Waveguide Optical Elements for Selective Multiplexed Coupling in VR Displays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing virtual and augmented reality technologies face challenges in providing a comfortable and natural-feeling presentation of virtual image elements amidst real-world imagery due to the complexity of the human visual system, particularly in simulating realistic depth perception.
Innovation Solution
A display system incorporating a waveguide with in-coupling optical elements that selectively in-couple light streams of different properties, such as wavelengths and polarizations, while being transmissive to others, and a stack of waveguides with out-coupling elements to enhance the eyebox dimensions, allowing for a more immersive VR/AR experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If multiplexed light streams are used to deliver multiple images, then image quality and depth perception are improved, but device complexity increases due to the need for multiple waveguides and optical elements
Solution Approach 1:
The display system is divided into multiple waveguides (first waveguide, second waveguide, third waveguide) stacked together, with each waveguide handling specific light streams. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each waveguide while achieving complex multiplexed functionality at the system level, resolving the contradiction between image quality and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Each waveguide in the stack is designed to receive and process multiple light streams with different properties (wavelengths, polarizations) simultaneously. The in-coupling optical elements are configured to selectively couple different light streams to different waveguides, enabling a single multiplexed input to produce multiple separated output paths, thus achieving multi-functionality that improves depth perception while managing complexity through standardized modular units.
2Productivity
If in-coupling optical elements selectively couple specific light streams, then light delivery precision is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The in-coupling optical elements are designed with wavelength- and polarization-dependent properties tailored to specific local regions. Each optical element has customized coupling characteristics for its designated light stream, allowing selective coupling without requiring perfect alignment across the entire system. This local optimization reduces overall manufacturing precision requirements while maintaining high light stream separation efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes changes in light parameters (wavelength, polarization angle) as the primary mechanism for selective coupling. By designing optical elements that respond differently to different parameter values, the system achieves precise light stream separation through material and geometric properties rather than requiring precise mechanical alignment, thus improving productivity while reducing manufacturing precision demands.
3Volume of moving object
If multiple light streams are multiplexed into a single waveguide, then device compactness is improved, but loss of information occurs due to interference between light streams
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of attempting to process all light streams within a single waveguide, the system segments the light streams and assigns them to different waveguides in a stack. This spatial segmentation prevents interference between light streams by physically separating their transmission paths, while the compact stacked arrangement maintains device compactness. The segmentation approach eliminates information loss from interference while achieving space efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The in-coupling optical elements act as intermediaries that selectively couple specific light streams to specific waveguides based on their wavelength and polarization properties. This intermediary function prevents different light streams from interfering with each other by routing them to appropriate waveguides, thus preventing information loss while maintaining a compact multi-waveguide structure.
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 system provides a more realistic and comfortable simulation of three-dimensional imagery by aligning accommodation and vergence, enhancing depth perception through selective light manipulation and multiplexed light streams, thereby improving the VR/AR experience.
Implementation Method 1
The waveguide includes in-coupling optical elements configured to selectively in-couple a first of the streams of light while being transmissive to one or more other streams of light
Implementation Method 2
The multiplexed light stream includes a plurality of light streams having different light properties
Implementation Method 3
The waveguide includes out-coupling optical elements configured to out-couple the in-coupled first stream of light
Data Source
AI summary
Architectures are provided for optical devices such as waveguides including structures that are configured to selectively in-couple one or more streams of light from a multiplexed light stream into the waveguide. The multiplexed light stream can include light with different characteristics (e.g., different wavelengths and/or different polarizations). The waveguide can comprise one or more in-coupling elements that can selectively couple one or more streams of light from the multiplexed light stream into the waveguide while transmitting, e.g., without in-coupling, one or more other streams of light from the multiplexed light stream.