Locally Absorbing Cover Glass for Waveguide Combinations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing waveguide combiners for augmented and virtual reality have distinct grating and non-grating regions, which can lead to visually undesirable appearances.
Innovation Solution
A waveguide combiner design that incorporates a cover glass with an absorption region and a transparent region, where the absorption region does not overlay device structures, and the transparent region overlays the structures, achieving a uniform appearance by matching transmission and reflectivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If waveguide combiners incorporate both grating and non-grating regions, then the device can perform light propagation and overlay functions, but the regions are visually distinct which degrades aesthetic appearance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by introducing an absorption material specifically in regions where no device structures are present. This creates localized optical properties (absorption) only where needed, allowing the grating regions to maintain their light-guiding function while the non-grating regions become visually imperceptible. The absorption material is selectively placed to match the transmission and reflectivity of adjacent grating regions, achieving visual uniformity without compromising the functional structure.
2Shape
If an absorption material is added to the cover glass, then visual uniformity is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the cover glass into distinct functional regions: transparent regions that overlay device structures and an absorption region that overlays areas without structures. This segmentation allows each region to be optimized independently for its specific function while working together to achieve overall visual uniformity. The absorption region is further segmented to precisely follow the boundaries of device structures, ensuring that absorption is applied only where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover glass becomes a composite structure combining transparent glass material with selectively applied absorption material. This composite approach allows the base glass to provide structural integrity and optical transparency where needed, while the absorption material layer provides visual uniformity in non-structural regions. The combination of these two materials with different optical properties creates a unified visual appearance without significantly increasing overall device complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution results in a waveguide combiner with a uniform appearance, improving aesthetics by minimizing visual distinctions between regions with and without device structures, while maintaining effective light transmission and reflection properties.
Implementation Method 1
The absorption region includes an absorption material
Implementation Method 2
Generated light is propagated through a waveguide combiner until the light exits the waveguide combiner and is overlaid on the ambient environment
Implementation Method 3
The waveguide combiner includes a plurality of structures disposed over the top surface. The plurality of structures including a first grating, a second grating, and a third grating
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a waveguide combiner. The waveguide combiner includes a substrate having a top surface. The waveguide combiner includes a plurality of structures disposed over the top surface. The waveguide combiner includes a cover glass disposed over the top surface. The cover glass including an absorption region and a transparent region. The absorption region includes an absorption material.