Light projector using an acousto-optical control device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10237540-B2
Application number	US-201815985264-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 21, 2018
Priority date	Dec 29, 2014
Publication date	Mar 19, 2019
Grant date	Mar 19, 2019

Abstract

An approach for projecting light may be implemented using a acousto-optical depth switch that uses surface acoustic waves produced along a substrate to guide image light to different areas. The surface acoustic waves may be generated on a substrate using a transducer. Surface acoustic waves of different frequencies can guide image light onto different optical elements at different physical positions. The optical elements may be configured to show objects in an image at different distances from a viewer.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for projecting light, the system comprising:
a light generator that generates image light that corresponds to a series of images;
a display device configured to receive the image light generated by the light generator and transmit display image light at a first resolution, the display image light comprising a first set of image points; and
an acousto-optical scanner optically coupled to the display device, wherein the display device directs the display image light onto the acousto-optical scanner and the acousto-optical scanner directs portions of the display image light onto a plurality of diffractive optical elements, wherein each of the plurality of diffractive optical elements corresponds to a different depth plane of the series of images;
wherein the acousto-optical scanner is configured to receive the display image light from the display device at the first resolution corresponding to the first set of image points, selectively generate a second set of image points, and output image light at a second resolution greater than the first resolution, the output image light comprising the first set of image points and the second set of image points.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the display device is further configured to generate the display image light.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the display device comprises a fiber scanning device.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the fiber scanning device comprises one or more fibers that actuate over an angle to direct the image light generated by the light generator as the display image light onto the acousto-optical scanner.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the one or more fibers vibrate rapidly creating patterns to direct the image light generated by the light generator as the display image light onto the acousto-optical scanner.

6. The system of claim 4 , wherein the one or more fibers raster back and forth over a given angle.

7. A system for projecting light, the system comprising:
a light generator that generates image light that corresponds to a series of images;
a display device configured to:
receive the image light generated by the light generator, and
transmit display image light comprising a plurality of image points; and

an acousto-optical scanner configured to:
receive the display image light,
in a first mode, direct a first set of image points from the plurality of image points onto a plurality of diffractive optical elements, and
in a second mode, generate a second set of image points from the plurality of image points and direct the second set of image points onto the plurality of diffractive optical elements,

wherein each of the plurality of diffractive optical elements corresponds to a different depth plane of the series of images.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the display device is further configured to generate the display image light.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the display device comprises a fiber scanning device.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the fiber scanning device comprises one or more fibers that actuate over an angle to direct the image light generated by the light generator as the display image light onto the acousto-optical scanner.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the one or more fibers vibrate rapidly creating patterns to direct the image light generated by the light generator as the display image light onto the acousto-optical scanner.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the one or more fibers raster back and forth over a given angle.

Assignees

• Magic Leap Inc

Inventors

• Welch Hudson
• Grata Jeremy A
• Hussein Marwan

Classifications

• G02F1/33

  Acousto-optical deflection devices {(circuit or control arrangements therefor G02F1/113)} · CPC title

• H04N2213/001

  Constructional or mechanical details · CPC title

• H04N2213/002

  Eyestrain reduction by processing stereoscopic signals or controlling stereoscopic devices · CPC title

• G02B5/32

  Holograms used as optical elements · CPC title

• G06T19/006

  Mixed reality (object pose determination, tracking or camera calibration for mixed reality G06T7/00) · CPC title