Tile array for near-ocular display

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10345599-B2
Application number	US-201815967451-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 30, 2018
Priority date	Aug 3, 2015
Publication date	Jul 9, 2019
Grant date	Jul 9, 2019

Abstract

A display device includes a two-dimensional array of tiles. Each tile includes a two-dimensional array of pixels, and a lens, of a two-dimensional array of lenses, configured to direct at least a portion of the respective pattern of light from the two-dimensional array of pixels to a pupil of an eye of a user. Each pixel is configured to output light so that the two-dimensional array of pixels outputs a respective pattern of light. The display device also includes one or more processors coupled with the two-dimensional array of tiles and configured to activate at least a subset of the two-dimensional array of tiles for outputting, from at least the subset of the two-dimensional array of tiles, a collective pattern of light that is directed to the pupil of the eye of the user.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A display device, comprising:
a two-dimensional array of tiles, each tile including a two-dimensional array of pixels, wherein each pixel is configured to output light so that the two-dimensional array of pixels outputs a respective pattern of light; the each tile further including an electro-optic element, of a two-dimensional array of electro-optic elements, configured to refract the respective pattern of light from the two-dimensional array of pixels; and
one or more processors coupled with the two-dimensional array of tiles and the two-dimensional array of electro-optic elements, the one or more processors configured to:
select a subset, less than all, of the two-dimensional array of tiles for activation; and
subsequent to selecting the subset of the two-dimensional array of tiles, activate a subset of the two-dimensional array of electro-optic elements in the selected subset of the two-dimensional array of tiles for refracting light from pixels in the selected subset of the two-dimensional array of tiles.

2. The display device of claim 1 , wherein:
each electro-optic element of the two-dimensional array of electro-optic elements is individually controllable.

3. The display device of claim 1 , wherein:
the subset of the two-dimensional array of tiles is a physically contiguous set of tiles of the two-dimensional array of tiles.

4. The display device of claim 1 , wherein:
the one or more processors are configured to, subsequent to selecting the subset of the two-dimensional array of tiles, activate the pixels in the selected subset of the two-dimensional array of tiles to output a collective pattern of light, wherein the activated subset of the two-dimensional array of electro-optic elements is configured to refract the collective pattern of light.

5. The display device of claim 4 , wherein:
the one or more processors are configured to, subsequent to selecting the subset of the two-dimensional array of tiles, deactivate one or more tiles of the two-dimensional array of tiles other than the selected subset of the two-dimensional array of tiles.

6. The display device of claim 1 , wherein:
a first tile of the two-dimensional array of tiles includes a first electro-optic element, of the two dimensional array of electro-optic elements, that is configured to refract a first pattern of light output from a first array of pixels in the first tile;
a second tile, adjacent to the first tile, of the two-dimensional array of tiles includes a second electro-optic element, of the two dimensional array of electro-optic elements, that is configured to refract a second pattern of light output from a second array of pixels in the second tile;
the first electro-optic element and the second electro-optic element are each individually controllable;
the first pattern of light corresponds to a first portion of an image;
the second pattern of light corresponds to a second portion of the image; and
the first portion of the image on the first tile of the two-dimensional array of tiles does not overlap partially or completely with the second portion of the image on the second tile of the two-dimensional array of tiles.

7. The display device of claim 6 , wherein:
the first electro-optic element, of the two-dimensional array of electro-optic elements, is configured to refract the first pattern of light to a first direction; and
the second electro-optic element, of the two-dimensional array of electro-optic elements, is configured to refract the second pattern of light to a second direction distinct from the first direction.

8. The display device of claim 7 , wherein:
refracting the first pattern of light to the first direction includes refracting the first pattern of light toward an eye of a user; and
refracting the second pattern of light to the second direction includes refracting the second pattern of light toward the eye of the user.

9. The display device of claim 8 , wherein the first pattern of light and the second pattern of light are concurrently projected.

10. The display device of claim 8 , wherein the first pattern of light and the second pattern of light are configured to form an image on a retina of the eye of the user.

11. A method, comprising:
at a display device with a two-dimensional array of tiles, each tile including a two-dimensional array of pixels, wherein each pixel is configured to output light so that the two-dimensional array of pixels outputs a respective pattern of light, and each tile further including an electro-optic element, of a two-dimensional array of electro-optic elements, optically coupled with the two-dimensional array of pixels, the electro-optic element configured to refract the respective pattern of light from the two-dimensional array of pixels:
selecting a subset, less than all, of the two-dimensional array of tiles for activation; and
subsequent to selecting the subset of the two-dimensional array of tiles, activating a subset of the two-dimensional array of electro-optic elements in the selected subset of the two-dimensional array of tiles for refracting light from pixels in the selected subset of the two-dimensional array of tiles.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein:
each electro-optic element of the two-dimensional array of electro-optic elements is individually controllable.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein:
the subset of the two-dimensional array of tiles is a physically contiguous set of tiles of the two-dimensional array of tiles.

14. The method of claim 11 , including:
subsequent to selecting the subset of the two-dimensional array of tiles, activating the pixels in the selected subset of the two-dimensional array of tiles for outputting a collective pattern of light, wherein refracting the light from the pixels in the selected subset of the two-dimensional array of tiles includes refracting the collective pattern of light.

15. The method of claim 14 , including:
subsequent to selecting the subset of the two-dimensional array of tiles, deactivating one or more tiles of the two-dimensional array of tiles other than the selected subset of the two-dimensional array of tiles.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein activating a subset of the two-dimensional array of electro-optic elements comprises:
activating a first electro-optic element in a first tile of the subset of the two-dimensional array of tiles to refract a first pattern of light output by a first array of pixels in the first tile;
activating a second electro-optic element in a second tile, adjacent to the first tile, of the subset of two-dimensional array of tiles to refract a second pattern of light output by a second array of pixels in the second tile;
the first pattern of light corresponds to a first portion of an image;
the second pattern of light corresponds to a second portion of the image; and
the first portion of the image on the first tile of the two-dimensional array of tiles does not overlap partially or completely with the second portion of the image on the second tile of the two-dimensional array of tiles.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein:
the first electro-optic element, of the two-dimensional array of electro-optic elements, refracts the first pattern of light to a first direction; and
the second electro-optic element, of the two-dimensional array of electro-optic elements, refracts the second pattern of light to a second direction distinct from the first direction.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein:
refracting the first pattern of light to the first direction includes refra

Assignees

• Facebook Tech Llc

Inventors

• Jepsen Mary Lou

Classifications

• G02B26/02

  for controlling the intensity of light {(G02B26/004 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• G02B5/1842

  Gratings for image generation (G02B5/1847 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G02B27/0172 Primary

  characterised by optical features · CPC title

• G02B2027/0147

  comprising a device modifying the resolution of the displayed image · CPC title

• G09G3/003

  to produce spatial visual effects · CPC title