Holographic virtual reality display

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11892629-B2
Application number	US-202217670337-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 11, 2022
Priority date	Apr 16, 2021
Publication date	Feb 6, 2024
Grant date	Feb 6, 2024

Abstract

Virtual reality (VR) displays are computer displays that present images or video in a manner that simulates a real experience for the viewer. In many cases, VR displays are implemented as head-mounted displays (HMDs) which provide a display in the line of sight of the user. Because current HMDs are composed of a display panel and magnifying lens with a gap therebetween, proper functioning of the HMDs limits their design to a box-like form factor, thereby negatively impacting both comfort and aesthetics. The present disclosure provides a different configuration for a VR display which allows for improved comfort and aesthetics, including specifically at least one coherent light source, at least one pupil replicating waveguide coupled to the at least one coherent light source to receive light therefrom, and at least one spatial light modulator coupled to the at least one pupil replicating waveguide to modulate the light.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus, comprising:
a virtual reality (VR) display, including:
at least one coherent light source,
at least one pupil replicating waveguide coupled to the at least one coherent light source to receive light therefrom, and
at least one spatial light modulator coupled to the at least one pupil replicating waveguide to modulate the light; and

a processor for synthesizing a phase pattern of an input image, wherein the phase pattern is synthesized such that an interval of high diffraction orders is greater than a pupil diameter of a user utilizing the VR display.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , the VR display further including:
at least one polarizer coupled to the at least one pupil replicating waveguide to polarize the light output by the at least one pupil replicating waveguide.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the at least one polarizer is a linear polarizer.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the at least one polarizer polarizes the light in accordance with a polarization of the spatial light modulator.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , the VR display further including:
at least one lens coupled to the at least one spatial light modulator.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the at least one lens is a geometric phase lens.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 , the VR display further including:
at least one polarizer coupled to the at least one lens to polarize the light input to the lens.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 , the VR display further including:
at least one quarter wave plate coupled to the at least one lens.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein an incident angle of the light received by the at least one pupil replicating waveguide is adjustable.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the incident angle of the light is adjusted according to a current gaze direction of a user utilizing the VR display.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , the apparatus further comprising:
a gaze tracking device to determine the current gaze direction of the user.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 , the VR display further including:
at least one beam steering unit coupled to the at least one pupil replicating waveguide, wherein the at least one beam steering unit is configured to adjust the incident angle of the light.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the at least one beam steering unit is coupled to an in-coupler of the at least one pupil replicating waveguide.

14. A method, comprising:
at head-mounted display including at least one coherent light source, at least one pupil replicating waveguide coupled to the at least one coherent light source to receive light therefrom, at least one spatial light modulator coupled to the at least one pupil replicating waveguide to modulate the light, and a processor for synthesizing a phase pattern input image:
receiving, by the at least one pupil replicating waveguide, light from the at least one coherent light source;
transmitting the light from the at least one pupil replicating waveguide to the at least one spatial light modulator;
synthesizing the phase pattern of the input image, using the processor, wherein the phase pattern is synthesized such that an interval of high diffraction orders is greater than a pupil diameter of a user utilizing the head-mounted display;
modulating the light, utilizing the at least one spatial light modulator.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the head-mounted display further includes at least one polarizer coupled to the at least one pupil replicating waveguide, and the method further comprising:
polarizing the light output by the at least one pupil replicating waveguide, using the at least one polarizer.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the at least one polarizer is a linear polarizer.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the at least one polarizer polarizes the light in accordance with a polarization of the spatial light modulator.

18. The method of claim 14 , wherein the head-mounted display further includes at least one lens coupled to the at least one spatial light modulator.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the at least one lens is a geometric phase lens, and the method further comprising:
polarizing the light, using the geometric phase lens.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the head-mounted display further includes at least one polarizer coupled to the at least one lens, and the method further comprising:
polarizing the light input to the lens, using the at least one polarizer.

21. The method of claim 18 , wherein the head-mounted display further includes at least one quarter wave plate coupled to the at least one lens, and the method further comprising:
shifting a phase of the light, using the at least one quarter wave plate.

22. The method of claim 14 , wherein the head-mounted display is configured such that an incident angle of the light received by the at least one pupil replicating waveguide is adjustable.

23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the method further comprises:
adjusting the incident angle of the light according to a current gaze direction of a user utilizing the head-mounted display.

24. The method of claim 23 , wherein the head-mounted display further includes a gaze tracking device to determine the current gaze direction of the user.

25. The method of claim 23 , wherein the head-mounted display further includes at least one beam steering unit coupled to the at least one pupil replicating waveguide, wherein the incident angle of the light is adjusted using the at least one beam steering unit.

26. The method of claim 25 , wherein the at least one beam steering unit is coupled to an in-coupler of the at least one pupil replicating waveguide.

Assignees

• Nvidia Corp

Inventors

• Kim Jonghyun
• Lopes Ward
• Luebke David Patrick
• Gopakumar Manu

Classifications

• G02B27/0103 Primary

  comprising holographic elements · CPC title

• G02B7/04

  with mechanism for focusing or varying magnification · CPC title

• G02B27/0172

  characterised by optical features · CPC title

• G03H1/2294

  Addressing the hologram to an active spatial light modulator · CPC title

• G06F3/013 Primary

  Eye tracking input arrangements (G06F3/015 takes precedence) · CPC title