveguide preserves the beam angle from input to output.

[0180] The following equation describes the field of view (FOV) that can be achieved in some eyepiece waveguides. [ka] FOV, θ x When centered horizontally at =0, conventional eyepiece waveguides may have the following limitations: [ka] max(FOV) related to angular frequency x The only dependence of ) is from the dependence of the waveguide refractive index on angular frequency, which can be an important detail in some applications, but often has a relatively small effect.

[0181] Figure 13K is a k-space schematic showing the k-space translational shift of the FOV rectangle 1330 caused by the input coupled grating (ICG) located at the entrance pupil of the eyepiece waveguide. The ICG is associated with the diffraction grating vector (G), as discussed in relation to Figures 13G-13I. -1 The ICG has G1). The ICG diffracts each of the input beams, represented by the FOV rectangle 1330, to the +1 diffraction order and the -1 diffraction order. In k-space, the diffraction of the input beam to the +1 diffraction order is determined by the G1 lattice vector k x - Represented by an FOV rectangle 1330 displaced in the direction. Similarly, in k-space, the diffraction of the input beam to the -1 diffraction order is G -1 -k by lattice vector x - Represented by a FOV rectangle 1330 displaced in the direction.

[0182] In the specific embodiment shown in Figure 13K, the translated FOV rectangle is too large. , it is not possible to fit the entire k-space ring 1310. This means that the eyepiece waveguide cannot support all of the input beam in the FOV in the inductive propagation mode, whether it is in a positive or negative diffraction order, because the angular spread between them is too large. k-vectors corresponding to points in the translated FOV rectangle that are outside the larger disk 1308a will not be diffracted at all by the ICG because those k-vectors are not allowed. (This also prevents diffraction to ±2 and higher diffraction orders, as the lattice vectors associated with their order in this case will translate longer, and therefore further outside the larger disk 1308a.) On the other hand, if any part of the translated FOV rectangle, after translation by the ICG, is still inside the smaller disk 1308b, then the light beams corresponding to those particular k-vectors will not undergo TIR and will exit the eyepiece waveguide by transmitting through its plane and will not undergo inductive propagation through the waveguide.

[0183] One possible modification that could be made to support much of the input beam of light represented by the translated FOV rectangle 1330 in the induction mode might be to increase the difference between the refractive indices of the eyepiece waveguide and the surrounding medium. This would increase the size of the larger disk 1308a and / or decrease the size of the smaller disk 1308b (a decrease in the size of the smaller disk 1308b is possible if the waveguide is not surrounded by air), thereby increasing the size of the k-space ring 1310. Exemplary AR eyepiece waveguide with orthogonal pupil expander

[0184] Figure 14A illustrates an exemplary eyepiece waveguide 1400 with an ICG region 1440, an orthogonal pupil expander (OPE) region 1450, and an exit pupil expander (EPE) region 1460. Figure 14B includes a k-space schematic illustrating the effect of each of these components of the eyepiece waveguide 1400 in k-space. The ICG region 1440, OPE region 1450, and EPE region 1460 of the eyepiece waveguide 1400 contain various diffraction features, which couple the input beam into the eyepiece waveguide, propagate it through inductive modes, replicate the beam at multiple dispersed locations in space, and cause the replicated beam to exit the eyepiece waveguide and project toward the user's eye.

[0185] An input beam corresponding to the input image can be projected into the eyepiece waveguide 1400 from one or more input devices. The input beam is incident on the ICG region 1440, which may coincide with the entrance pupil of the eyepiece waveguide 1400. The input device used to project the input beam may include, for example, a spatial light modulator projector (located in front of or behind the eyepiece waveguide 1400 relative to the user's face). In some embodiments, the input device may be a liquid crystal display (LCD), liquid crystal on silicon (LCoS), fiber scanning display (FSD) technology, or scanning microelectromechanical system (MEMS) mirror display, but others may also be used. The input beam from the input device is generally projected into the eyepiece waveguide 1400 at various propagation angles in the illustrated -z-direction and incident on the ICG region 1440 from outside the substrate of the eyepiece waveguide.

[0186] The ICG region 1440 includes diffraction features that redirect the input beam so that they propagate inside the eyepiece waveguide 1400 via total internal reflection. In some embodiments, the diffraction features of the ICG region 1440 may form a one-dimensional periodic (1D) diffraction grating consisting of many lines that extend perpendicularly in the illustrated y-direction and periodically repeat horizontally in the illustrated x-direction. In some embodiments, the lines may be etched into the front or back of the eyepiece waveguide 1400, and / or they may extend to the front Alternatively, it may be formed from a material deposited on the back surface. The line period, duty cycle, depth, profile, blaze angle, etc., can be selected based on the angular frequency ω of the light for which the eyepiece waveguide 1400 is designed, the desired diffraction efficiency of the grating, and other factors. In some embodiments, the ICG region 1440 is primarily designed to couple the input light to +1 and -1 diffraction orders. (Diffraction gratings can be designed to reduce or eliminate higher diffraction orders above the 0th and 1st order. This can be accomplished by appropriately shaping the profile of each line. However, in many practical ICGs within AR displays, all higher diffraction orders correspond to k-vectors beyond the k-space ring. Therefore, those higher diffraction orders will be prohibited, regardless of non-k-space attributes such as grating duty cycle, depth, and profile.) A diffracted beam at one of the ±1 diffraction orders from ICG region 1440 then propagates generally in the -x- direction toward OPE region 1450, while a diffracted beam at the other of the ±1 diffraction orders then propagates generally in the +x- direction and exits from eyepiece waveguide 1400.

[0187] The OPE region 1450 includes diffraction features that can perform at least two functions. Firstly, they can perform pupil expansion by spatially replicating each light input beam at many new locations in the -x-direction. Secondly, they can guide each replicated light beam along a path toward the EPE region 1460. In some embodiments, these diffraction features are lines formed on or within the substrate of the eyepiece waveguide 1400. The period, duty cycle, depth, profile, blaze angle of the lines, etc., can be selected based on the angular frequency ω of the light for which the eyepiece waveguide 1400 is designed, the desired diffraction efficiency of the grating, and other factors. The specific shape of the OPE region 1450 may vary, but may generally be determined based on the beam spread from the ICG region 1440 and the size and location of the EPE region 1460. This will be discussed further with respect to Figure 14D.

[0188] The diffraction grating in the OPE region 1450 can be designed with relatively low and / or variable diffraction efficiencies. These properties allow the OPE region 1450 to replicate each beam of light arriving from the ICG region 1440 and / or distribute the light energy more uniformly in at least one dimension. Due to the relatively low diffraction efficiency, each interaction between the beam of light and the grating diffracts only a portion of the power in the beam, while the rest continues to propagate in the same direction. (Several parameters that can be used to affect the diffraction efficiency of the grating are the height and width of the line features or the magnitude of the refractive index difference between the line features and the background medium.) That is, when a beam interacts with a diffraction grating in the OPE region 1450, a portion of its power will be diffracted toward the EPE region 1460, while the rest may continue to pass through the OPE region, again encountering the grating at a different spatial location, where another portion of the beam's power is diffracted toward the EPE region 1460, and so on. Because a portion of the power of each light beam propagates further through the OPE region 1450 than the rest before being diffracted toward the EPE region 1460, there are numerous copies of the incident beam propagating toward the EPE region from different locations in the -x-direction. The spatial range of the replicated beams in the propagation direction of the original incident beam through the OPE region 1450 thus effectively increases, while the intensity of the incident beam decreases accordingly because the light constituting the input beam is now split among the many replicated beams.

[0189] The diffraction grating within the OPE region 1450 is oriented obliquely to the beam arriving from the ICG region 1440 so as to diffract the beam generally toward the EPE region 1460. The specific angle of the inclination of the diffraction grating within the OPE region 1450 may depend on the layout of the various regions of the eyepiece waveguide 1400, which will probably be found and discussed later in Figure 14B. This can be seen more clearly in the k-space schematic. Within the eyepiece waveguide 1400, the ICG region 1440 is located to the right of the OPE region 1450, while the EPE region 1460 is located below the OPE region. Therefore, in order to redirect the light from the ICG region 1440 toward the EPE region 1460, the diffraction grating of the OPE region 1450 may be oriented at approximately 45° with respect to the illustrated x-axis.

[0190] Figure 14C is a three-dimensional illustration of the optical action of the OPE region 1450 shown in Figures 14A and 14B. Figure 14C shows the ICG region 1440 and the OPE region 1450, both on the waveguide side closer to the viewer. The grid lines are not visible because they are microscopic. In this case, a single input beam 1401 is illustrated, but the image would consist of many such input beams propagating through the eyepiece waveguide 1400 in slightly different directions. The input beam 1401 is incident from the ICG region 1440 into the OPE region 1450. The input beam 1401 then continues to propagate through the eyepiece waveguide 1400 via total internal reflection, repeatedly reflecting back and forth between its surfaces. This is represented in Figure 14C by the zigzag in the illustrated propagation of each beam.

[0191] When the input beam 1401 interacts with the diffraction grating formed within the OPE region 1450, some of its power is diffracted toward the EPE region, while another portion of its power continues through the OPE region 1450 along the same path. As already mentioned, this is partly due to the grating's relatively low diffraction efficiency. Furthermore, the beam diffracted toward the EPE region may re-encounter the grating in the OPE region 1450 and diffract back toward the original propagation direction of the input beam 1401. The paths of some of these beams are shown by arrows in Figure 14C. The effect is replicated as the input beam propagates through the OPE region 1450, thus extending the spatial range of the light. This is evident from Figure 14C, which shows that the input beam 1401 is replicated into many light beams, ultimately propagating toward the EPE region, generally in the -y-direction.

[0192] The EPE region 1460 also includes diffraction features that can perform at least two functions. First, they can duplicate the beam along another direction (e.g., a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction in which the beam is duplicated by the OPE region 1450). Second, they can diffract each beam of light out of the eyepiece waveguide 1400 toward the user's eye. The EPE region 1460 can duplicate the light beam in the same manner as the OPE region 1450. That is, as the beam propagates through the EPE region 1460, it repeatedly interacts with the diffraction grating, diffracting a portion of its power to a first diffraction order, thereby externally coupling toward the user's eye. The remaining portion of the beam's power undergoes zero-order diffraction and continues to propagate in the same direction within the EPE region 1460 until it interacts with the grating again. The diffraction optics of the EPE region 1460 can also impart refractive power to the duplicated output beam of light to such an extent that they appear as if they originated from a desired depth plane, as discussed elsewhere in this specification. This can be accomplished by using a lens function to impart curvature to the lines of the diffraction grating within the EPE region 1460.

[0193] Figure 14B illustrates the k-space behavior of the eyepiece waveguide 1400. Specifically, Figure 14B includes k-space schematics (KSDs) for each component of the eyepiece waveguide 1400, illustrating the k-space effects of each component. The FOV rectangles and arrows indicating the corresponding propagation directions of light through the eyepiece waveguide in the k-space schematics have corresponding shading. The first k-space schematic KSD1 shows the k-space representation of the input beam incident on the ICG region 1440 from the input device. As already discussed, the set of input beams has its k x and k y The k-space can be represented by an FOV rectangle 1430 whose dimensions correspond to the angular spread of the input beams in the x- and y-directions. Each specific point within the FOV rectangle in KSD1 is associated with a k-vector of one of the input beams. Correspond, kx The component indicates the propagation angle of the input beam in the x-direction, and k y The component indicates the propagation angle of the input beam in the y-direction. More precisely, k x =sin(θ x ) and in the formula, θ x k is the angle formed by the input beam and the yz plane. y =sin(θ y ) and in the formula, θ y This is the angle formed by the input beam and the xz plane. The FOV rectangle within KSD1 is shown in the schematic diagram. z The fact that the beams are centered on the -z axis means that the represented input light beam has a propagation angle that is centered around an input beam propagating in the -z direction, and therefore all input beams generally propagate in the -z direction. (Although not illustrated here, any of the waveguide displays described herein can also be designed for FOVs that are off-axis with respect to the ±z directions.)

[0194] The second k-space schematic diagram KSD2 shows the k-space action in the ICG region 1440. As already discussed, the diffraction grating is associated with the grating vectors (e.g., G1, G -1 ) has. KSD2 has the G1 lattice vector and G -1 The lattice vectors are shown, which are of equal magnitude and opposite in the direction along the periodic axis of the ICG. The ICG region 1440 diffracts the input beam to ±1 diffraction order. Also, in k-space, this means that the ICG is G1 and G -1 This means copying the FOV rectangle to two new locations by using both grid vectors and translating it. In the illustrated instance, ICG is the grid vector G1, G -1 The size is designed using a period Λ based on the angular frequency ω of the input beam, so that the copied FOV rectangle is completely placed within the k-space ring of the waveguide. Therefore, all of the diffracted input beam enters the inductive propagation mode.

[0195] -k xA copy of the FOV rectangle, centered on a point on the -axis (the 9 o'clock position in the k-space ring), shows that the corresponding diffracted beams have a propagation angle such that their propagation component in the plane of the eyepiece waveguide 1400 is centered around the beam in the -x-direction. Thus, all of these beams generally propagate toward the OPE region 1450, reflecting back and forth between the front and back surfaces of the eyepiece waveguide 1400 via TIR. Meanwhile, +k x A copy of the FOV rectangle, centered on a point on the -axis (at the 3 o'clock position in the k-space ring), shows that the corresponding diffracted beams have a propagation angle such that their propagation component in the plane of the eyepiece waveguide 1400 is centered around the beam in the +x-direction. Thus, all of these beams propagate generally toward the right edge of the eyepiece waveguide 1400, reflecting back and forth between the front and back surfaces of the eyepiece waveguide 1400 via TIR. In this particular eyepiece waveguide 1400, these beams are generally lost and do not contribute meaningfully to the projection of an image toward the user's eye.

[0196] KSD2 is illustrated by the linear lattice vectors G1, G -1 Higher-order lattice vectors that are multiples of k are not illustrated. ICG does not diffract the light beam to those diffraction orders because doing so would translate the k-vectors, which in this instance constitute an FOV rectangle that extends beyond the periphery of the k-space disk defining the allowed k-vectors. Therefore, higher diffraction orders do not occur in this embodiment.

[0197] The third k-space schematic diagram KSD3 shows the k-space action of OPE region 1450. Again, since OPE region 1450 contains a diffraction grating, the associated grating vectors (e.g., G1, G) -1 ) have, which are of equal magnitude and can be opposite in the direction along the periodic axis of the OPE grating. In this case, the periodic axis of the diffraction grating is at a 45° angle with respect to the x-axis. Therefore, the grating vectors of the OPE diffraction grating (e.g., G1, G) are -1 ) is k x-Points at a 45° angle with respect to the axis. As shown in KSD3, one of the grid vectors defines the FOV rectangle, -k y - It is translated to a new location centered on a point located on the axis (the 6 o'clock position in the k-space ring). This copy of the FOV rectangle shows that the corresponding diffracted beam has its propagation component in the plane of the eyepiece waveguide 1400 toward the EPE region 1460 in the -y direction. This indicates that there is a propagation angle centered around a certain beam. On the other hand, other illustrated OPE grating vectors would place the FOV rectangle outside the outer periphery of the k-space disk. However, k-vectors outside the disk are not permitted, and therefore the OPE diffraction grating will not diffract the beam to its diffraction order. The periodic axis of the diffraction grating within the OPE region 1450 does not necessarily have to be exactly 45°. For example, as can be seen from the examination of KSD3, the periodic axis can be an angle somewhat greater or less than 45°, while still translating the FOV rectangle to the 6 o'clock position where the FOV rectangle can fit entirely within the k-space ring. This means that the FOV rectangle does not necessarily have to be -k y - The FOV rectangle will be positioned at the 6 o'clock position without being centered within the k-space ring along the axis.

[0198] In the illustrated instance, the OPE diffraction grating has grating vectors G1 and G -1 One of these is designed using a period Λ based on the angular frequency ω of the input beam, such that a copied FOV rectangle, which is perfectly located within the k-space ring of the waveguide, is positioned at the 6 o'clock position. Therefore, all of the diffracted input beam remains in the induced propagation mode. The k-space distance from the 9 o'clock position to the 6 o'clock position in the k-space ring, which is a translation performed by the OPE grating, exceeds the distance from the origin to the ring in the k-space schematic, which is a translation performed by the ICG. Therefore, the OPE grating vector must have a different magnitude from the ICG grating vector. In particular, the OPE grating vector is longer than the ICG grating vector, which means that the OPE grating has a shorter period Λ than the ICG grating.

[0199] The fourth k-space schematic diagram KSD4 shows the k-space action of EPE region 1460. Again, since EPE region 1460 contains a diffraction grating, the associated grating vectors (e.g., G1, G) -1 ) have, which are of equal magnitude and opposite in the direction along the periodic axis of the EPE grating. In this case, the periodic axis of the diffraction grating is along the y-axis of the eyepiece waveguide 1400. Therefore, the grating vectors of the EPE diffraction grating (e.g., G1, G) are -1 ) is ±k y -Points in the direction. As shown in KSD4, one of the grating vectors translates the FOV rectangle to a new location centered at the origin of the k-space schematic. This copy of the FOV rectangle shows that the corresponding diffracted beam has a propagation angle such that its propagation component in the plane of the eyepiece waveguide 1400 is centered around the beam in the +z- direction toward the user's eye. On the other hand, the other primary EPE grating vector places the FOV rectangle outside the outer periphery of the k-space disk, and therefore the EPE diffraction grating does not diffract the beam to its diffraction order. However, one of the secondary EPE grating vectors will translate the FOV rectangle to the 12 o'clock position in the k-space ring. Thus, the EPE grating may diffract a portion of the light to one of the second diffraction orders. The secondary diffraction direction may correspond to the induced propagation direction along the +y- direction, which is typically an undesirable effect. For example, secondary diffraction, as discussed below, can introduce visual artifacts and result in flare or blurring effects in the image presented to the user when the EPE grating is perturbed and refractive power is introduced.

[0200] In the illustrated instance, the EPE diffraction grating has grating vectors G1 and G -1One of the gratings is designed with a period Λ based on the angular frequency ω of the input beam so that the copied FOV rectangle is positioned entirely inside the k-space disk of the waveguide. Therefore, all beam diffracted by the EPE grating is no longer in induced propagation mode and thus exits the eyepiece waveguide 1400. Furthermore, the EPE grating shifts the FOV rectangle back to the origin of the k-space schematic (where the FOV rectangle corresponding to the input beam was located), so the output beam has the same propagation angle as its corresponding input beam. In the illustrated embodiment, the EPE gratings have the same period Λ as the ICG because both of these gratings shift the FOV rectangle by the same k-space distance. However, this is not a requirement. y The dimension is the k of the k-space ring at the 6 o'clock position. y If the dimension is less than the FOV rectangle, the different k within the ring y Six possible locations It can have a range of time positions. Therefore, there can be numerous engineering options for the EPE grid vector, and consequently the OPE vector, to position the FOV rectangle in a location within the k-space ring and / or near the origin of the k-space schematic.

[0201] In some embodiments, the lines of the EPE diffraction grating may be slightly curved to impart refractive power to the output beam emanating from the EPE region 1460. For example, the lines of the diffraction grating within the EPE region 1460 can be bent toward the OPE region in the waveguide plane to impart negative refractive power. This can be used, for example, to make the output beam follow a divergent path, as shown in Figure 12B. This causes the projected image to appear in a depth plane closer than optical infinity. The specific curvature can be determined by the lens function. In k-space, this means that different spatial regions within the EPE region 1460 will have grating vectors pointing in slightly different directions, depending on the curvature of the grating lines within that specific region. In these embodiments, this translates the FOV rectangle to various different locations centered around the origin of the k-space schematic. This, in turn, centers the set of output beams corresponding to each of the translated FOV rectangles around different propagation angles, which in turn creates the illusion of depth.

[0202] Figure 14D illustrates the technique for determining the size and shape of the OPE region 1450 and the EPE region 1460. Figure 14D illustrates the same eyepiece waveguide 1400 as shown in Figures 14A and 14B, including the ICG region 1440, the OPE region 1450, and the EPE region 1460. Figure 14D also includes simplified versions of the k-space schematics KSD1, KSD2, and KSD3. Referring to the first k-space schematic KSD1, the four corner k-vectors of the FOV rectangle correspond to the input beams incident on the ICG at the most oblique angle from the corners of the image in the input plane (see Figures 12A and 12B). Since the propagation angles of these input beams are the most extreme of all things in the field of view, their k-vectors are located at the four corners of the FOV rectangle in k-space.

[0203] Figure 14D shows rays defining four diffracted beams from ICG region 1440, corresponding to the four corners of the input image. In particular, the ray near the top of OPE region 1450 defines a diffracted beam (i.e., a k-vector located at the upper right corner of the FOV rectangle) corresponding to an input beam incident on ICG region 1440 at a steepest propagation angle that is upward and away from the OPE region. Similarly, the ray near the bottom of OPE region 1450 defines a diffracted beam (i.e., a k-vector located at the lower right corner of the FOV rectangle) corresponding to an input beam incident on ICG region 1450 at a steepest propagation angle that is downward and away from the OPE region. These two beams define the spread of the diffracted beam from ICG region 1440. To create these two beams and all other replicated instances between them and project them toward the user's eye, the upper and lower boundaries of the OPE region should encompass the propagation paths of these two beams. The specific propagation paths can be determined by referring to the second k-space schematic diagram KSD2.

[0204] KSD2 shows the resulting k-vectors of the beam diffracting from the ICG region 1440 towards the OPE region 1450. The arrows in KSD2 indicate the beam propagation angles corresponding to the k-vector located in the upper right corner of the FOV rectangle.

[0205] The size, shape, and location of the EPE region 1460 can be determined by performing a backray trace using propagation angles, which are evident from the k-vectors in the third k-space schematic diagram KSD3. As is evident from KSD3, the left and right-right corner k-vectors of the FOV rectangle define the spread of the propagation path that the beam follows as it propagates from the OPE region 1450 toward the EPE region 1460. Using these propagation angles, the EPE located furthest from the OPE region 1450 (i.e., at the lower corner of the EPE region) can be determined. By tracing backward from a portion of region 1460, the origin of those rays within the OPE region can be determined, which will arrive at the lower corner of the EPE region with propagation angles defined by the left and right-right corner k-vectors. These origins of those rays can be used to determine the remaining boundary of the OPE region 1450. For example, to direct a beam from the OPE region 1450 to the left-lower corner of the EPE region 1460, the worst-case propagation angle is indicated by the right-right corner k-vector of the FOV rectangle. Thus, the propagation path with that angle can be used to define the left boundary of the OPE region 1450. Similarly, to direct a beam from the OPE region 1450 to the right-lower corner of the EPE region, the worst-case propagation angle is indicated by the left-right corner k-vector of the FOV rectangle. Thus, the propagation path with that angle can be used to define the right boundary of the OPE region 1450.

[0206] As shown in Figure 14D, in the illustrated eyepiece waveguide 1400, the EPE region 1460 is located in the -x and -y directions from the ICG region 1440. Additionally, some of the diffracted beams spread from the ICG region 1440 along their paths in the same directions. To prevent these diffracted beams from initially entering the EPE region before propagating through the OPE region 1450, the ICG region 1440 may be located sufficiently far from the EPE region in the +y direction so that the spreading of the diffracted beams does not intersect with the EPE region 1460. This results in a large gap between the lower boundary of the OPE region 1450 and the upper boundary of the EPE region 1460. In some embodiments, it may be desirable to reduce the size of the eyepiece waveguide by eliminating or reducing this gap. Figure 15A illustrates an exemplary embodiment that achieves these objectives.

[0207] Figure 15A illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a waveguide eyepiece 1500 in which the OPE region 1550 is inclined and positioned such that its lower boundary is parallel to the upper boundary of the EPE region 1560. In fact, the OPE region 1550 and the EPE region 1560 may actually share a boundary. According to this embodiment, the size of the waveguide eyepiece 1500 can be made more compact by reducing or eliminating the gap between the OPE region and the EPE region in the eyepiece waveguide embodiment shown in Figure 14A.

[0208] To accommodate the tilted orientation of the OPE region 1550, the ICG region 1540 can be modified so that the spread of the diffracted beam from the ICG region is tilted to match the tilted orientation of the OPE region 1550. For example, the lattice lines of the ICG region 1540 can be oriented so that the diffracted beam does not exit the ICG region in the propagation direction having a component in the -y-direction. In addition, the ICG region 1540 can be positioned near the shared boundary of the OPE region 1550 and the EPE region 1560, but so that no portion of the ICG region extends beyond that shared boundary in the -y-direction. The action of the ICG region 1540 can be seen in the k-space schematic shown in Figure 15B.

[0209] Figure 15B includes a k-space schematic illustrating the operation of the eyepiece waveguide 1500 shown in Figure 15A. The first k-space schematic KSD1 shows an FOV rectangle corresponding to the input beams projected from a projector located outside the eyepiece waveguide 1500 toward the ICG region 1540. In the illustrated embodiment, these input beams have propagation angles that are centered around the -z direction. Thus, in k-space, they are k at the origin of KSD1. z - It can be represented by an FOV rectangle centered on the axis.

[0210] The second k-space schematic diagram KSD2 shows the effect of the ICG region 1540 on the input beam. The ICG region 1540 diffracts the input beam and redirects them toward the OPE region 1550. In k-space, this corresponds to translating the FOV rectangle using the lattice vector associated with the ICG region 1540. In this embodiment, the ICG region The grid lines within region 1540 are oriented with periodic axes having components in the +y- direction. This means that the grid vector associated with ICG1540 is also +k y - This means that it has a component in the direction of +k y - The magnitude of this component in the direction is k y -This can be more than half the width of the FOV rectangle in the direction. This means that no portion of the FOV rectangle extends below the horizontal axis of the k-space schematic KSD2 after being translated by ICG region 1540. This, in turn, means that none of the diffracted beams from ICG region 1540 are -k y - This means that there is no propagation angle with a component in the direction. Therefore, none of the diffracted beams propagate downward from the ICG region 1540 toward the EPE region 1560. Also, therefore, none of the diffracted beams will be incident on the EPE region 1560 prior to passing through the OPE region 1550.

[0211] The third k-space schematic diagram, KSD3, shows the effect of the OPE region 1550 on the diffracted beam from the ICG region 1540. As shown, the diffraction grating of the OPE region 1550 can be oriented to redirect the beam of light at an angle corresponding to an FOV rectangle that has been translated to a position slightly displaced from the 6 o'clock position in the k-space ring. For example, the translated FOV rectangle in KSD3 can be displaced from the 6 o'clock position in the k-space ring by the same angle as the translated FOV rectangle in KSD2 is displaced from the 9 o'clock position. In other words, the translated FOV rectangle in KSD3 can be separated by 90° from the translated FOV rectangle in KSD2. However, this specific angular separation is not required; that is, the specific location of each FOV rectangle may depend on the layout of the various regions of the eyepiece waveguide relative to each other.

[0212] The translated FOV rectangle in KSD3 is -k x Because it is centered around a k-vector having a component in the --direction, the beam of light from the OPE region 1550 generally travels toward the EPE region 1560 at an angle having a component in the -x-direction. From Figure 15A, it can be seen that, due to this angle, a portion of the light beam from the tip portion 1555 of the OPE region 1550 will not intersect with the EPE region 1560. Since the tip portion 1555 of the OPE region 1550 may contribute to a relatively small portion of the light to the EPE region 1560, the size advantage of eliminating the upper tip 1555 may outweigh any optical disadvantages. In some embodiments, the waveguide eyepiece 1500 can therefore be made even more compact by eliminating the upper tip 1555 of the OPE region 1550.

[0213] Finally, the fourth k-space schematic, KSD4, shows that the EPE region 1560 has a diffraction grating designed to translate the FOV rectangle back to the origin of the k-space schematic. The design of the diffraction grating in the EPE region 1560 is also somewhat different because the starting location of the FOV rectangle in KSD4 for the eyepiece waveguide embodiment shown in Figure 15A is slightly different from the starting location of the FOV rectangle in KSD4 for the eyepiece waveguide embodiment shown in Figure 14A. For example, the orientation of the grating lines of the diffraction grating in the EPE region 1560 is such that the associated grating vector is +k x -It has a component in the direction and can be tilted such that the OPE region 1550 does not need to extend beyond the left edge of the EPE region 1560 (see the discussion in Figure 14D and compare the location of the upper right corner k-vector in KSD3 in Figure 14D with the location of the corresponding k-vector in KSD3 in Figure 15B). This results in the FOV rectangle in KSD4 in Figure 15B being translated back to the origin of the k-space schematic, which means that the beam of light represented by the translated FOV rectangle is coupled out of the eyepiece waveguide 1500 toward the user's eye with the same propagation angle as its corresponding input beam, as already described herein (i.e., the FOV rectangle representing the output beam is in the same location in the k-space schematic as the FOV rectangle representing the input beam).

[0214] Figure 15C illustrates the operation of the eyepiece waveguide 1500 shown in Figure 15A, another k -This is a spatial schematic. The k-spatial schematic in Figure 15C is a superposition of all the k-spatial schematics shown in Figure 15B. Also, the light beam propagating through the OPE region 1550 is generally -k x - The propagation angle in the direction (as represented by the FOV rectangle located near the 9 o'clock position of the k-space ring), and generally, -k yThe propagation angle in the - direction can also be switched back and forth between this direction and the FOV rectangle located near the 6 o'clock position of the k-space ring. This is indicated by a grid vector with double arrows between the FOV rectangle near the 9 o'clock position and the FOV rectangle near the 6 o'clock position of the k-space ring. Figures 15D-15F illustrate this behavior in more detail.

[0215] Figure 15D is a schematic diagram of the first generation of interaction between the input beam and the OPE region 1550 of the eyepiece waveguide embodiment shown in Figure 15A. The OPE region 1550 of the eyepiece waveguide 1500 includes a diffraction grating consisting of parallel grating lines that repeat in the direction of periodicity. The direction of periodicity determines the direction of the grating vector associated with the diffraction grating. In this instance, the grating vector with double arrows in Figure 15C illustrates the action of the OPE region 1550 and points along the direction of periodicity of the grating lines shown in Figures 15D-15F.

[0216] Figure 15D shows the input beam incident from ICG region 1540 into OPE region 1550. The input beam is shown propagating in the direction corresponding to the k-vector, i.e., to the center point of the FOV rectangle located near the 9 o'clock position of the k-space ring in Figure 15C. As shown, the first generation of interaction between the input beam and OPE region 1550 results in two diffracted output beams. That is, a portion of the power of the input beam is simply reflected off the upper or lower surface of the eyepiece waveguide 1500 as output 1 and continues in the same xy direction as the input beam (i.e., zero-order diffraction), and a portion of the power of the input beam is diffracted downward as output 2, firstly (e.g., by the first-order lattice vector G1 of the OPE region). The output 2 beam is shown propagating in the direction corresponding to the k-vector, i.e., to the center point of the FOV rectangle located near the 6 o'clock position of the k-space ring in Figure 15C. Following the first generation of interaction, output beam 1 and output beam 2, although having different propagation angles, still propagate within the OPE region 1550 and therefore may have additional interactions with the OPE region, as shown in Figures 15E and 15F. Other input beams, not shown, that are incident on the OPE region 1550 using different propagation angles will behave similarly, but with slightly different input and output angles.

[0217] Figure 15E is a schematic diagram of the second generation of interaction between the input beam and the OPE region 1550 in the eyepiece waveguide embodiment shown in Figure 15A. The beam associated with the first generation of interaction is shown using a dashed line, while the beam associated with the second generation of interaction is shown using a solid line. As shown in Figure 15E, the output beams from the first generation of interaction, i.e., output 1 and output 2, can each undergo interaction with the OPE region 1550 similar to that which occurred in the first generation. That is, a portion of the power from the output 1 beam from Figure 15D simply continues in the same xy direction (i.e., zero-order diffraction), while another portion of the beam's power interacts with the grating and is redirected downward (e.g., by the first-order grating vector G1 of the OPE region). Similarly, a portion of the power from the two output beams from Figure 15D simply continues downward toward the EPE region 1560 (i.e., zero-order diffraction), while another portion of the beam's power interacts with the grating and is generally diffracted in the -x-direction (e.g., the negative first-order grating vector G of the OPE region). -1 (Therefore), it continues to propagate further in the same direction as the initial input beam within the OPE region 1550.

[0218] After the second generation of the interaction occurs within the OPE region 1550, there exists an interference node 1556 where two of the resulting beams intersect. The optical paths followed by each of these beams to reach the interference node 1556 are substantially the same length. Yes. Therefore, beams emanating from interference nodes 1556 propagating in the same direction may have the same or similar phases and thus may undergo constructive or destructive wave interference with each other. This can result in image artifacts, which are discussed below.

[0219] Figure 15F is a schematic diagram of the third generation of interaction between the input beam and the OPE region 1550 in the eyepiece waveguide embodiment shown in Figure 15A. The beams associated with the first and second generation of interaction are shown with dashed lines, while the beam associated with the third generation of interaction is shown with solid lines. As shown in Figure 15F, each output beam resulting from the second generation of interaction may again undergo interaction with the OPE region 1550 similar to that in the previous generation. Some of the power of these beams continues in the same direction (i.e., zero-order diffraction), while other parts of the power of these beams are, in part, generally in the -x- direction and in part, generally in the -y- direction (i.e., the first-order lattice vectors G1 and G of the OPE region). -1 The beam is redirected (by...). Generally, all beams propagating in the -x- direction are represented by the FOV rectangle located near the 9 o'clock position in the k-space ring of the k-space schematic diagram in Figure 15C, while generally, all beams propagating in the -y- direction are represented by the FOV rectangle located near the 6 o'clock position. As can be seen from Figure 15C, in the case of the OPE region 1550 consisting of a 1D periodic diffraction grating, for any given input beam, the duplicate beam of light corresponding to that input beam propagates in only two directions within the OPE region (however, the two directions will differ for different input beams incident on the OPE region at different propagation angles).

[0220] A third generation of interaction with the OPE region results in the creation of additional interference nodes 1556, where beams with identical or similar optical path lengths intersect each other, potentially leading to constructive or destructive wave interference. Each node 1556 acts as a light source emitted toward the EPE region 1560. In the case of an OPE region consisting of a diffraction grating with 1D periodicity, the layout of these nodes 1556 forms a uniform grating pattern, which can therefore result in image artifacts, as shown in Figure 15G.

[0221] Figure 15G is a schematic diagram illustrating how a single input beam 1545 from the ICG region 1540 is duplicated by the OPE region 1550 and redirected as multiple beams 1565 toward the EPE region 1560. Each duplicated beam 1565, shown propagating toward or within the EPE region 1560, originates from one of the interference nodes 1556. These interference nodes have an ordered distribution and act as a sparsely spaced periodic array of sources. Due to the ordered distribution of the interference nodes 1556, all duplicated beams 1565 illuminating the EPE region are separated by the same spacing, although the beams may have non-monotonically fluctuating intensity. As a result, the duplicated light beams 1565 from the OPE region 1550 can illuminate the EPE region 1560 with a relatively sparsely spaced non-uniform distribution. In some embodiments, it may be advantageous if the duplicated light beams illuminating the EPE region of the eyepiece waveguide can be more uniformly distributed. Figure 16 illustrates such an embodiment.

[0222] (Exemplary AR eyepiece waveguide with multidirectional pupil expander) Figure 16A illustrates an exemplary eyepiece waveguide 1600 having a multidirectional pupil expander (MPE) region 1650 instead of an OPE region. At a macroscopic level, the illustrated embodiment of the eyepiece waveguide 1600 is analogous to the eyepiece waveguide 1500 shown in Figure 15A. The input beam is coupled into the eyepiece waveguide 1600 by the ICG region 1640. The diffracted beam propagates from the ICG region 1640 toward and through the MPE region 1650, which replaces the OPE region. Finally, the MPE region 1650 diffracts the beam of light toward the EPE region 1660, where they are externally coupled toward the user's eye. The ICG region 1640 and the EPE region 1660 are shown in Figure 15A. The eyepiece waveguide 1500 may be designed to function in the same manner as the corresponding region described for -15G. However, the MPE region 1650 differs distinctly from the OPE region 1550 in that it diffracts light in more directions. This feature advantageously reduces the periodic uniformity in the distribution of the light beam within the EPE region 1660, which in turn allows for more uniform illumination of the EPE region.

[0223] The MPE region 1650 consists of diffraction features exhibiting periodicity in multiple directions. The MPE region 1650 may also consist of an array of scattering features arranged in a 2D grating pattern. Individual scattering features can be, for example, depressions or protrusions of any shape. The 2D array of scattering features has associated grating vectors derived from the reciprocal grating pattern of its 2D grating pattern. In one embodiment, the MPE region 1650 may be a 2D periodic diffraction grating consisting of a cross grating with grating lines repeating along two or more distinctly different directions of periodicity. This can be accomplished by superimposing two 1D gratings with different directions of periodicity.

[0224] Figure 16B illustrates a portion of an exemplary 2D periodic lattice that may be used within the MPE region 1650 shown in Figure 16A, along with its associated lattice vectors. The 2D periodic lattice 1650 can be a spatial lattice pattern of diffraction features, whose periodicity directions are illustrated by vectors u and v. Such a 2D periodic lattice is associated with lattice vectors. Two fundamental lattice vectors G and H, corresponding to the periodicity directions u and v, are mathematically defined as follows: [ka] Mathematically, vectors u and v define a spatial grid pattern, and G and H correspond to the fundamental double, i.e., reciprocal grid pattern vectors. Note that G is orthogonal to u and H is orthogonal to v. However, u is not necessarily parallel to H, and v is not necessarily parallel to G.

[0225] As one embodiment, a 2D periodic grid can be designed or formed by superimposing two sets of 1D periodic grid lines, as shown in Figure 16B (wherein the 2D periodic grid may instead consist of individual scattering features located at the intersections of the grid lines shown in Figure 16B, for example). The first set of grid lines 1656 can be repeated along the direction of the fundamental grid vector G, which can have a magnitude equal to 2π / a, where a is the period of the first set of grid lines 1656. The 2D grid shown in Figure 16B is also associated with harmonics of the first fundamental grid vector G, which include higher harmonics such as -G and 2G, -2G, etc. The second set of grid lines 1657 can be repeated along the direction of the fundamental grid vector H, which can have a magnitude equal to 2π / b, where b is the period of the second set of grid lines 1657. The 2D grid shown in Figure 16B is also associated with harmonics of the second fundamental grid vector H. These include higher harmonics such as -H and 2H, -2H, etc.

[0226] Any 2D periodic array of diffraction features will have associated lattice vectors that correspond to the entire reciprocal lattice pattern and point in a direction determined by an integer linear combination (superposition) of the fundamental lattice vectors G and H. In the illustrated embodiments, these superpositions result in additional lattice vectors, which are also shown in Figure 16B. These include, for example, -G, -H, H+G, HG, GH, and -(H+G). Typically, these vectors are described using two indices such as (±1,0), (0,±1), (±1,±1), (±2,0), etc. Although Figure 16B illustrates only the first-order lattice vectors and their superpositions associated with the 2D diffraction grating, higher-order lattice vectors may also exist.

[0227] As has already been discussed elsewhere in this specification, the k-space effect of a grating on the set of light beams that constitute an image is to translate the FOV rectangle corresponding to the image using a grating vector associated with the grating. This is shown in Figures 16C and 16D with respect to an exemplary 2D MPE diffraction grating shown in Figure 16B.

[0228] Figure 16C is a k-space schematic illustrating the k-space action of the MPE region 1650 of the eyepiece waveguide 1600 shown in Figure 16A. The k-space schematic includes a shaded FOV rectangle located near the 9 o'clock position of the k-space ring. This is the location of the FOV rectangle after the ICG region 1640 couples the input beam into the eyepiece waveguide 1600 and redirects it toward the MPE region 1650. Figure 16C shows how the 2D grid within the MPE region 1650 translates the FOV rectangle using the grid vectors shown in Figure 16B. Since there are eight grid vectors (G, H, -G, -H, H+G, HG, GH, and -(H+G)), the MPE region 1650 attempts to translate the FOV rectangle to one of eight possible new k-space locations. Of these eight possible k-space locations, six lie outside the outer periphery of the k-space diagram. These are illustrated using unshaded FOV rectangles. Since k-vectors outside the boundary of the k-space diagram are not allowed, none of the six lattice vectors result in diffraction. However, there are two lattice vectors (i.e., -G and -(H+G)) that result in a translation of the FOV rectangle to new positions within the boundary of the k-space diagram. One of these locations is near the 6 o'clock position in the k-space ring, and the other is near the 2 o'clock position. Since k-vectors at these locations are allowed and result in stimulated propagation modes, the FOV rectangle at these locations is shaded to indicate that the beam of light is diffracted into those two states. Therefore, the power of a beam of light incident on the MPE region 1650 with a propagation angle indicated by the FOV rectangle located near the 9 o'clock position of the k-space ring is partially diffracted into both states indicated by the other two shaded FOV rectangles (i.e., the FOV rectangle near the 2 o'clock position and the FOV rectangle near the 6 o'clock position).

[0229] Figure 16D is a k-space schematic that further illustrates the k-space action of the MPE region 1650 of the eyepiece waveguide 1600 shown in Figure 16A. This particular k-space schematic illustrates the action of the MPE region 1650 on a beam of light in a propagating state, illustrated by an FOV rectangle located near the 2 o'clock position of the k-space ring. Again, the 2D diffraction grating within the MPE region 1650 attempts to diffract these beams of light to diffraction orders defined by its eight associated grating vectors. As shown, six of the grating vectors will shift the FOV rectangle to a position outside the boundary of the k-space schematic. Therefore, those diffraction orders do not occur. These positions are illustrated using an unshaded FOV rectangle. However, two of the grating vectors (i.e., H and HG) will shift the FOV rectangle to a position within the boundary of the k-space schematic. These are illustrated by shaded FOV rectangles located near the 9 o'clock and 6 o'clock positions of the k-space ring. Thus, the 2D diffraction grating within the MPE region 1650 partially reflects the power of the beam propagating in the direction indicated by the other two shaded rectangles, which are located near the 2 o'clock position of the k-space ring. It diffracts into both states indicated by the FOV rectangle (i.e., the FOV rectangle near the 9 o'clock position and the FOV rectangle near the 6 o'clock position).

[0230] Although not shown, a similar k-space schematic can be derived to illustrate the k-space effect of the MPE region 1650 on a beam of light traveling with a propagation angle indicated by an FOV rectangle located near the 6 o'clock position of the k-space ring. That k-space schematic would show that a 2D periodic diffraction grating within the MPE region 1650 partially diffracts the power of their beams into both states indicated by two shaded FOV rectangles located near the 9 o'clock and 2 o'clock positions of the k-space ring.

[0231] Figure 16E is a k-space schematic illustrating the k-space action of the eyepiece waveguide 1600 shown in Figure 16A. As already mentioned, the eyepiece waveguide 1600 can generally receive input beams of light that propagate in the -z-direction and are incident on the ICG region 1640 of the waveguide 1600 from an external source. These input beams are k at the origin of the k-space schematic. z - Represented by an FOV rectangle centered on the axis. The ICG region 1640 then diffracts the input beam so that they have propagation angles that are induced and centered around the propagation direction corresponding to the center point of the FOV rectangle located near the 9 o'clock position of the k-space ring.

[0232] The guided beams are incident on the MPE region 1650, where they can have multiple interactions. During each generation of interaction, a portion of the power of each beam can undergo zero-order diffraction and continue to propagate in the same direction through the MPE region 1650. In the first generation of interaction, for example, this zero-order diffraction corresponds to that portion of the beam's power, remaining in a state indicated by the FOV rectangle located near the 9 o'clock position of the k-space ring. The other portion of the beam's power can be diffracted in a new direction. Again, in the first generation of interaction, this creates separate diffracted beams having a propagation angle centered around the propagation direction corresponding to the center point of the FOV rectangle located near the 2 o'clock position of the k-space ring, and a propagation direction corresponding to the center point of the FOV rectangle located near the 6 o'clock position.

[0233] As long as the beams remain within the MPE region 1650, they undergo additional interactions, resulting in zero-order diffraction, each producing a portion of the beam's power that continues in the same direction or is diffracted in a new direction. This results in a set of spatially dispersed diffracted beams with propagation angles centered around each propagation direction, indicated by the center point of the FOV rectangle in the k-space ring shown in Figure 16E. This behavior is represented by double arrows between each pair of FOV rectangles in the k-space ring.

[0234] As an arbitrary given input beam of light propagates within the MPE region 1650, it splits into many diffracted beams that can only travel in three permissible directions, each direction defined by the corresponding k-vector, i.e., point, within the FOV rectangle in the ring of the k-space schematic diagram in Figure 16E. (This applies to any input beam of light propagating within the MPE region 1650; however, the three permissible directions will differ slightly depending on the propagation angle at which each initial input beam is incident on the MPE region 1650.) Furthermore, since a portion of the power of an arbitrary given input beam of light is diffracted into one of the same three propagation directions after any number of interactions with the MPE region 1650, image information is preserved throughout these interactions.

[0235] In contrast to the two permissible propagation directions of the OPE region 1550, there are advantages associated with the MPE region 1650, which have three permissible propagation directions per input beam. These advantages will be discussed further below, but here we will only say that the increased number of propagation directions in the MPE region 1650 can result in a more complex distribution of interference nodes within the MPE region 1650, which in turn can improve the uniformity of illumination within the EPE region 1660. .

[0236] It should be understood that Figure 16E illustrates the k-space action of an exemplary embodiment of the MPE region 1650. In other embodiments, the MPE region 1650 may be designed so that each input beam of light can diffract in more than three directions within the MPE region. For example, in some embodiments, the MPE region 1650 may be designed to allow diffraction of each input beam of light in four, five, six, seven, eight, etc. As already discussed, the diffraction features within the MPE region 1650 may be designed to provide a lattice vector that copies the FOV rectangle to a location in the k-space ring corresponding to the selected diffraction direction. In addition, the diffraction features within the MPE region 1650 may be designed with a period corresponding to the magnitude of the lattice vector, which results in these copies of the FOV rectangle being entirely within the k-space ring (and other attempted copies of the FOV rectangle being entirely outside the outer periphery of the k-space schematic).

[0237] In some embodiments, the angular separation between each of the allowable propagation directions with respect to a given beam of light inside the MPE region 1650 is at least 45 degrees. If the angular separation between any pair of selected directions is less than this amount, the diffraction features within the MPE region 1650 would need to be designed to provide lattice vectors for their angular transitions to occur within the k-space ring. Such lattice vectors would be relatively short compared to the size of the k-space ring, due to the smaller angular separation. This increases the likelihood that the superposition of the basic MPE lattice vectors will create a copy of the FOV rectangle that is only partially within the k-space ring, which can result in a loss of image information (if not done carefully, as will be discussed further herein). In addition, if the angular separation between any pair of allowable propagation directions within the MPE region 1650 is too small, the resulting relatively short lattice vectors also increase the likelihood that the lattice vector superposition will create a copy of the FOV rectangle that is only partially inside the central disk of the k-space schematic. This is undesirable because it could result in light being externally coupled from the eyepiece waveguide 1600 toward the user's eye, from a location outside the designated EPE region 1660.

[0238] When determining acceptable propagation directions within the MPE region 1650, various design guidelines can be used as a model. For example, one acceptable propagation direction can be selected so that it corresponds to the direction from the ICG region 1640 to the MPE region 1650. In addition, one acceptable propagation direction can be selected so that only one beam of light propagating from a location inside the MPE region 1650 in that direction will intersect the EPE region 1660. This ensures that duplicate beams of light incident on the EPE region 1660 correspond to each input beam with the same propagation angle. Furthermore, acceptable propagation directions inside the MPE region 1650 can be selected so that the FOV rectangles do not overlap. Overlapping FOV rectangles can result in a mixture of image information from different image points, which can produce afterimages.

[0239] Figure 16F is a schematic diagram of the first generation of interaction between the input beam and the MPE region 1650 of the eyepiece waveguide embodiment shown in Figure 16A. Figure 16F shows the input beam incident from the ICG region 1640 into the MPE region 1650. The input beam is shown propagating in the direction corresponding to the k-vector, i.e., the center point of the FOV rectangle located near the 9 o'clock position of the k-space ring in Figure 16E.

[0240] The MPE region 1650 can contain many sub-1 μm features. Furthermore, with each interaction with the MPE region, the input beam of approximately 1 mm in diameter will split into three beams (of the same diameter but with a certain proportion of the original power of the input beam) propagating in three different directions in the TIR. One direction corresponds to zero-order diffraction, the original propagation angle in the waveguide plane. The other two directions correspond to the lattice vector G of the MPE region 1650. and depends on H. As shown, the first generation of interaction between the input beam and the MPE region 1650 results in three beams. That is, a portion of the power of the input beam is simply reflected from the upper or lower surface of the eyepiece waveguide 1600 as output 1 and continues in the same xy direction as the input beam (i.e., zero-order diffraction), a portion of the power of the input beam interacts with the 2D grating within the MPE region 1650 and is diffracted downward as output 2, and a portion of the power of the input beam interacts with the grating and is diffracted upward and to the right as output 3. Output beam 2 is shown propagating in the direction corresponding to the k-vector, i.e., to the center point of the FOV rectangle located near the 6 o'clock position of the k-space ring in Figure 16E, while output beam 3 is shown propagating in the direction corresponding to the k-vector, i.e., to the center point of the FOV rectangle located near the 2 o'clock position. Following the first generation of this interaction, output beams 1, 2, and 3, although having different propagation angles as shown in Figures 16G-16I, still propagate within the MPE region 1650 and therefore may have additional interactions with the MPE region. Other input beams, not shown, that enter the MPE region 1650 with different propagation angles will behave similarly, but with slightly different input and output angles.

[0241] Figure 16G is a schematic diagram of the second generation of interaction between the input beam and the MPE region 1650 of the eyepiece waveguide embodiment shown in Figure 16A. The beam associated with the first generation of interaction is shown using a dashed line, while the beam associated with the second generation of interaction is shown using a solid line. As shown in Figure 16G, the output beams, output 1, output 2, and output 3 from the first generation of interaction, can each undergo interaction with the MPE region 1650 similar to that which occurred in the previous generation. That is, a portion of the power of the output 1 beam from Figure 16F simply continues in the same xy direction, while another portion of the beam's power interacts with the grating and is diffracted in a direction corresponding to the FOV rectangle located near the 6 o'clock position, and yet another portion of the beam's power interacts with the grating and is diffracted in a direction corresponding to the FOV rectangle located near the 2 o'clock position. Similarly, a portion of the power of the second output beam from Figure 16F simply continues toward the EPE region 1660, while another portion of the beam's power interacts with the grating and is diffracted in the direction indicated by the FOV rectangle located near the 9 o'clock position, and yet another portion of the beam's power interacts with the grating and is diffracted in the direction corresponding to the FOV rectangle located near the 2 o'clock position. Furthermore, a portion of the power of the third output beam from Figure 16F simply continues toward the direction indicated by the FOV rectangle located near the 2 o'clock position, while another portion of the beam's power interacts with the grating and is diffracted in the direction indicated by the FOV rectangle located near the 9 o'clock position, and yet another portion of the beam's power interacts with the grating and is diffracted in the direction corresponding to the FOV rectangle located near the 6 o'clock position.

[0242] Figure 16H is a schematic diagram of the third generation of interaction between the input beam and the MPE region 1650 of the eyepiece waveguide embodiment shown in Figure 16A. The beams associated with the first and second generation of interaction are shown with dashed lines, while the beam associated with the third generation of interaction is shown with solid lines. As shown in Figure 16H, each output beam resulting from the second generation of interaction may again interact with the MPE region 1650 in a manner similar to that of the previous generation.

[0243] Figure 16I is a schematic diagram of the fourth generation of interaction between the input beam and the MPE region 1650 of the eyepiece waveguide embodiment shown in Figure 16A. The beams associated with the first, second, and third generation of interaction are shown with dashed lines, while the beam associated with the fourth generation of interaction is shown with solid lines. After all these interactions, all resulting beams are allowed inside the MPE region 1650 with respect to any given input beam, namely, in the direction corresponding to the FOV rectangle located near the 9 o'clock position of the k-space ring, in the direction corresponding to the FOV rectangle located near the 2 o'clock position, or near the 6 o'clock position. The beams propagate in one of the directions corresponding to the FOV rectangle. While some of these beams propagate through the MPE region 1650, there are nodes where they may intersect with each other, but the locations of these nodes have a more complex distribution than in the case of the OPE region 1550, as illustrated in Figures 15D-15G. Furthermore, the beams may arrive at each of these nodes via different paths and therefore will not necessarily be in phase with each other. Thus, image artifacts that may arise from the ordered distribution of interference nodes can be reduced in the eyepiece waveguide embodiment 1600, which uses the MPE region 1650 instead of the OPE region (e.g., 1550). This can be seen in Figures 16J and 16K.

[0244] Figure 16J is a schematic diagram illustrating various paths the beam can take to eventually follow the EPE region 1660 through the MPE region 1650. Several paths exist that involve changes in multiple directions, while others involve changes in multiple directions (although some of the longer and more complex paths will inevitably carry less power). Due to the complexity introduced by the presence of different diffraction angles within the MPE region 1650, there are many different spacings between the light beams 1665 that ultimately illuminate the EPE region 1660. In fact, any possible spacing between the light beams 1665 can be achieved through a sufficient number of interactions within the MPE region 1650. As shown in Figure 16K, this can result in more uniform illumination of the EPE region 1660.

[0245] Figure 16K is a schematic diagram illustrating how a single input beam 1645 from the ICG region 1640 is duplicated by the MPE region 1650 and redirected as multiple beams 1665 toward the EPE region 1660. Each of these beams 1665 originates from the dense grid of the node. Gaps may still exist between some of these duplicate beams 1665, but they are generally smaller and less regular than the gaps between duplicate beams output from the OPE region (e.g., 1550 as shown in Figure 15G). Because so many paths exist toward the EPE region 1660, all at different locations, the MPE region 1650 provides a complex exit pupil pattern, which allows for more uniform illumination of the EPE region 1560.

[0246] Figure 16L is a comparative illustration of the performance of an eyepiece waveguide with an OPE region versus an eyepiece waveguide with an MPE region. On the left is the eyepiece waveguide 1500, which includes an OPE region 1550 with a 1D periodic diffraction grating. As already discussed, the OPE region 1550 illuminates the EPE region 1560 using a sparse set of regularly spaced replicated light beams. Below the eyepiece waveguide 1500 is a simulated output image. This is the simulated output image that would be projected from the EPE region 1560 of the eyepiece waveguide 1500 in response to an input image consisting of pixels of all the same color and brightness.

[0247] Figure 16L shows, on the right, the eyepiece waveguide 1600, which includes an MPE region 1650 with a 2D periodic diffraction grating. As can be seen from the figure, the MPE region 1650 illuminates the EPE region 1660 more uniformly. Below the eyepiece waveguide 1600 is a simulated output image, which is the result of the same input image used in the simulation for the eyepiece waveguide 1500 on the left. From the simulated image on the right, it is clear that the eyepiece waveguide 1600 using the MPE region 1650 achieves a smoother and more uniformly distributed output light. In contrast, the image on the left, which is the simulated output of the eyepiece waveguide 1500 with the OPE region 1550, has visible high spatial frequency striations, which result from a sparse and ordered set of replicated light beams illuminating its EPE region 1560.

[0248] Figure 16M further shows eyepiece waveguide with MPE region vs. eyepiece waveguide with OPE region The waveguide performance is illustrated. The upper line of the graph in Figure 16M illustrates the performance of the eyepiece waveguide 1500 shown in Figure 15A. The graph of the horizontal cross-section of the image projected from this eyepiece waveguide shows relatively high spatial frequency fluctuations, which were visible as striations in the simulated output image shown in Figure 16L. Figure 16M shows that the eyepiece waveguide 1500 has an eyebox efficiency of 1.2%. The point spreading function associated with this eyepiece waveguide is also shown. The point spreading function illustrates the output image acquired from the eyepiece waveguide in response to an input image of a single bright point. This shows that the eyepiece waveguide 1500 is very sharp, having only 2.5 to 5 arc minutes of blur.

[0249] One approach to overcome high spatial frequency fluctuations in the output image from the eyepiece waveguide 1500 is to introduce some degree of dithering into the OPE region 1550. For example, small fluctuations can be introduced into the orientation angle and / or lattice period of the OPE region 1550. This is done in an attempt to disrupt the ordered nature of interference nodes that may exist within the OPE region 1550. The second and third rows in Figure 16M illustrate the performance of the eyepiece waveguide 1500 with two different types of dithering. As can be seen from the horizontal cross-section of the image projected with respect to these waveguides, high spatial frequency fluctuations still exist. Furthermore, the point spreading function with respect to these dithered embodiments shows a much larger amount of blurring, in some cases as much as 45 arcs.

[0250] The lower row of Figure 16M illustrates the performance of the eyepiece waveguide 1600 with the MPE region 1650. The cross-section of the projected image with respect to this waveguide shows much less high spatial frequency variation. Low-frequency spatial variation is still present, but this can be corrected much more easily via software than high spatial frequency variation. The eyebox efficiency of this eyepiece waveguide is 0.9%, slightly lower than others. This may be due to the fact that the MPE region 1650 redirects some of the input light in a general direction corresponding to the FOV rectangle located near the 2 o'clock position in the ring of the k-space schematic shown in Figure 16E. Due to the macroscopic layout of the eyepiece waveguide 1600, light emanating from the MPE region 1650 with this propagation direction never enters the EPE region and is therefore not projected toward the user's eye. Instead, it is lost from the edge of the waveguide 1600. However, this loss of light results in only a relatively small decrease in eyebox efficiency. On the other hand, the point spreading function for the eyepiece waveguide 1600 shows that it is very sharp, with blurring only for 2.5 to 5 arcs.

[0251] Figures 16A–16M illustrate an eyepiece waveguide 1600 with an MPE region 1650 having three permissible propagation directions for each input beam. However, other embodiments of the MPE region can be designed to allow even more propagation directions for each input beam. One such embodiment is illustrated in Figures 17A–17G. These figures illustrate an eyepiece waveguide 1700, which in its macroscopic design is identical to that of the eyepiece waveguide 1600. That is, the eyepiece waveguide 1700 includes an ICG region 1740, an MPE region 1750, and an EPE region 1760, all of which are arranged in the same manner as the corresponding regions in the eyepiece waveguide 1600 shown in Figure 16A. However, the eyepiece waveguide 1700 differs in the microscopic design of its MPE region 1750.

[0252] Figure 17A illustrates a portion of an exemplary 2D grating that may be used within the MPE region 1750 of an eyepiece waveguide 1700, along with its associated grating vectors. The 2D periodic grating 1750 can be a spatial grating pattern of diffraction features whose periodicity directions are u and v. As already discussed, such a 2D periodic grating is associated with fundamental grating vectors G and H. In one embodiment, the 2D periodic grating 1750 can be designed or formed by superimposing two sets of 1D periodic grating lines (however (The 2D periodic grid can instead consist of individual scattering features located at the intersections of the grid lines, for example, shown in Figure 17A). The first set of grid lines 1756 can be repeated along the direction of the fundamental grid vector G, which can have a magnitude equal to 2π / a, where a is the period of the first set of grid lines 1756. The 2D grid shown in Figure 17B is also associated with the harmonics of the first fundamental grid vector G. These include higher harmonics such as -G and 2G, -2G, etc. The second set of grid lines 1757 can be repeated along the direction of the fundamental grid vector H, which can have a magnitude equal to 2π / b, where b is the period of the second set of grid lines 1657. The 2D grid shown in Figure 17B is also associated with the harmonics of the second fundamental grid vector H, which include higher harmonics such as -H and 2H, -2H, etc. Furthermore, as already discussed, any 2D periodic array diffraction feature will have associated lattice vectors pointing in a direction determined by an integer linear combination (superposition) of the fundamental lattice vectors. In this case, these superpositions result in additional lattice vectors, including, for example, -G, -H, H+G, HG, GH, and -(H+G). Figure 17A illustrates only the first-order lattice vectors and their superpositions associated with the 2D diffraction grating, although higher-order lattice vectors may also exist.

[0253] Figure 17B is a k-space schematic illustrating the k-space action of the MPE region 1750 of the eyepiece waveguide 1700. The k-space schematic includes a shaded FOV rectangle located near the 9 o'clock position of the k-space ring. This is the location of the FOV rectangle after the ICG region 1740 couples the input beam into the eyepiece waveguide 1700 and redirects them toward the MPE region 1750. Figure 17B shows how the 2D grid within the MPE region 1750 translates the FOV rectangle using the grid vectors shown in Figure 17A. Since there are eight grid vectors, the MPE region 1750 attempts to translate the FOV rectangle to new locations that can be considered as eight possible locations within the k-space schematic. Of these eight possible locations, five are outside the outer periphery of the k-space schematic. These locations are illustrated using an unshaded FOV rectangle. k-vectors outside the outer periphery of the k-space diagram are not allowed, so none of those five lattice vectors result in diffraction. However, there are three lattice vectors (i.e., -H, -G, and -(H+G)) that result in a translation of the FOV rectangle to a new position within the boundary of the k-space diagram. One of these locations is near the 6 o'clock position in the k-space ring, another is near the 12 o'clock position, and the last is near the 3 o'clock position. Since k-vectors at these locations are allowed and result in stimulated propagation modes, the FOV rectangle at these locations is shaded to indicate that the beam of light is diffracted into those three states. Therefore, a beam of light incident on the MPE region 1750 with a propagation angle indicated by the FOV rectangle located near the 9 o'clock position of the k-space ring is diffracted into all the states indicated by the other three shaded FOV rectangles (i.e., the FOV rectangle near the 12 o'clock position, the FOV rectangle near the 3 o'clock position, and the FOV rectangle near the 6 o'clock position).

[0254] Although not shown, similar k-space diagrams can be derived to illustrate the k-space effects of the MPE region 1750 on a beam of light traveling with propagation angles indicated by FOV rectangles located near the 12 o'clock, 3 o'clock, and 6 o'clock positions of the k-space ring. These k-space diagrams would show that a 2D diffraction grating within the MPE region 1750 diffracts those beams to all the remaining states indicated by the shaded FOV rectangles within the ring of the k-space diagram in Figure 17B.

[0255] Figure 17C is a k-space schematic illustrating the k-space action of the eyepiece waveguide 1700. The eyepiece waveguide 1700 can generally receive input beams of light that propagate in the -z-direction and are incident on the ICG region 1740 of the waveguide 1700 from an external source. These input beams are k at the origin of the k-space schematic. z -FOV rectangle centered on the axis It is represented by its shape. The ICG region 1740 then diffracts the input beam so that it has propagation angles that are induced and centered around the propagation direction, corresponding to the center point of the FOV rectangle located near the 9 o'clock position of the k-space ring.

[0256] The diffracted beams are incident on the MPE region 1750, where they may have multiple interactions. During each generation of an interaction, a portion of the power of each beam continues to propagate in the same direction through the MPE region 1750. In the first generation of an interaction, for example, this would correspond to that portion of the beam's power remaining in the state indicated by the FOV rectangle located near the 9 o'clock position. The other portion of the beam's power can be diffracted in a new direction. Again, in the first generation of an interaction, this creates separate diffracted beams with propagation angles centered around the propagation direction, corresponding to the center points of the FOV rectangles located near the 12 o'clock position of the k-space ring, the center points of the FOV rectangles located near the 3 o'clock position, and the center points of the FOV rectangles located near the 6 o'clock position.

[0257] After each interaction, the diffracted beam, still remaining within the MPE region 1750, may undergo additional interactions. Each of these additional interactions results in some of the beam's power being diffracted by zeroth order and continuing in the same direction, while other parts of the beam's power are diffracted in a new direction. This results in a set of spatially dispersed diffracted beams with propagation angles centered around each propagation direction, indicated by the center point of the FOV rectangle in the k-space ring shown in Figure 17C. This is represented by double arrows between each pair of FOV rectangles in the k-space ring. In other words, a beam of light propagating within the MPE region 1750 can transition from any propagation state represented by one of the FOV rectangles in the k-space ring to any other of these propagation states.

[0258] As an arbitrary given input beam of light propagates within the MPE region 1750, it splits into many diffracted beams, which can only propagate in four possible directions. Each direction is defined by the corresponding k-vector, i.e., point, within the FOV rectangle in the ring of the k-space schematic in Figure 17C. (This applies to any input beam of light propagating within the MPE region 1750; however, the four possible directions will differ slightly depending on the propagation angle at which each initial input beam is incident on the MPE region 1750.) Also, since a portion of the power of any arbitrary given input beam of light is diffracted in the same four propagation directions after any number of interactions with the MPE region 1750, image information is preserved throughout these interactions. Compared to the MPE region 1650 described with respect to Figures 16A-16M, the additional propagation directions allowed within the MPE region 1750 can result in further improvement in the uniformity of illumination within the EPE region 1760. This can be seen in the schematic diagrams shown in Figures 17D-17G.

[0259] Figure 17D is a schematic diagram of the first generation of interaction between the input beam and the MPE region 1750 of the eyepiece waveguide 1700. Figure 17D shows the input beam incident from the ICG region 1740 into the MPE region 1750. The input beam is shown propagating in the direction corresponding to the k-vector, i.e., the center point of the FOV rectangle located near the 9 o'clock position of the k-space ring in Figure 17C.

[0260] The MPE region 1750 can contain many sub-1 μm features. Furthermore, with each interaction with the MPE region, the approximately 1 mm diameter beam will split into four beams (of the same diameter but with a certain proportion of the original power of the input beam) propagating in four different directions in TIR. One direction corresponds to zero-order diffraction and is the original angle in the waveguide plane. The other three directions depend on the lattice vectors G and H of the MPE region 1750. As shown, the first generation of interaction between the input beam and the MPE region 1750 results in four beams. That is, a portion of the power of the input beam is simply reflected as output 1 from the upper or lower surface of the eyepiece waveguide 1700, and the input beam The first beam continues in the same x and y directions (i.e., zero-order diffraction), and a portion of the input beam's power interacts with the grating and is diffracted downward as output 2, a portion of the input beam's power interacts with the grating and is diffracted upward as output 3, and a portion of the input beam's power interacts with the grating and is diffracted to the right as output 4. The output 2 beam is shown to propagate in the direction corresponding to the k-vector, i.e., to the center point of the FOV rectangle located near the 6 o'clock position of the k-space ring in Figure 17C, while the output 3 beam is shown to propagate in the direction corresponding to the k-vector, i.e., to the center point of the FOV rectangle located near the 12 o'clock position, and the output 4 beam is shown to propagate in the direction corresponding to the k-vector, i.e., to the center point of the FOV rectangle located near the 3 o'clock position. Following the first generation of this interaction, output beams 1, 2, 3, and 4, although having different propagation angles as shown in Figures 17E-17G, still propagate within the MPE region 1750 and therefore may have additional interactions with the MPE region. Other input beams, not shown, that are incident on the MPE region 1750 with different propagation angles will behave similarly, but with slightly different input and output angles.

[0261] Figure 17E is a schematic diagram of the second generation of interaction between the input beam and the MPE region 1750 of the eyepiece waveguide 1700. The beam associated with the first generation of interaction is shown with a dashed line, while the beam associated with the second generation of interaction is shown with a solid line. As shown in Figure 17D, the output beams from the first generation of interaction, namely output 1, output 2, output 3, and output 4, can each undergo interaction with the MPE region 1750, similar to that that occurred in the previous generation. That is, a portion of the power of the output 1 beam from Figure 17D simply continues in the same xy direction, while the other portion of the beam's power interacts with the grating and is diffracted in directions corresponding to the FOV rectangles located near the 12 o'clock, 3 o'clock, and 6 o'clock positions. Similarly, a portion of the power of the second output beam from Figure 17D simply continues toward the EPE region 1760, while the other portion of its beam power interacts with the grating and is diffracted in the directions indicated by the FOV rectangles located near the 9 o'clock, 12 o'clock, and 3 o'clock positions. Furthermore, a portion of the power of the third output beam from Figure 17D simply continues toward the direction indicated by the FOV rectangle located near the 12 o'clock position, while the other portion of its beam power interacts with the grating and is diffracted in the directions indicated by the FOV rectangles located near the 3 o'clock, 6 o'clock, and 9 o'clock positions. Finally, a portion of the power of the fourth output beam from Figure 17D simply continues toward the direction indicated by the FOV rectangle located near the 3 o'clock position, while the other portion of its beam power interacts with the grating and is diffracted in the directions indicated by the FOV rectangles located near the 6 o'clock, 9 o'clock, and 12 o'clock positions.

[0262] Figure 17F is a schematic diagram of the third generation of interaction between the input beam and the MPE region 1750 of the eyepiece waveguide embodiment 1700. The beams associated with the first and second generation of interaction are shown using dashed lines, while the beam associated with the third generation of interaction is shown using solid lines. As shown in Figure 17F, each output beam resulting from the second generation of interaction may again interact with the MPE region 1750 in a manner similar to that of the previous generation.

[0263] Figure 17G is a schematic diagram of the fourth generation of interaction between the input beam and the MPE region 1750 of the eyepiece waveguide embodiment 1700. The beams associated with the first, second, and third generation of interaction are shown with dashed lines, while the beam associated with the fourth generation of interaction is shown with solid lines. After all these interactions, all resulting beams have four allowable propagation directions with respect to any given input beam and the MPE region 1750, namely, the direction corresponding to the FOV rectangle located near the 9 o'clock position of the k-space ring, the direction corresponding to the FOV rectangle located near the 12 o'clock position, and the direction corresponding to the FOV rectangle located near the 3 o'clock position. The beams propagate in the corresponding direction, or in one of the directions corresponding to the FOV rectangle located near the 6 o'clock position. While some of these beams propagate through the MPE region 1750, there are nodes where they may intersect with each other, but the locations of these nodes have a more complex distribution than in the case of the MPE region 1650 as illustrated in Figures 16A-16M. Furthermore, these nodes are even less likely to cause interference between two in-phase beams. Therefore, this MPE region 1750 can result in even more uniform illumination of the EPE region 1760.

[0264] In summary, the MPE regions described herein offer some or all of the following advantages: The MPE region can extend the image pupil in multiple directions simultaneously. The MPE region can create a dense, non-periodic array of output pupils. The MPE region can reduce interference effects between optical paths through the waveguide. MPE-based eyepiece waveguides can achieve improved brightness uniformity with reduced high-frequency striations and high image sharpness.

[0265] (An exemplary AR eyepiece waveguide with multiple distinctly different regions for replicating the input beam) Figure 18A illustrates an exemplary eyepiece waveguide 1800, comprising an ICG region 1840, two orthogonal pupil expander (OPE) regions 1850a and 1850b, and an exit pupil expander (EPE) region 1860. Figure 18A also includes a k-space schematic illustrating the effect of each of these components of the eyepiece waveguide 1800 in k-space. The ICG region 1840, OPE regions 1850a and 1850b, and EPE region 1860 of the eyepiece waveguide 1800 contain various diffraction features that couple the input beam into the eyepiece waveguide 1800, propagate it through inductive modes, replicate the beam in a spatially dispersed manner, and cause the replicated beam to exit the eyepiece waveguide and project toward the user's eye. In particular, the eyepiece waveguide 1800 contains multiple distinctly different and / or discontinuous regions for replicating the input beam. These replicated beams from distinctly different regions can be combined again within a common exit pupil region.

[0266] The eyepiece waveguide 1800 illustrated in Figure 18A is similar to the eyepiece waveguide 1400 illustrated in Figure 14A, but instead of one, it includes two OPE regions 1850a and 1850b. It should be recalled that the ICG region 1440 in the eyepiece waveguide 1400 diffracted the input beam to +1 and -1 diffraction orders, but the beam at one of these diffraction orders propagated away from the OPE region 1450 and was eventually lost from the eyepiece waveguide. Thus, some of the light from the input beam was lost. The eyepiece waveguide 1800 shown in Figure 18A corrects this by including two OPE regions 1850a and 1850b, one on each side of the ICG region 1840. In this way, the eyepiece waveguide 1800 can utilize both the +1 and -1 diffraction orders of the ICG 1840.

[0267] The operation of ICG region 1840 is similar to that described for ICG region 1440 in Figures 14A and 14B. The same k-space schematic KSD1 shown in Figure 14B is also an illustration of the FOV rectangle corresponding to the set of input beams incident on ICG region 1840 in Figure 18A. That is, before the input beams are incident on ICG region 1840, the FOV rectangle is centered at the origin of the k-space schematic.

[0268] The k-space schematic KSD2 in Figure 18A illustrates the k-space action of ICG region 1840. That is, as discussed with respect to the corresponding k-space schematic in Figure 14B, ICG region 1840 is associated with two lattice vectors that translate the FOV rectangle to the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock positions in the k-space ring, respectively. The translated FOV rectangle located at the 3 o'clock position represents the diffracted beam propagating toward the right OPE region 1850b. The shifted FOV rectangle located at the 9 o'clock position represents a diffracted beam propagating toward the left OPE region 1850a.

[0269] The action of the left OPE region 1850a is also similar to that described for OPE region 1450 in Figures 14A and 14B. The k-space schematic KSD3a illustrates the k-space action of the left OPE region 1850a, showing that its diffraction grating shifts the FOV rectangle from the 9 o'clock position to the 6 o'clock position in the k-space ring. The FOV rectangle located at the 6 o'clock position represents the diffracted beam propagating in the -y-direction toward EPE region 1860.

[0270] The operation of the right OPE region 1850b is similar to that of the left OPE region 1850a, but its associated grating vectors are mirrored around the perpendicular line with respect to those of the left OPE region 1850a. This is due to the fact that the diffraction grating lines in the right OPE region 1850b are mirrored around the perpendicular line with respect to those of the diffraction grating in the left OPE region 1850a. As a result of the orientation of the diffraction grating lines in the right OPE region 1850b, the effect of the grating in k-space is to translate the FOV rectangle from the 3 o'clock position to the 6 o'clock position in the k-space ring, as shown in the k-space schematic diagram KSD3b. The translated FOVs in KSD3a and KSD3b are in the same location at the 6 o'clock position in the k-space ring. Therefore, the power of each input beam is split by the ICG region 1840 into +1 and -1 diffraction orders, and these distinctly different diffraction orders propagate through the eyepiece waveguide 1800 along different paths, but nevertheless arrive at the EPE region 1860 with the same propagation angle. This means that the distinct diffraction orders of each input beam, following different propagation paths through the eyepiece waveguide 1800, ultimately exit the EPE region 1860 with the same angle and thus represent the same point in the projected image.

[0271] Finally, the action of EPE region 1860 is also similar to that described for EPE region 1460 in Figures 14A and 14B. The k-space diagram KSD4 illustrates the k-space action of EPE region 1860, showing that its diffraction grating translates the FOV rectangle (consisting of light beams from both OPE regions 1850a and 1850b) located at the 6 o'clock position of the k-space ring back to the center of the k-space diagram. As has already been discussed elsewhere, this represents that EPE region 1860 externally couples the light beam, generally in the z-direction, toward the user's eye.

[0272] Figures 18B and 18C illustrate a top view of the EPE region 1860 of the eyepiece waveguide 1800 shown in Figure 18A. The EPE region 1860 is supported directly in front of the user's eye 210. As discussed in any part of this specification (see Figures 12A and 12B), the EPE region 1860 projects a set of replicated output beams, each set of replicated output beams having a propagation angle corresponding to one of the input beams projected into the eyepiece waveguide.

[0273] Figure 18B illustrates one of these sets of replicated power beams. In this particular case, the replicated power beam 1861 emanating from the EPE region 1860 propagates from left to right. In other words, the replicated power beam 1861 has a propagation direction with a component in the +x- direction. The propagation angles of the replicated power beams 1861 result in some of them being more likely to intersect the user's eye 210 than others. In particular, the replicated power beam 1861 emanating from the left portion of the EPE region 1860 is more likely to intersect the user's eye 210 due to the central position of the eye 210 and the left / right propagation of the light beam. These light beams are illustrated using solid lines. On the other hand, the replicated power beam 1861 emanating from the right portion of the EPE region 1860 is more likely to deviate from the eye 210. These light beams are illustrated using dashed lines.

[0274] Figure 18B also shows the EPE region after translating the FOV rectangle back to the origin of the schematic diagram. This includes a k-space schematic diagram KSD5 illustrating the state of the output beam in k-space. The FOV rectangle is illustrated using two halves. Each half represents half of the horizontal field of view of the eyepiece waveguide 1800. The shaded right half of the FOV rectangle 1832 represents +k x -Includes k-vectors with components in the direction. These are the k-vectors corresponding to the output beam 1861 that exits the EPE region 1860 with the left / right propagation type illustrated in Figure 18B. Only one set of duplicate output beams 1861 is illustrated to exit the EPE region 1860, but all output beams whose k-vectors lie within the shaded right half 1832 of the FOV rectangle will similarly exit the EPE region with a left / right propagation direction. Therefore, for all output beams whose k-vectors lie within the shaded right half 1832 of the FOV rectangle, those beams exiting from the left side of the EPE region 1860 will be more likely to intersect the eye 210 than those output beams exiting from the right side of the EPE region.

[0275] Figure 18C illustrates another set of replicated light beams 1862 emanating from the EPE region 1860 of the eyepiece waveguide 1800. However, in this case, the replicated power beam 1862 emanating from the EPE region 1860 propagates from right to left. In other words, the replicated power beam 1862 has a propagation direction with a component in the -x-direction. The actual propagation angle of the replicated power beam 1862 leads to the opposite observation of what is derived from Figure 18B. That is, with respect to the power beam 1862 propagating right / left, the beam emanating from the right portion of the EPE region 1860 (illustrated with solid lines) tends to intersect the eye 210, while the light beams emanating from the left portion of the EPE region (illustrated with dashed lines) tend to lose sight of the eye.

[0276] Referring to the k-space schematic diagram KSD5 included with Figure 18C, the output beam whose k-vector lies within the shaded left half 1831 of the FOV rectangle originates from the EPE region 1860 with the right / left propagation type shown in Figure 18C. Although all output beams whose k-vector lies within the shaded left half 1831 of the FOV rectangle will have different propagation angles, they all share the property that beams originating from the right side of the EPE region 1860 will have a stronger tendency to intersect the eye 210 than output beams originating from the left side of the EPE region.

[0277] The conclusion that can be drawn from Figures 18B and 18C is that, based on the light beam actually incident on the user's eye 210, half of the EPE region 1860 mainly contributes to half of the horizontal field of view, while the other half of the EPE region mainly contributes to the remaining half of the horizontal field of view. Based on this observation, the field of view that can be projected by the eyepiece waveguide can be extended in at least one dimension beyond the range of propagation angles supported by the eyepiece in the induction mode, since it is unnecessary to project the entire FOV rectangle from all parts of the EPE region 1960. This is illustrated in Figure 19.

[0278] (Exemplary AR eyepiece waveguide with expanded field of view) Figure 19 illustrates an embodiment of an eyepiece waveguide 1900 with an extended field of view. The eyepiece waveguide 1900 includes an ICG region 1940, a left OPE region 1950a, a right OPE region 1950b, and an EPE region 1960. At a macroscopic level, the eyepiece waveguide 1900 shown in Figure 19 can be the same as the eyepiece waveguide 1800 shown in Figure 18A. However, some of the diffraction features within the eyepiece waveguide 1900 can be designed with properties that enable an increased field of view in at least one dimension. These features can be clearly understood based on the k-space action of the eyepiece waveguide 1900, illustrated by the k-space schematic shown in Figure 19.

[0279] The k-space schematic shown in Figure 19 has a larger FOV rectangle than the one shown in Figure 18A. This is because the FOV rectangles in the k-space schematic in Figure 18A are constrained to have no dimensions greater than the width of the k-space ring. This constraint ensures that these FOV rectangles can fit entirely within the k-space ring at any position around the ring, and therefore all beams represented by the k-vectors within the FOV rectangles can undergo induced propagation within the eyepiece waveguide 1800 while propagating in any direction in the eyepiece plane. However, in the exemplary embodiment of Figure 19, the FOV rectangle has at least one dimension greater than the width of the k-space ring (e.g., k x It has dimensions. In some embodiments, one or more dimensions of the FOV rectangle can be up to 20%, up to 40%, up to 60%, up to 80%, or up to 100% larger than the width of the k-space ring.

[0280] In a particular embodiment illustrated in the k-space schematic of Figure 19, the horizontal dimension of the FOV rectangle is wider than the k-space ring. The horizontal dimension of the FOV rectangle corresponds to the horizontal spread within the propagation angle of the input beam, projected into the eyepiece waveguide. Therefore, since the eyepiece waveguide 1900 is illustrated to be usable with an FOV rectangle having a larger horizontal dimension, this means that the horizontal field of view of the eyepiece waveguide is increased. For an eyepiece waveguide (enclosed by air) with a refractive index of 1.8, the eyepiece waveguide 1800 shown in Figure 18A can generally achieve a 45° × 45° FOV, while the eyepiece waveguide 1900 shown in Figure 19 can achieve a maximum FOV of 90° × 45°. However, some embodiments of the eyepiece waveguide may be designed for a smaller FOV of approximately 60° × 45° to satisfy typical design constraints of eyebox volume (it may be advantageous to send a portion of the FOV to both sides of the eyepiece waveguide to provide a properly sized eyebox) and to avoid screen door artifacts resulting from sparsely spaced output beams. Techniques for extending the field of view of the eyepiece waveguide 1900 are described in the context of an extended horizontal field of view, but the same techniques can also be used to extend the vertical field of view of the eyepiece waveguide 1900. Furthermore, in later embodiments, similar techniques are demonstrated to extend both the horizontal and vertical fields of view of the eyepiece waveguide.

[0281] A close examination of the k-space schematic in Figure 19 reveals that the illustrated FOV rectangles, when located at certain positions around the ring, cannot fit entirely within the k-space ring, but when located at other positions, they can still fit entirely within the ring. For example, if one dimension of the FOV rectangle is larger than the width of the k-space ring, the FOV rectangle cannot fit entirely within the ring when it is located on or near the axis of the enlarged dimension. x If the dimensions of the FOV rectangle are greater than the width of the k-space ring, then the FOV rectangle is k x -When located on or near the axis (i.e., at or near the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock positions), it cannot be fitted entirely within the ring. Similarly, ky If the dimensions of the FOV rectangle are greater than the width of the k-space ring, then the FOV rectangle is k y -When located on or near the axis (i.e., at or near the 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock positions), it cannot fit entirely within the ring. However, when located on or near the opposite axis, such an FOV rectangle can still fit entirely within the k-space ring. x If the dimensions are greater than the width of the k-space ring, the FOV rectangle is still k y -When located on or near the axis (i.e., at or near the 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock positions), it can fit entirely within the ring. Similarly, k y If the dimensions of the FOV rectangle are greater than the width of the k-space ring, then the FOV rectangle is k x -When located on or near the axis (i.e., at or near the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock positions), it can still fit entirely within the ring. This is because there is an area within the k-space ring that can accommodate an FOV rectangle that is larger in the azimuthal direction than in the radial direction.

[0282] The radial size of the k-space ring corresponds to the range of propagation angles in the direction normal to the waveguide plane (i.e., the thickness direction) that support the induced propagation modes. This range of propagation angles is controlled by Snell's Law and the requirements that must be met for TIR to occur. In contrast, the spread of the k-vector in the azimuthal dimension of the k-space ring corresponds to various propagation angles in the in-plane direction of the planar waveguide. Since the spread of propagation angles in the plane of the planar waveguide is not limited by the same constraints as in the thickness direction, a wider range of beam propagation angles can be supported.

[0283] Furthermore, it is possible to convert the propagation angle broadening in the thickness direction of the eyepiece waveguide to the propagation angle broadening in the in-plane direction and vice versa. When a diffraction grating (or other set of diffraction features) translates the FOV rectangle from one position to another in the k-space ring such that the set of beams represented by the FOV rectangle then propagates in a new direction, this also diffuses a portion of the beam that was previously diffused in the thickness direction of the plane waveguide into the in-plane direction instead, and vice versa. This can be seen, for example, when a diffraction grating translates the FOV rectangle from the 9 o'clock position to the 6 o'clock position in the k-space ring. While at the 9 o'clock position, k x The beam spread in the direction is, at that location, k x Since the direction corresponds to the radial direction of the k-space ring, it corresponds to the physical spread in the thickness direction of the waveguide. However, at the 6 o'clock position, k x The beam spread in the direction is, at that location, k x Since the direction corresponds to the azimuthal angle direction of the k-space ring, it corresponds to the physical extent of the waveguide in the in-plane direction.

[0284] Using these observations, the field of view (FOV) of an eyepiece waveguide can be increased by dividing the FOV rectangle into multiple sub-parts, using diffraction features to replicate the beams belonging to the multiple sub-parts of the FOV in a spatially dispersed manner, and using diffraction features to reassemble the multiple sub-parts of the FOV in the exit pupil of the eyepiece waveguide so that the beams corresponding to each sub-part of the FOV have the correct propagation angles and recreate the original image. For example, diffraction features can be used to translate each sub-part of the FOV rectangle to one or more locations in k-space so that they ultimately have the same relative position as in the original image with respect to the other sub-parts of the FOV rectangle.

[0285] In some embodiments, multiple sub-parts of the FOV may partially overlap each other, which may help to alleviate the constraints on reassembling the entire FOV in the waveguide exit pupil and to ensure that the entire beam is present (for example, different pairs of FOV sub-parts may contain portions of the same input beam). For example, in some embodiments, a pair of sub-parts of the input image FOV may overlap by 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, or more.

[0286] The k-space schematic diagram KSD2 in Figure 19 illustrates the k-space effect of the ICG region 1940 on the input beam projected into the eyepiece waveguide 1900. As discussed elsewhere in this specification, the input beam projected into the eyepiece waveguide 1900 can be represented by an FOV rectangle centered at the origin of the k-space schematic diagram KSD2. The ICG region 1940 translates the location of this FOV rectangle in k-space based on its associated grid vectors. In the case of the ICG region 1840 illustrated in Figure 18A, the ICG region is affected by its associated grid vectors G1, G -1 The ICG region 1940, illustrated in Figure 19, was designed to have a magnitude equal to the distance from the origin of the k-space schematic to the midpoint of the k-space ring. This centered the FOV rectangle within the k-space ring. However, the ICG region 1940 illustrated in Figure 19 can be designed to have a larger grid vector. Also, as already discussed, the set of input beams projected into the eyepiece waveguide 1900 can have at least one dimension in k-space that is greater than the width of the k-space ring.

[0287] In some embodiments, the ICG region 1940 has its lattice vectors G1, G -1 However, so that no part of the enlarged FOV rectangle lies inside the inner disk of the k-space schematic, the enlarged FOV rectangle is translated so that it is sufficiently far from the origin of the k-space schematic. It can be designed. For a rectangle with a horizontal dimension twice the width of the k-space ring, to achieve this goal, the grid vectors G1, G of ICG1940 can be used. -1 The size of the k-space schematic should be approximately equal to the radius of the outer disk of the k-space schematic. On the other hand, in the case of an FOV rectangle whose horizontal dimension is simply slightly larger than the width of the k-space ring, in order to achieve this goal, the grid vectors G1 and G of the ICG region 1940 will need to be -1 The magnitude of must exceed the distance from the origin of the k-space schematic to the midpoint of the k-space ring. Mathematically, this means the following: [ka] This gives the following: [ka] (Note: This equation can also be applied to other eyepiece waveguide embodiments described herein, such as those shown in Figure 20-22 and described below.)

[0288] In other words, this technique for extending the field of view of the eyepiece waveguide 1900 involves the lattice vectors G1 and G in the ICG region 1940. -1 However, this means that the field of view is designed to be longer than that of embodiments that are constrained in all dimensions by a range of propagation angles that can fit within the radial dimension of the k-space ring of a given eyepiece waveguide. Grid vectors G1, G -1 Since the length is increased by decreasing the lattice period Λ, this means that the ICG region 1940 has a finer pitch than what would conventionally be used for light of a given angular frequency ω, ensuring that the input beam can be diffracted entirely into the stimulated modes.

[0289] Naturally, according to the embodiment illustrated in Figure 19, the FOV rectangle is larger in size and the grid vectors G1, G are longer. -1A part of the translated FOV rectangle extends beyond the outer periphery of a larger disk in the k-space schematic after diffraction by the ICG region 1940. Since k-vectors outside this disk are not allowed, the input beams corresponding to those k-vectors are not diffracted by the ICG region 1940. Instead, only the input beams corresponding to the k-vectors within the shaded portion of the translated FOV rectangle in KSD2 enter the guided propagation mode within the eyepiece waveguide 1900. Input beams that would diffract in the +1 order with k-vectors that would be outside the outer disk of the k-space schematic are not allowed to diffract and are thus lost. Similarly, input beams that would diffract in the -1 order with k-vectors that would be outside the outer disk of the k-space schematic are not allowed to diffract and are thus lost. Fortunately, the beams lost from each of these diffraction orders are not the same. This enables the full field of view to be restored in the EPE region 1960. Even if neither the clipped FOV rectangle located at the 3 o'clock position of the k-space schematic KSD2 nor the clipped FOV rectangle located at the 9 o'clock position contains the full set of input beams, when these clipped FOV rectangles are properly recombined in the EPE region 1960, the full set of input beams can be restored.

[0290] <0001 / 486>The k-space schematics KSD3a and KSD3b respectively illustrate the k-space action of the diffraction gratings within the left OPE region 1950a and the right OPE region 1950b. As discussed with respect to FIG. 18A As such, these OPE regions can include diffraction gratings that are oriented to translate the FOV rectangles located at the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock positions to the 6 o'clock position. However, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 19, the orientation of the diffraction gratings within the OPE regions 1950a, 1950b may need to be adjusted to accomplish this purpose. Specifically, since the lattice vectors G1, G associated with the ICG region 1940 -1 can no longer terminate at the midpoints of the k-space rings at the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock positions, the magnitude and direction of the lattice vectors associated with the OPE regions translate the FOV rectangle to a location at the 6 o'clock position (e.g., ky It may need to be adjusted to translate to (those that are centered within the k-space ring in the direction). These adjustments can be achieved by altering the orientation of the lattice lines within the OPE regions 1950a, 1950b, and / or by changing its lattice period Λ compared to the OPE region in embodiments without extended FOV.

[0291] The shaded right portion of the FOV rectangle in KSD3a represents a first sub-part of the FOV, while the shaded left portion of the FOV rectangle in KSD3b represents a second sub-part of the FOV. In the illustrated embodiment, these FOV sub-parts overlap within the central region of the FOV rectangle.

[0292] The k-space diagram KSD3a illustrates that when the FOV rectangle located at the 9 o'clock position is translated to the 6 o'clock position, only the beam corresponding to the shaded right-hand region of the FOV rectangle exists. The k-space diagram KSD3b shows the same phenomenon, but the absent beam is one whose k-vector is located on the opposite side of the FOV rectangle. Finally, the k-space diagram KSD4 shows that when two truncated FOV rectangles are superimposed at the 6 o'clock position of the k-space ring, the unshaded portion of the FOV rectangle is filled, meaning that all the beams constituting the complete FOV of the input image exist here and can be projected out of the eyepiece waveguide 1900 toward the user's eye by the diffraction grating in the EPE region 1960. Similar to the embodiment in Figure 18A, the EPE region 1960 translates the FOV rectangle back to the origin in the k-space diagram KSD4. Importantly, the two truncated FOV rectangles from the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock positions should be translated to the 6 o'clock position in such a manner that they maintain the relative positions of the shaded areas within the original FOV rectangle. This ensures that the beams of light within each sub-part of the FOV have the correct propagation angles so as to recreate the original image.

[0293] From a physical standpoint, this means that the eyepiece waveguide 1900 divides the image field into multiple parts. The light beams corresponding to each of these parts of the image field propagate through the eyepiece waveguide 1900 along different paths, where they can be replicated in a spatially dispersed manner by different OPE regions 1950a and 1950b. Finally, these separate parts of the image field are recombined within the EPE region 1960 and projected toward the user's eye.

[0294] In some embodiments, the various diffraction gratings of the eyepiece 1900 can be designed such that there is overlap between the subsets of beam supplied to the EPE region 1960 by the separate OPE regions 1950a, 1950b. In other embodiments, however, the diffraction grating can be designed such that each OPE region 1950a, 1950b supplies a unique subset of beam required to completely recreate the input image. Exemplary AR eyepiece waveguide with extended field of view and overlapping MPE and EPE regions.

[0295] Figure 19 illustrates an embodiment of an eyepiece waveguide with an extended field of view (FOV) that replicates the input beam using the OPE region, although other embodiments may advantageously use the MPE region. Figures 20A–20L illustrate one such exemplary embodiment.

[0296] Figure 20A illustrates an embodiment of an extended FOV eyepiece waveguide 2000, with an MPE region 2050 overlapped by an EPE region 2060. The eyepiece waveguide 2000 can achieve an extended field of view that may be greater than the range of propagation angles that can be supported by the induced propagation mode in the thickness direction of the waveguide. The eyepiece waveguide 2000 has a first surface 2000a and a second surface 2000b. Further, as will be discussed below, different diffraction features can be formed on or within the opposite surfaces 2000a, 2000b of the eyepiece waveguide 2000. In Figure 20A, the two surfaces 2000a, 2000b of the eyepiece waveguide 2000 are shown displaced relative to each other in the xy plane. However, this is for illustrative purposes only, and it is possible to show different diffraction features formed on or within each surface. It should be understood that the first surface 2000a and the second surface 2000b are aligned with each other in the xy plane. In addition, the MPE region 2050 and the EPE region 2060 are shown to be the same size and precisely aligned in the xy plane, but in other embodiments they may have somewhat different sizes and may be partially misaligned. In some embodiments, the MPE region 2050 and the EPE region 2060 overlap with each other by at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, or at least 95%.

[0297] The eyepiece waveguide 2000 includes an ICG region 2040, an MPE region 2050, and an EPE region 2060. The ICG region 2040 receives a set of input beams from the projector device. As described in one of the specifications, the input beams can propagate from the projector device through free space, generally in the z-direction, until they are incident on the ICG region 2040. The ICG region 2040 diffracts the input beams so that all or at least some of them enter an inductive propagation mode within the eyepiece waveguide 2000. The grating lines of the ICG region 2040 can be oriented to direct the diffracted beams toward the MPE region 2050 in the -y-direction.

[0298] The MPE region 2050 may include multiple diffraction features exhibiting periodicity along multiple axes. The MPE region 2050 may consist of an array of scattering features arranged in a 2D grating pattern. Individual scattering features can be, for example, depressions or protrusions of any shape. The 2D array of scattering features has associated grating vectors derived from the reciprocal grating pattern of its 2D grating pattern. In one embodiment, the MPE region 2050 may be a 2D diffraction grating consisting of a cross grating with grating lines that repeat along two or more directions of periodicity. The diffraction features constituting the MPE region 2050 may have a relatively low diffraction efficiency (e.g., 10% or less). As discussed herein, this allows beams of light to be replicated in multiple directions in a spatially dispersed manner as they propagate through the MPE region 2050.

[0299] Figure 20B illustrates a portion of an exemplary 2D grating that may be used within the MPE region 2050 of an eyepiece waveguide 2000, along with its associated grating vectors. While a cross-grid is illustrated, a 2D periodic grating may instead consist of individual scattering features located, for example, at the intersections of the illustrated grating lines. The 2D grating has a first set of grating lines 2056 that repeat along a first periodicity direction. These grating lines 2056 have associated fundamental grating vectors G that point along the periodicity direction of the first set of grating lines 2056 and have a magnitude equal to 2π / a (where a is the period of the first set of grating lines 2056). The 2D grating shown in Figure 20B is also associated with harmonics of the first fundamental grating vectors G. These include higher harmonics such as -G and 2G, -2G, etc. The 2D grid within the MPE region 2050 also has a second set of grid lines 2057 that are repeated along the direction of the second periodicity. In some embodiments, the directions of the first and second periodicity are not perpendicular. The second set of grid lines 2057 points along the direction of the periodicity of the second set of grid lines, and 2π / b (wherein b is the second set) The 2D grating has an associated fundamental lattice vector H with a magnitude equal to the period of the lattice line 2057. The 2D grating shown in Figure 20B is also associated with harmonics of the second fundamental lattice vector H. These include higher harmonics such as -H and 2H, -2H, etc. Finally, any 2D array of diffraction features will also have associated lattice vectors pointing in a direction determined by integer linear combinations (superpositions) of the fundamental lattice vectors G and H. In the illustrated embodiments, these superpositions result in additional lattice vectors, which are also shown in Figure 20B. These include, for example, -G, -H, H+G, HG, GH, and -(H+G). Although Figure 20B illustrates only the first-order lattice vectors and their superpositions associated with the 2D diffraction grating, higher-order lattice vectors may also be present.

[0300] Figure 20C is a k-space schematic diagram KSD1 illustrating the k-space action of the ICG region 2040 of the eyepiece waveguide 2000. The FOV rectangle centered at the origin of KSD1 represents the set of input beams projected toward the ICG region 2040 by the projector device. x - The dimensions of the FOV rectangle in the x-direction represent the FOV of the input beam in the x-direction, while k y -The dimensions of the FOV rectangle in the - direction represent the FOV of the input beam in the y- direction. As shown in the illustration, in this particular embodiment, the k of the FOV rectangle x The dimensions are greater than the width of the k-space ring.

[0301] Since the MPE region 2050 is located in the -y-direction from the ICG region 2040 according to the physical layout of the eyepiece waveguide 2000 shown in Figure 20A, the diffraction grating within the ICG region 2040 can be designed to diffract the input beam in that direction. Thus, KSD1 in Figure 20C is the ICG region 2040 with its FOV rectangle at the 6 o'clock position in the k-space ring from the origin of the k-space schematic. y- Indicates a parallel shift to a location on the axis. At this particular location, the wider dimension of the FOV rectangle is oriented in the azimuthal direction of the k-space ring, and therefore the FOV rectangle fits entirely within the ring. This means that all beams represented by the FOV rectangle enter the inductive propagation mode within the eyepiece waveguide 2000 and generally propagate toward the MPE region 2050 in the -y direction.

[0302] As in other MPE regions discussed herein (e.g., 1650, 1750), the MPE region 2050 expands the image pupil in multiple directions by replicating the input beam in a spatially dispersed manner as they propagate through it. Figures 20D–20F and 20H illustrate this behavior of the MPE region 2050 in k-space.

[0303] Figure 20D is a k-space schematic KSD2 illustrating a portion of the k-space action of the MPE region 2050 of the eyepiece waveguide 2000. The k-space schematic includes a shaded FOV rectangle located at the 6 o'clock position of the k-space ring. This is the location of the FOV rectangle after the ICG region 2040 couples the input beam into the eyepiece waveguide 2000 and diffracts them toward the MPE region 2050. Figure 20D shows how the 2D grating within the MPE region 2050 translates the FOV rectangle using the grating vectors shown in Figure 20B. Since there are eight grating vectors, the MPE region 2050 attempts to translate the FOV rectangle from the 6 o'clock position in the k-space ring to eight possible new locations in the k-space schematic. Of these eight possible locations, five are entirely outside the outer periphery of the k-space schematic. These locations are illustrated using an unshaded FOV rectangle. k-vectors outside the outer periphery of the k-space diagram are not allowed, and therefore none of those five lattice vectors result in diffraction. However, there are three lattice vectors (i.e., G, -H, and GH) that result in a translation of the FOV rectangle to a new position within the boundary of the k-space diagram, at least partially. One of these locations is at the 9 o'clock position in the k-space ring, another at the 12 o'clock position, and the last at the 3 o'clock position. k-vectors at these locations are allowed and have induced propagation modes. Therefore, the FOV rectangles at these locations are shaded to show that the beam of light is diffracted into those three states.

[0304] For the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock positions in the k-space ring, the translated FOV rectangle is its k xBecause the dimensions are larger than the width of the ring, they do not fit perfectly within the ring. Therefore, the translated FOV rectangle at these locations is truncated, and the beams, whose k-vectors lie outside the outer periphery of the k-space schematic, are not induced. This is represented in KSD2 by the unshaded portions of the translated FOV rectangle at the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock positions. This means that the sets of beams diffusing through the MPE region 2050 in the +x and -x directions, respectively, do not contain all of the original set of input beams. The set of beams propagating through the MPE region 2050 in the +x direction loses the beam corresponding to the right side of the FOV rectangle, while the set of beams propagating in the -x direction loses the beam corresponding to the left side of the FOV rectangle. However, collectively, all beams that make up the FOV still exist.

[0305] The shaded right portion of the translated FOV rectangle at the 9 o'clock position represents the first sub-part of the FOV, while the shaded left portion of the FOV rectangle at the 3 o'clock position represents the second sub-part of the FOV. In the illustrated embodiment, these FOV sub-parts overlap in the central region of the FOV rectangle (although overlap is not necessarily required).

[0306] As already stated, in some embodiments, the first and second periodic axes in the 2D grid of the MPE region 2050 are not orthogonal. This, in turn, means that the fundamental grid vectors G and H are also not orthogonal. This allows the 2D grid in the MPE region 2050 to be translated such that the centers of the FOV rectangles at the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock positions are located beyond the midpoint of the k-space ring, while the centers of the FOV rectangles at the 6 o'clock and 12 o'clock positions are located at or near the midpoint of the ring. As a result, the translated FOV rectangles at the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock positions are truncated, which results in the FOV being divided into first and second sub-parts. This is noteworthy in the illustrated embodiments, as dividing the FOV into first and second sub-parts is part of the process for increasing the FOV of the eyepiece waveguide 2000.

[0307] Figure 20E is a k-space schematic KSD3 illustrating another portion of the k-space interaction in the MPE region 2050 of the eyepiece waveguide 2000. KSD3 contains a partially shaded FOV rectangle located at the 3 o'clock position in the k-space ring. This is one of the locations of the translated FOV rectangle after the first interaction in the MPE region 2050. Figure 20E shows how, during subsequent interactions, the 2D grid in the MPE region 2050 translates this FOV rectangle using the grid vectors shown in Figure 20B. Again, with eight grid vectors present, the MPE region 2050 attempts to translate the FOV rectangle from the 3 o'clock position in the k-space ring to a new location that can be considered as eight possible locations in the k-space schematic. Of these eight possible locations, five are again outside the outer periphery of the k-space schematic. These locations are illustrated using an unshaded FOV rectangle. k-vectors outside the outer periphery of the k-space diagram are not allowed, so none of those five lattice vectors result in diffraction. However, there are three lattice vectors (i.e., G, H, and H+G) that result in a translation of the FOV rectangle to a new position within the boundary of the k-space diagram, at least partially. One of these locations is at the 9 o'clock position in the k-space ring, another at the 12 o'clock position, and the last one returns to the 6 o'clock position. Since k-vectors at these locations are allowed and result in stimulated propagation modes, the FOV rectangle at these locations is shaded to indicate that the beam of light is diffracted into those three states (or the zero-order diffracted beam can remain in the propagation state represented by the FOV rectangle at the 3 o'clock position).

[0308] As shown in Figure 20E, the translated FOV rectangle at the 3 o'clock position of the k-space ring is already truncated as a result of the first diffraction interaction within the MPE region 2050 shown in Figure 20D. Therefore, only the truncated FOV rectangle is translated at the 9 o'clock, 12 o'clock, and 6 o'clock positions of the k-space ring. In the case of the 9 o'clock position, the FOV rectangle is further truncated, meaning that only the beam corresponding to the centrally shaded portion of that particular translated FOV rectangle is actually diffracted to this state.

[0309] Figure 20F is similar to Figure 20E but shows the k-space action of the MPE region 2050 on the FOV rectangle from Figure 20D translated to the 9 o'clock position (instead of the 3 o'clock position as shown in Figure 20E). The action of the MPE region 2050 on the beam in this state is a mirror image (about the k y -axis) of that shown in Figure 20E.

[0310] Although not shown, a similar k-space schematic can be derived to illustrate the k-space action of the MPE region 2050 on a beam of light traveling with a propagation angle indicated by the FOV rectangle located at the 12 o'clock position of the k-space ring. That k-space schematic would show that the 2D diffraction gratings within the MPE region 2050 would diffract those beams into the states represented by the FOV rectangles at the 3 o'clock, 6 o'clock, and 9 o'clock positions within the ring of the k-space schematics in Figures 20D, 20E, and 20F.

[0311] As shown by the k-space schematics in Figures 20D - 20F, when the diffracted light beam from the ICG region 2040 arrives at the MPE region 2050, many replicated beams are formed in a spatially dispersed pattern. Also, all of these replicated beams propagate in one of the directions indicated by the FOV rectangles at the 3 o'clock, 6 o'clock, 9 o'clock, and 12 o'clock positions within the k-space ring. The light beam propagating through the MPE region 2050 can undergo any number of interactions with the diffraction features of the MPE region, resulting in any number of changes in the propagation direction. Thus, the light beam is replicated along both the x - and y - directions throughout the MPE region 2050. This is represented by the arrows within the MPE region 2050 of the eyepiece waveguide 2000 in Figure 20A.

[0312] Since the EPE region 2060 overlaps with the MPE region 2050 in the xy plane of the eyepiece waveguide 2000, the replicated light beams also interact with the EPE region 2060 as they diffuse through the waveguide and reflect back and forth between the first surface 2000a and the second surface 2000b via total internal reflection. When one of the light beams interacts with the EPE region 2060, a portion of its power is diffracted and exits the eyepiece waveguide toward the user's eye, as indicated by the arrow in the EPE region 2060 of the eyepiece waveguide 2000 in Figure 20A.

[0313] In some embodiments, the EPE region 2060 includes a diffraction grating whose lines are oriented perpendicular to the lines of the diffraction grating that constitute the ICG region 2040. An example of this is shown in Figure 20A, where the ICG region 2040 has grating lines extending in the x-direction and periodically repeating in the y-direction, while the EPE region 2060 has grating lines extending in the y-direction and periodically repeating in the x-direction. It is advantageous for the grating lines in the EPE region 2060 to be oriented perpendicular to the grating lines in the ICG region 2040, as this helps ensure that the light beam will interact with the MPE region 2050 before being coupled out of the eyepiece waveguide 2000 by the EPE region 2060. This behavior is shown in k-space in Figure 20G.

[0314] Figure 20G is a k-space schematic KSD5 illustrating the k-space action of the EPE region 2060 within the eyepiece waveguide 2000 shown in Figure 20A. As already discussed, light The beam propagates through the MPE region 2050 in all directions indicated by the FOV rectangles located at the 12, 3, 6, and 9 o'clock positions of the k-space ring. Furthermore, since the EPE region 2060 physically overlaps with the MPE region 2050, the beam of light in all of these propagation states diffuses through the MPE region and comes into contact with the diffraction grating within the EPE region.

[0315] The periodicity axis of the diffraction grating within the EPE region 2060 is ±kx -Since they point in a direction, the grid vectors associated with the EPE region also point in the same direction. Figure 20G shows how the EPE region 2060 attempts to use these grid vectors to translate the FOV rectangle to the 12 o'clock, 3 o'clock, 6 o'clock, and 9 o'clock positions. ±k x Due to its orientation in the direction, the lattice vector associated with the EPE region 2060 can only translate the FOV rectangles located at the 3 o'clock and 6 o'clock positions of the k-space ring back to the origin of the k-space diagram. Therefore, the EPE region 2060 can only externally couple beams of light that are in one of those two propagation states. That is, the EPE region does not externally couple beams of light propagating in states corresponding to the FOV rectangles at the 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock positions of the k-space ring.

[0316] If the periodic axis for the lattice lines in the EPE region 2060 is parallel to, and not perpendicular to, the periodic axis for the lattice lines in the ICG region 2040, then the lattice vector associated with the EPE region is ±k y It is important to note that this will point in a direction. This will, in turn, allow the light beam in the propagation state corresponding to the FOV rectangle at the 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock positions of the k-space ring to be externally coupled by the EPE region. Since the input beam arrives in the MPE / EPE region in the propagation state corresponding to the 6 o'clock position, this will mean that the light beam may be externally coupled by the EPE region 2060 before it interacts with the MPE region 2050 and is thereby diffused, which would typically be undesirable. The fact that the periodic axis for the lattice lines in the EPE region 2060 is perpendicular to that of the ICG region 2040 means that the light beam will typically need to undergo a change of direction at least once within the MPE region, possibly beyond it, before being externally coupled. This allows for an improved spread of the light beam within the MPE region 2050.

[0317] Figure 20H is a k-space schematic KSD6 summarizing the k-space action of the eyepiece waveguide 2000 shown in Figure 20A. This is essentially a superposition of the k-space schematics shown in Figures 20C-20G. Again, the k-space schematic in Figure 20H shows an FOV rectangle having at least one dimension greater than the width of the k-space ring. In some embodiments, at least one dimension of the FOV rectangle can be up to approximately twice the width of the k-space ring. In the illustrated embodiments, the horizontal dimension of the FOV rectangle is greater than the width of the k-space ring, but the same technique can also be used to extend the vertical field of view.

[0318] KSD6 includes an FOV rectangle centered at the origin of the schematic diagram. Again, the location of the FOV rectangle can explain either the input beam being projected into the eyepiece waveguide 2000 or the replicated output beam being projected out of the waveguide toward the user's eye. In the illustrated embodiment, the action of the ICG region 2040 in k-space is to translate the FOV rectangle downward from the center of the k-space schematic diagram to the 6 o'clock position. As shown, the ICG region 2040 has one of its grid vectors set to -k y It can be designed to be oriented in the -y direction. This causes the diffracted beam to propagate toward the MPE region 2050 in the -y direction. Furthermore, the ICG region 2040 can be designed such that the magnitude of its lattice vector copies the FOV rectangle to a position that does not perfectly fit within the k-space ring at the 6 o'clock position. This is, for example, an ICG region 204 with a pitch such that the magnitude of its primary lattice vector is equal to the distance from the origin of the k-space schematic to the midpoint of the k-space ring. This can be done by designing 0. Since the FOV rectangle at the 6 o'clock position is entirely within the k-space ring, all diffracted beams enter the induction mode of propagation.

[0319] As already discussed, the MPE region contains multiple diffraction features exhibiting periodicity along multiple different axes. This means that the MPE region has multiple associated lattice vectors that can translate the FOV rectangle from the 6 o'clock position to any of the 9 o'clock, 12 o'clock, and 3 o'clock positions. During additional interactions with the MPE region 2050, the FOV rectangle can be translated back and forth between any of the 12 o'clock, 3 o'clock, 6 o'clock, and 9 o'clock positions. This is represented by double arrows between their propagation states. As shown in Figure 20H, the FOV rectangles at the 3 o'clock and 6 o'clock positions of the k-space ring are truncated, meaning that not all beams of light associated with the complete FOV exist in each of their propagation states. However, when those sub-parts of the FOV are considered collectively, all beams of light that constitute the complete FOV do exist. Therefore, when the FOV rectangle is translated back from the 3 o'clock or 6 o'clock position to the origin of the k-space schematic, so that the beam of light is ultimately externally coupled toward the user's eye, all the beams required to constitute the full FOV of the input image are present and projected from the eyepiece waveguide 2000.

[0320] Figure 20I is a schematic diagram illustrating how a beam of light diffuses through the eyepiece waveguide 2000 shown in Figure 20A. The guided beam, incident on the MPE region 2050 and propagating from the ICG region 2040 in the -y-direction, is duplicated into many beams in a spatially dispersed manner, some of which propagate in the ±y-direction (corresponding to the FOV rectangles at the 6 o'clock and 12 o'clock positions in the k-space ring) and some propagate in the ±x-direction (corresponding to the FOV rectangles at the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock positions in the k-space ring). In this way, the light beam diffuses laterally throughout the entire eyepiece waveguide 2000.

[0321] Figure 20J illustrates how the diffraction efficiency of the MPE region 2050 within the eyepiece waveguide 2000 can be spatially varied to improve the uniformity of brightness within the waveguide. In the figure, darker shades within the MPE region 2050 represent higher diffraction efficiency, while brighter shades represent lower diffraction efficiency. Spatial variation in the diffraction efficiency of the MPE region 2050 can be achieved by introducing spatial variations in lattice characteristics such as lattice depth, duty cycle, blaze angle, and tilt angle.

[0322] As shown in Figure 20J, the uniformity of brightness within the waveguide can be improved by designing the portion of the MPE region 2050 closer to the ICG region 2040 to have a higher diffraction efficiency. This is because, since the light beam enters the MPE region 2050 from the ICG region 2040, more light is present in this area, and therefore the diffraction efficiency can be higher, so that the light is diffused more effectively to other parts of the MPE region 2050 where less light is present. In addition, or alternatively, multiple ICG regions can be provided at various angular locations around the periphery of the MPE region 2050 to input light to more locations, thereby improving the uniformity of brightness within the waveguide.

[0323] Brightness uniformity can also be improved by designing the central portion of the MPE region 2050 to have a higher diffraction efficiency along the direction in which the beam propagates from the ICG region 2040 into the MPE region 2050. Again, because the ICG region 2040 is located along the axis in which the light enters, more light is present in this area of ​​the MPE region 2050. Because more light is present in this area, the diffraction efficiency can be higher, allowing the light to diffuse more effectively to other parts of the MPE region 2050.

[0324] Figure 20K illustrates how the diffraction efficiency of the EPE region 2060 within the eyepiece waveguide 2000 can be spatially varied to improve the uniformity of brightness within the waveguide. Darker shades within region 2060 again represent higher diffraction efficiency, while brighter shades represent lower diffraction efficiency. EPE region 2060 can be designed to have higher diffraction efficiency within the surrounding area. Higher diffraction efficiency within the surrounding area of ​​EPE region 2060 helps to externally couple the light to the user's eye before the light is lost outside the edge of the waveguide.

[0325] Figure 20L illustrates an embodiment of an eyepiece waveguide 2000, which includes one or more diffraction mirrors 2070 around the peripheral edge of the waveguide. The diffraction mirrors 2070 can receive light that propagates through the MPE / EPE region and exits from the edge of the waveguide 2000. The diffraction mirrors can then diffract the light back into the MPE / EPE region so that it can be used to contribute to the projection of an image from the eyepiece waveguide 2000. As already discussed, the MPE region 2050 allows beam propagation in four general directions: generally, the x-direction (i.e., represented by the FOV rectangle at the 3 o'clock position of the k-space ring), generally, the -x-direction (i.e., represented by the FOV rectangle at the 9 o'clock position), generally, the y-direction (i.e., represented by the FOV rectangle at the 12 o'clock position), and generally, the -y-direction (i.e., represented by the FOV rectangle at the 6 o'clock position). The diffraction mirror 2070 can be designed to diffract the beam to one of these identical propagation states.

[0326] For example, the diffraction mirror 2070 on the left side of the eyepiece waveguide 2000 can generally diffract a beam incident from the x-direction into a propagation state represented by the FOV rectangle at the 3 o'clock position, such that they generally propagate back through the OPE region 2050 in the x-direction. Similarly, the diffraction mirror 2070 at the bottom of the eyepiece waveguide 2010 can generally diffract a beam incident from the y-direction into a propagation state represented by the FOV rectangle at the 12 o'clock position, such that they generally propagate back through the OPE region 2050 in the y-direction.

[0327] Figure 20L illustrates the k-space action of the bottom diffraction mirror 2070. As shown in the k-space schematic, the bottom diffraction mirror 2070 can be designed with a period that is half that of the grating in the ICG region 2040. This finer period results in a bottom diffraction mirror with an associated grating vector twice the length of that of the ICG region 2040. Thus, the bottom diffraction mirror can translate the FOV rectangle from the 6 o'clock position to the 12 o'clock position in the k-space ring. Although illustrated for the eyepiece waveguide 2000, the same technique (i.e., spatial variation of diffraction efficiency in the OPE, MPE, EPE regions, etc., and the use of diffraction mirrors along the peripheral edge) can also be used in combination with any of the other embodiments described herein.

[0328] Figure 20M illustrates an exemplary embodiment of eyeglasses 70 incorporating one or more instances of an eyepiece waveguide 2000. A first instance of the eyepiece waveguide 2000 is integrated into the left viewing portion of the eyeglasses 70, while a second instance of the eyepiece waveguide 2000 is integrated into the right viewing portion. In the illustrated embodiment, each waveguide 2000 measures approximately 50 × 30 mm. 2 However, many different sizes can be used. Each waveguide 2000 may be accompanied by a separate projector 2020 that projects an image into the corresponding waveguide. Assuming that the eyepiece waveguide is fabricated from a material with a refractive index of 1.8, some embodiments of the eyepiece waveguide 2000 are capable of achieving an FOV of 90° × 45°, however, some embodiments of the eyepiece waveguide may be designed for a smaller FOV of about 60° × 45° to satisfy typical design constraints of eyebox volume (it may be advantageous to send a portion of the FOV to both sides of the eyepiece waveguide to provide a properly sized eyebox) and to avoid screen door artifacts resulting from sparsely spaced output beams.

[0329] Figure 20N illustrates another exemplary embodiment of the eyeglasses 70 incorporating one or more instances of the eyepiece waveguide 2000. This embodiment of the eyeglasses 70 is similar to that shown in Figure 20M, except that the orientation of the waveguide 2000 and the accompanying projector 2020 is rotated 90° toward the temples of the eyeglasses 70. In this configuration, several embodiments of the eyepiece waveguide 2000 can achieve an FOV of 45° × 90°, assuming that the eyepiece waveguide is fabricated from a material with a refractive index of 1.8, although some embodiments may be designed for a smaller FOV of approximately 45° × 60° to satisfy other design constraints.

[0330] Figure 21A illustrates another embodiment of the eyepiece waveguide 2100, with an MPE region 2150 overlapping with an EPE region 2160. Similar to the eyepiece waveguide 2000 shown in Figure 20A, the eyepiece waveguide 2100 shown in Figure 21A can achieve an extended field of view, which may be greater than the range of propagation angles that can be supported by the induced propagation mode in the thickness direction of the waveguide. The eyepiece waveguide 2100 has a first surface 2100a and a second surface 2100b. Different diffraction features can be formed on or within the opposite surfaces 2100a, 2100b of the eyepiece waveguide 2100, as will be discussed further below. The two surfaces 2100a, 2100b of the eyepiece waveguide 2100 are shown in Figure 21A as being displaced relative to each other in the xy plane. However, this is for illustrative purposes only, and it is possible to show different diffraction features formed on or within each surface. It should be understood that the first surface 2100a and the second surface 2100b are aligned with each other in the xy plane. In addition, the MPE region 2150 and the EPE region 2160 are shown to be the same size and precisely aligned in the xy plane, but in other embodiments they may have somewhat different sizes and may be partially misaligned. In some embodiments, the MPE region 2150 and the EPE region 2160 overlap with each other by at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, or at least 95%.

[0331] Like the eyepiece waveguide 2000 shown in Figure 20A, the eyepiece waveguide 2100 shown in Figure 21A includes an MPE region 2150 and an EPE region 2160. Unlike the eyepiece waveguide 2000 shown in Figure 20A, the eyepiece waveguide 2100 shown in Figure 21A includes two ICG regions 2140a and 2140b, located on opposite sides of the MPE / EPE region, rather than a single ICG region. Each of the ICG regions 2140a and 2140b may have its own associated projector. Each of the two projectors can input a sub-portion of the full input image FOV into the eyepiece waveguide 2100. Thus, each of the ICG regions 2140a and 2140b can similarly be used to internally couple input beams corresponding to sub-portions of the FOV. These sub-parts can then be assembled in the exit pupil of the eyepiece waveguide 2100.

[0332] The left ICG region 2140a receives a first set of input beams from a first projector device corresponding to a first sub-part of the FOV, while the right ICG region 2140b receives a second set of input beams from a second projector device corresponding to a second sub-part of the FOV. The first and second sub-parts of the FOV may be unique, or they may partially overlap. The first set of input beams may be centered towards the left ICG region 2140a, generally projected along the -z- direction but centered around an input beam having a component propagating in the -x- direction, while the second set of input beams may be centered towards the right ICG region 2140b, generally projected along the -z- direction but centered around an input beam having a component propagating in the +x- direction. The left ICG region 2140a is centered on the first input beam such that at least a portion enters an inductive mode propagating in the +x- direction. The first set of input beams is diffracted, and the right ICG region 2140b diffracts the second set of input beams so that at least a portion of it enters an induction mode propagating in the -x- direction. In this way, both the first and second sets of input beams, corresponding to the first and second sub-parts of the FOV, are coupled into the eyepiece waveguide 2100 so that they propagate toward the MPE region 2150 located between the left and right ICG regions 2140a and 2140b.

[0333] Similar to the eyepiece waveguide 2000 shown in Figure 20A, the eyepiece waveguide 2100 shown in Figure 21A may also include an MPE region 2150 formed on or within a first side 2100a of the waveguide, and an overlapping EPE region 2160 formed on or within a second side 2100b of the waveguide. The MPE region 2150 in the eyepiece waveguide 2100 shown in Figure 21A may be analogous to the MPE region 2050 in the eyepiece waveguide 2000 shown in Figure 20A. That is, the MPE region 2150 may include multiple diffraction features exhibiting periodicity along multiple axes. Similarly, the EPE region 2160 in the eyepiece waveguide 2100 shown in Figure 21A may be analogous to the EPE region 2060 in the eyepiece waveguide 2000 shown in Figure 20A. That is, the EPE region 2160 may contain a diffraction grating whose periodicity axis is orthogonal to that of the two ICG regions 2140a and 2140b. The actions of the MPE region 2150 and EPE region 2160 in Figure 21A can also be analogous to those of the MPE region 2050 and EPE region 2060 in Figure 20A, as shown in Figures 21B-21D.

[0334] Figure 21B is a k-space schematic KSD1 illustrating the k-space effect of the eyepiece waveguide 2100 on a set of first input beams corresponding to a first sub-part of the input image's FOV. The FOV rectangle, centered at the origin of KSD1, represents the beam of light corresponding to the full input image FOV that should be projected toward the user's eye by the eyepiece waveguide 2100. The overall size of the FOV rectangle is up to approximately twice the width of the k-space ring. Thus, the eyepiece waveguide 2100 shown in Figure 21A is designed to have an improved FOV similar to the embodiments shown in Figures 19 and 20A. However, the set of first input beams projected toward the left ICG region 2140a corresponds only to the shaded sub-part of the FOV rectangle. As shown in Figure 21B, the shaded part of the FOV rectangle corresponding to the set of first input beams is the left-side part of the FOV rectangle. The center of the shaded part of the FOV rectangle is k-k x In the - direction, because it is offset from the origin of the k-space schematic, the first set of input beams from the first projector is centered not around a beam that propagates precisely in the -z direction (which would correspond to the case where the shaded portion of the FOV rectangle is centered around the origin of the k-space schematic), but rather around an oblique beam with a component propagating in the -x direction.

[0335] The left ICG region 2140a has a lattice vector of ±k xIt can be designed to be oriented in the x-direction. The action of the left ICG region 2140a in k-space is to translate the shaded left portion of the FOV rectangle from the center of the k-space schematic to the 3 o'clock position in the k-space ring. This will cause the diffracted beam to propagate generally in the x-direction toward the MPE region 2150. In some embodiments, the shaded left portion of the FOV rectangle can constitute more than half of the FOV rectangle. Also in some embodiments, the left ICG region 2140a can be designed to translate the center of the FOV rectangle for any radial position from the midpoint of the k-space ring to the outer boundary of the ring. Furthermore, the left ICG region 2140a can be designed such that the magnitude of its lattice vector copies the FOV rectangle to a position where the shaded portion fits perfectly within the k-space ring at the 3 o'clock position. This can be accomplished, for example, by setting the magnitude of the ICG lattice vector to exceed the distance from the origin of the k-space schematic to the midpoint of the k-space ring. The shaded portion of the FOV rectangle at the 3 o'clock position is entirely within the k-space ring, so all of the first set of input beams corresponding to the first sub-part of the FOV enter the propagation induction mode. The FOV rectangle at the 3 o'clock position has a right-side portion that extends outside the ring, but the main portion of the FOV rectangle corresponds to the input beam, which is not necessarily part of the first sub-portion of the FOV provided to the left ICG region 2140a by its associated projector.

[0336] The left ICG region 2140a can also diffract a portion of the first input beam set in the opposite direction (i.e., shift the FOV rectangle to the 9 o'clock position of the k-space ring), but in the illustrated embodiment of the eyepiece waveguide 2100, those particular diffracted beams would simply exit the waveguide edge.

[0337] The MPE region 2150 includes multiple diffraction features having multiple periodic axes. In some embodiments, the MPE region 2150 can be analogous to the MPE region 2050 illustrated and discussed with respect to Figures 20A–20M. For example, the MPE region 2150 may have multiple associated lattice vectors that can translate the FOV rectangle from the 3 o'clock position to any of the 6 o'clock, 9 o'clock, and 12 o'clock positions of the k-space ring. As shown in Figure 21B, the shaded portion of the FOV rectangle at the 9 o'clock position of the k-space ring is truncated, meaning that not all of the beam of light associated with the first sub-part of the FOV necessarily exists in its particular propagation state.

[0338] During additional interactions with the MPE region 2150, the FOV rectangle can be translated back and forth between any of the 12 o'clock, 3 o'clock, 6 o'clock, and 9 o'clock positions. This is represented by double arrows between their propagation states in KSD1. Thus, the first set of input beams can be replicated throughout the MPE region 2150 by undergoing multiple interactions with its diffraction features, as described herein. This is indicated by arrows within the OPE region 2150 of the eyepiece waveguide 2100 in Figure 21A.

[0339] Since the EPE region 2160 overlaps with the MPE region 2150 in the xy plane of the eyepiece waveguide 2100, the replicated light beams also interact with the EPE region 2160 as they diffuse through the waveguide and reflect back and forth between the first surface 2100a and the second surface 2100b via total internal reflection. Each time one of the replicated light beams interacts with the EPE region 2160, a portion of its power is diffracted and externally coupled toward the user's eye, as indicated by the arrow in the EPE region 2160 of the eyepiece waveguide 2100 in Figure 21A.

[0340] In some embodiments, the EPE region 2160 includes a diffraction grating whose lines are oriented perpendicular to the lines of the diffraction gratings that constitute the ICG regions 2140a and 2140b. In this particular embodiment, since the ICG regions 2140a and 2140b have grating lines that extend in the y-direction and are periodically repeated in the x-direction, the EPE region 2160 has grating lines that extend in the x-direction and are periodically repeated in the y-direction. Again, it is advantageous that the grating lines in the EPE region 2160 are oriented perpendicular to the grating lines in the ICG regions 2140a and 2140b, as this helps to ensure that the light beam will interact with the MPE region 2150 before being coupled out of the eyepiece waveguide 2100 by the EPE region 2160.

[0341] Figure 21B also illustrates the k-space effect of the EPE region 2160 on the first set of beams corresponding to the first sub-part of the FOV. As already discussed, the beam of light can propagate through the MPE region 2150 in any direction indicated by the FOV rectangle located at the 12, 3, 6, and 9 o'clock positions of the k-space ring. Also, since the EPE region 2160 overlaps with the MPE region 2150, the beam of light in any of these propagation states can interact with the EPE region and be externally coupled from the eyepiece waveguide 2100. The periodic axis of the diffraction grating within the EPE region 2160 is ±k y - Direction Therefore, the lattice vector associated with the EPE region also points in the same direction. Figure 21B shows how the EPE region 2160 thus translates the FOV rectangle, located at the 12 and 6 o'clock positions of the k-space ring, back to the origin of the k-space schematic. Thus, the EPE region 2160 can externally couple only the beams of light in either of those two propagation states. As shown in Figure 21B, once the FOV rectangle is translated back to the center of the k-space schematic KSD1, all of the first set of beams, which constitute the first sub-part of the FOV, are present and projected toward the user's eye.

[0342] Figure 21C is a k-space schematic KSD2 illustrating the k-space effect of the eyepiece waveguide 2100 on a second set of input beams corresponding to a second sub-part of the input image's FOV. Again, the FOV rectangle, centered at the origin of KSD2, represents the beam of light corresponding to the complete input image to be projected toward the user's eye by the eyepiece waveguide 2100. However, the second set of input beams projected toward the right ICG region 2140b corresponds only to the shaded sub-part of the FOV rectangle. As shown in Figure 21C, the shaded portion of the FOV rectangle corresponding to the second set of input beams is the right-hand portion of the FOV rectangle. The center of the shaded portion of the FOV rectangle is +k from the origin of the k-space schematic. x Because it is offset in the - direction, the second set of input beams from the second projector is centered not around a beam that propagates precisely in the -z direction (which would correspond to the case where the shaded portion of the FOV rectangle is centered around the origin of the k-space schematic), but rather around an oblique beam with a component propagating in the +x direction.

[0343] In the illustrated embodiment, the action of the right ICG region 2140b in k-space is to translate the right shaded portion of the FOV rectangle from the center of the k-space schematic to the 9 o'clock position. As shown, the right ICG region 2140b has a grid vector of ±k xIt can be designed to be oriented in the -x direction. This will cause a portion of the diffracted beam to propagate toward the MPE region 2150 in the -x direction. In some embodiments, the shaded right portion of the FOV rectangle can constitute more than half of the FOV rectangle. Also in some embodiments, the right ICG region 2140b can be designed to translate the center of the FOV rectangle for any radial position from the midpoint of the k-space ring to the outer boundary of the ring. Furthermore, the right ICG region 2140b can be designed such that the magnitude of its lattice vector copies the FOV rectangle to a position where the shaded portion fits perfectly within the k-space ring at the 9 o'clock position. This can be done, for example, by designing the ICG such that the magnitude of its lattice vector exceeds the distance from the origin of the k-space diagram to the midpoint of the k-space ring. Since the shaded portion of the FOV rectangle at the 9 o'clock position is perfectly within the k-space ring, all of the second set of input beams corresponding to the second sub-part of the FOV enters the inductive mode of propagation. The FOV rectangle at the 9 o'clock position of the k-space ring has a left-side portion that extends outside the ring, but the main portion of the FOV rectangle corresponds to the input beam, which is not necessarily part of the second sub-portion of the FOV projected into the right ICG region 2140b by its associated projector.

[0344] The right ICG region 2140b can also diffract a portion of the second input beam in the opposite direction (i.e., shift the FOV rectangle to the 3 o'clock position of the k-space ring), but in the illustrated embodiment of the eyepiece waveguide 2100, those particular diffracted beams would simply exit the waveguide.

[0345] As already discussed, the MPE region 2150 can have multiple associated lattice vectors that can translate the FOV rectangle from the 9 o'clock position to any of the 6 o'clock, 3 o'clock, and 12 o'clock positions of the k-space ring. As shown in Figure 21C, the shaded portion of the FOV rectangle at the 3 o'clock position of the k-space ring is truncated, meaning that not all beams of light associated with the second sub-part of the FOV necessarily exist in a particular propagation state. do.

[0346] During additional interactions with the MPE region 2150, the FOV rectangle can be translated back and forth between any of the 12 o'clock, 3 o'clock, 6 o'clock, and 9 o'clock positions. This is represented by double arrows between their propagation states in KSD2. Thus, a second set of input beams can be replicated throughout the MPE region 2150 by undergoing multiple interactions with its diffraction features, as described herein. Again, this is indicated by arrows within the OPE region 2150 of the eyepiece waveguide 2100 in Figure 21A.

[0347] Figure 21C also illustrates the k-space action of the EPE region 2160 on a second set of beams corresponding to a second sub-part of the FOV. As already discussed, the EPE region 2160 translates the FOV rectangle, located at the 12 and 6 o'clock positions of the k-space ring, back to the origin of the k-space schematic. Thus, the EPE region 2160 can externally couple only the beams of light in either of those two propagation states. As shown in Figure 21C, once the FOV rectangle is translated back to the center of the k-space schematic KSD2, all of the second set of beams, constituting the second sub-part of the FOV, are present and projected toward the user's eye.

[0348] Figure 21D is a k-space schematic KSD3 summarizing the k-space action of the eyepiece waveguide 2100 shown in Figure 21A. This is essentially a superposition of the k-space schematics shown in Figures 21B and 21C. Again, the k-space schematic in Figure 21D shows an FOV rectangle having at least one dimension greater than the width of the k-space ring. In some embodiments, at least one dimension of the FOV rectangle can be up to about twice the width of the k-space ring. In the illustrated embodiments, the horizontal dimension of the FOV rectangle is greater than the width of the k-space ring. Although the eyepiece waveguide 2100 is illustrated to provide an extended horizontal field of view, the same technique can also be used to extend the vertical field of view.

[0349] As shown in Figure 21D, using separate projectors and ICG regions 2140a and 2140b, the first and second sets of input beams are projected separately into the eyepiece waveguide 2100. However, once the various FOV rectangles from the 12, 3, 6, and 9 o'clock positions of the k-space ring are translated back to the origin of the k-space schematic and thus externally coupled toward the user's eye, all the beams required to constitute a complete image FOV are present. Furthermore, the first and second sub-parts of the FOV are aligned in k-space with identical relative positions to each other, as in the complete input FOV.

[0350] Figure 21E illustrates an exemplary embodiment of eyeglasses 70 incorporating one or more instances of an eyepiece waveguide 2100. Figure 21F illustrates an exemplary FOV corresponding to the eyeglasses 70 in Figure 21E. The first instance of the eyepiece waveguide 2100 is integrated into the left viewing portion of the eyeglasses 70, while the second instance of the eyepiece waveguide 2100 is integrated into the right viewing portion. In the illustrated embodiment, each eyepiece waveguide 2100 is approximately 50 × 30 mm 2However, many different sizes can be used. Each eyepiece waveguide 2100 may be accompanied by two separate projectors 2120a, 2120b, which each project a sub-portion of the FOV into the corresponding waveguide, as just discussed. In some embodiments, the first projector 2120a for each waveguide 2100 can input light to the temple side of the eyepiece waveguide 2100, while the second projector 2120b can input light to the nose side of the eyepiece waveguide. For eyepiece waveguides made from a material having a refractive index of n=1.8, the projectors 2120a, 2120b can each input a sub-portion of the FOV of 50°×60° or larger, depending on the eyebox size and other design constraints such as screen door artifacts. The full FOV can also be 100°×60° or larger. This is shown as a monocular eyepiece FOV configuration illustrated in Figure 21F. As illustrated by the matching shading, in this configuration, the first projector 2120a...

Claims

1. An eyepiece waveguide for an augmented reality display system, wherein the eyepiece waveguide is An optically transparent substrate having a first surface and a second surface, A first input coupling grid (ICG) region formed on or within one surface of the optically transparent substrate, wherein the first ICG region is configured to receive an input beam of light and couple the input beam of light into the optically transparent substrate as a guided beam, A multidirectional pupil expander (MPE) region formed on or within the first surface of the optically transparent substrate, wherein the MPE region has a plurality of diffraction features exhibiting periodicity along at least a first periodic axis and a second periodic axis, and the MPE region is positioned to receive the guided beam from the first ICG region, diffract it in a plurality of directions, and create a plurality of diffracted beams, An exit pupil expander (EPE) region formed on or within the second surface of the optically transparent substrate, wherein the EPE region is configured to externally couple a pair of the plurality of diffraction beams from the optically transparent substrate as output beams propagating along parallel paths, thereby causing a first portion of the image to appear as if it originates from optical infinity, and to externally couple other diffraction beams from the optically transparent substrate as output divergent beams propagating along divergent paths, and An eyepiece waveguide equipped with an eyepiece lens.

2. The eyepiece waveguide according to claim 1, wherein the MPE region and the EPE region partially overlap.

3. The eyepiece waveguide according to claim 1, wherein the MPE region and the EPE region are substantially equal in size.

4. The eyepiece waveguide according to claim 3, wherein the MPE region and the EPE region are matched to each other.

5. The eyepiece waveguide according to claim 1, wherein the first ICG region comprises a diffraction grating having a plurality of periodically repeating lines, and the EPE region comprises a diffraction grating having a plurality of periodically repeating lines oriented perpendicularly to the plurality of periodically repeating lines of the diffraction grating in the first ICG region.

6. The eyepiece waveguide according to claim 1, wherein the MPE region comprises a two-dimensional lattice pattern of distinct diffraction features.

7. The eyepiece waveguide according to claim 1, wherein the MPE region is provided with a cross-grid.

8. The eyepiece waveguide according to claim 1, wherein the MPE region is configured to create the plurality of diffracted beams by diffracting a portion of the power of the guided beam from the first ICG region in at least four directions.

9. The eyepiece waveguide according to claim 8, wherein one of the four directions corresponds to a zero-order diffracted beam.

10. The eyepiece waveguide according to claim 8, wherein three or more of the four directions correspond to primary diffraction beams.

11. The eyepiece waveguide according to claim 8, wherein the four directions are separated by 90 degrees in angle.

12. The eyepiece waveguide according to claim 1, wherein the MPE region is further configured to increase the number of diffracted beams by diffracting the diffracted beams that have been initially diffracted and are still propagating within the MPE region in the plurality of directions at a plurality of dispersion locations.

13. The eyepiece waveguide according to claim 1, wherein the first periodic axis and the second periodic axis in the diffraction features of the MPE region are not orthogonal.

14. The eyepiece waveguide according to claim 1, wherein the diffraction efficiency of the diffraction features in the MPE region is spatially variable.

15. The eyepiece waveguide according to claim 14, wherein diffraction features located within the MPE region, closer to the first ICG region, have a higher diffraction efficiency.

16. The eyepiece waveguide according to claim 14, wherein diffraction features located within the MPE region that are closer to the axis along which the first ICG region directs the guided beam have a higher diffraction efficiency.

17. The eyepiece waveguide according to claim 1, further comprising one or more additional ICG regions provided at one or more corresponding locations around the MPE region, providing one or more corresponding additional light input beams incident on the MPE region at different locations.

18. The eyepiece waveguide according to claim 1, wherein the diffraction efficiency of the diffraction features within the EPE region is spatially variable.

19. The eyepiece waveguide according to claim 18, wherein the diffraction features located closer to the periphery of the EPE region have a higher diffraction efficiency.

20. The eyepiece waveguide according to claim 1, further comprising one or more diffraction mirrors located around the periphery of the optically transparent substrate.

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