Integrated Dual Axis Waveguide for Wide Angle AR Displays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing waveguide displays face challenges in achieving wide angle, low cost, efficient, and compact designs, particularly in near-eye displays for Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR), due to issues like large grating areas, haze from multiple grating interactions, and image nonuniformity.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a waveguide display device with integrated dual axis (IDA) waveguides, which include input couplers, gratings with specific K-vectors, and multiplexed regions for two-dimensional beam expansion and extraction, allowing for compact and efficient light guidance with reduced grating interactions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional waveguide displays use multiple separate gratings for beam expansion, then the field of view can be expanded, but the device size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple grating functions (beam expansion in x-direction, beam expansion in y-direction, and light extraction) into a single multiplexed grating structure. This integrated grating performs what traditionally required multiple separate gratings, thereby expanding the field of view while reducing device complexity and size.
Solution Approach 2:
The multiplexed grating is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it provides beam expansion in both x and y directions while also extracting light from the waveguide. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for multiple specialized gratings, resolving the contradiction between field of view expansion and device complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple grating interactions are used for beam expansion, then the field of view increases, but haze increases due to multiple interactions
Solution Approach 1:
By merging multiple grating functions into a single multiplexed grating, the patent reduces the number of separate grating interactions light must undergo. Light interacts with one integrated grating structure rather than multiple separate gratings, thereby maintaining field of view expansion while reducing haze caused by cumulative scattering from multiple interaction points.
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional waveguide designs are used, then manufacturing is simpler, but cost and efficiency are higher for large grating areas
Solution Approach 1:
The multiplexed grating consolidates multiple optical functions into a single component that can be fabricated as one integrated structure. This reduces the total grating area required and simplifies the manufacturing process compared to producing and assembling multiple separate gratings, thereby improving manufacturing efficiency while maintaining ease of manufacture through standardized fabrication techniques.
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
This solution enables a compact and efficient waveguide display that provides wide angle views, reduces haze and image nonuniformity, and lowers manufacturing costs, making it suitable for AR, VR, and other applications.
Implementation Method 1
planar waveguides can be designed to utilize diffraction gratings to diffract and couple incident light into the waveguide structure such that the in-coupled light can proceed to travel within the planar structure via total internal reflection (TIR)
Implementation Method 2
planar waveguides can be designed to utilize diffraction gratings to diffract and couple incident light into the waveguide structure
Implementation Method 3
Holographic optical elements, such as volume phase gratings, can be recorded in such a liquid mixture by illuminating the material with two mutually coherent laser beams. During the recording process, the monomers polymerize, and the mixture undergoes a photopolymerization-induced phase separation
Implementation Method 4
the mixture undergoes a photopolymerization-induced phase separation, creating regions densely populated by liquid crystal (LC) micro-droplets, interspersed with regions of clear polymer. The alternating liquid crystal-rich and liquid crystal-depleted regions form the fringe planes of the grating
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are systems and methods for providing waveguide display devices utilizing overlapping integrated dual action (IDA) waveguides. One embodiment includes a waveguide display device including: a first input image source providing first image light; a second input image source provide second image light; a first IDA waveguide; and a second IDA waveguide. The first IDA waveguide and the second IDA waveguide may include an overlapping region where a first two-dimensionally expanded first image light, a second two-dimensionally expanded first image light, a first two-dimensionally expanded second image light, and a second two-dimensionally expanded second image light is ejected towards an eyebox. Advantageously, resolution may be enhanced and field of view may be expanded through the use of overlapping IDA waveguides.