Methods and systems for augmented reality display with dynamic field of view

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12235474-B2
Application number	US-202318133364-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 11, 2023
Priority date	Jul 12, 2019
Publication date	Feb 25, 2025
Grant date	Feb 25, 2025

Abstract

A method of operating a dynamic eyepiece in an augmented reality headset includes producing first virtual content associated with a first depth plane, coupling the first virtual content into the dynamic eyepiece, and projecting the first virtual content through one or more waveguide layers of the dynamic eyepiece to an eye of a viewer. The one or more waveguide layers are characterized by a first surface profile. The method also includes modifying the one or more waveguide layers to be characterized by a second surface profile different from the first surface profile, producing second virtual content associated with a second depth plane, coupling the second virtual content into the dynamic eyepiece, and projecting the second virtual content through the one or more waveguide layers of the dynamic eyepiece to the eye of the viewer.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of operating a dynamic eyepiece in an augmented reality headset, the method comprising:
producing first virtual content associated with a first depth plane;
coupling the first virtual content into the dynamic eyepiece;
projecting the first virtual content through one or more waveguide layers of the dynamic eyepiece to an eye of a viewer, wherein the one or more waveguide layers are characterized by a first surface profile;
coupling a mechanical structure to the one or more waveguide layers, wherein the mechanical structure contacts a periphery of the one or more waveguide layers;
applying, using the mechanical structure, a mechanical force to the periphery of the one or more waveguide layers to modify the one or more waveguide layers to be characterized by a second surface profile different from the first surface profile;
producing second virtual content associated with a second depth plane;
coupling the second virtual content into the dynamic eyepiece; and
projecting the second virtual content through the one or more waveguide layers of the dynamic eyepiece to the eye of the viewer.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising producing third virtual content associated with the first depth plane;
modifying the one or more waveguide layers to be characterized by the first surface profile;
coupling the third virtual content into the dynamic eyepiece; and
projecting the third virtual content through the one or more waveguide layers to the eye of the viewer.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first virtual content comprises three colors, the one or more waveguide layers comprise three waveguide layers, each associated with one of the three colors.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein applying the mechanical force to modify the one or more waveguide layers comprises applying a shear strain to the periphery of the one or more waveguide layers.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein applying the mechanical force to modify the one or more waveguide layers comprises applying a stretching and or compressive force to the periphery of the one or more waveguide layers.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein applying the mechanical force to modify the one or more waveguide layers comprises moving an actuator toward a fixed frame.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the first surface profile is planar and a second curvature of the second surface profile is negative or positive.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein a first curvature of the first surface profile is positive and a second curvature of the second surface profile is negative.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein applying the mechanical force to modify the one or more waveguide layers is performed continuously.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the one or more waveguide layers are characterized by a range of surface profiles between the first surface profile and the second surface profile.

Assignees

• Magic Leap Inc

Inventors

• Chang Chieh
• LIU Victor Kai
• Bhargava Samarth
• Li Ling
• Bhagat Sharad D
• Peroz Christophe
• Mareno Jason Donald

Classifications

• G02B27/0081

  with means for altering, e.g. enlarging, the entrance or exit pupil · CPC title

• G02B27/0075

  with means for altering, e.g. increasing, the depth of field or depth of focus · CPC title

• G02B27/0172

  characterised by optical features · CPC title

• G02B30/52 Primary

  the three-dimensional [3D] volume being constructed from a stack or sequence of two-dimensional [2D] planes, e.g. depth sampling systems · CPC title

• G02B26/08 Primary

  for controlling the direction of light (in light guides G02B6/35) · CPC title