Using a plurality of stacked waveguides for augmented or virtual reality display

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016109706-A1
Application number	US-201514705769-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 6, 2015
Priority date	Nov 27, 2013
Publication date	Apr 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Configurations are disclosed for presenting virtual reality and augmented reality experiences to users. The system may comprise an image-generating source to provide one or more frames of image data in a time-sequential manner, a light modulator configured to transmit light associated with the one or more frames of image data, a substrate to direct image information to a user's eye, wherein the substrate houses a plurality of reflectors, a first reflector of the plurality of reflectors to reflect transmitted light associated with a first frame of image data at a first angle to the user's eye, and a second reflector to reflect transmitted light associated with a second frame of the image data at a second angle to the user's eye.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system for displaying virtual content to a user, comprising:
a plurality of waveguides to receive light rays associated with image data and to transmit the light rays toward the user's eyes, wherein the plurality of waveguides are stacked in a direction facing the user's eye; and a first lens coupled to a first waveguide of the plurality of waveguides to modify light rays transmitted from the first waveguide, thereby delivering light rays having a first wavefront curvature; and a second lens coupled to a second waveguide of the plurality of waveguides to modify light rays transmitted from the second waveguide, thereby delivering light rays having a second wavefront curvature, wherein the first lens coupled to the first waveguide and the second lens coupled to the second waveguide are stacked horizontally in a direction facing the user's eye.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first wavefront curvature is different from the second wavefront curvature.

3 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a third waveguide of the plurality of waveguides to deliver collimated light to the user's eye, such that the user perceives the image data as coming from an optical infinity plane.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the waveguide is configured to transmit collimated light to the lens.

5 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a compensating lens layer to compensate for an aggregate power of the lenses stacked in the direction facing the user's eyes, wherein the compensating lens layer is stacked farthest from the user's eye.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the waveguide comprises a plurality of reflectors configurable to reflect the light rays injected into the waveguide toward the user's eye.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the waveguide is electro-active.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the waveguide is switchable.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the light rays having the first wavefront curvature and the light rays having the second wavefront curvature are delivered simultaneously.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the light rays having the first wavefront curvature and the light rays having the second wavefront curvature are delivered sequentially.

11 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the second wavefront curvature corresponds to a margin of the first wavefront curvature, thereby providing a focal range in which the user can accommodate.

12 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising an accommodation module to track an accommodation of a user's eyes, and wherein the VFE varies the focus of the light patterns based at least in part on the accommodation of the user's eyes.

Assignees

• Magic Leap Inc
• Magic Leap Inc

Inventors

• Schowengerdt Brian T
• Watson matthew d

Classifications

• G02B30/24

  involving temporal multiplexing, e.g. using sequentially activated left and right shutters · CPC title

• G09G5/02

  characterised by the way in which colour is displayed {(details of colour display specific for CRTs G09G1/28; specific for flat matrix panels other than liquid crystal displays G09G3/2003; specific for liquid crystal displays G09G3/3607)} · CPC title

• G02B3/0037

  characterized by the distribution or form of lenses · CPC title

• G06T2207/10021

  Stereoscopic video; Stereoscopic image sequence · CPC title

• G02B6/06

  the relative position of the fibres being the same at both ends, e.g. for transporting images · CPC title