Multiple waveguide imaging structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-8989535-B2
Application number	US-201213488145-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 4, 2012
Priority date	Jun 4, 2012
Publication date	Mar 24, 2015
Grant date	Mar 24, 2015

Abstract

In embodiments of a multiple waveguide imaging structure, an imaging structure includes a first waveguide for see-through viewing of an environment at a first field of view, and includes a second waveguide for see-through viewing of the environment at a second field of view. The first and second waveguides each include a polarizing beam splitter to reflect light that enters at a first polarization orientation angle in the respective first and second waveguides, and the polarizing beam splitters pass through the light that enters at a second polarization orientation angle. The imaging structure also includes a polarization switch to rotate the polarization of the light through the first and second polarization orientation angles.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An imaging structure, comprising:
a first waveguide configured for see-through viewing of an environment at a first field of view;
a second waveguide configured for see-through viewing of the environment at a second field of view;
the first and second waveguides each including a polarizing beam splitter configured to reflect light that enters at a first polarization orientation angle in the respective first and second waveguides, and the polarizing beam splitters further configured to pass through the light that enters at a second polarization orientation angle; and
a polarization switch configured to cycle the polarization of the light through the first and second polarization orientation angles.

2. An imaging structure as recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the light that enters the first and second waveguides at the first polarization orientation angle is propagated in the respective first and second waveguides; and
the light that enters the first waveguide at the second polarization orientation angle is passed through the first waveguide and is reflected into the second waveguide.

3. An imaging structure as recited in claim 2 , further comprising a half waveplate configured to change the light that passes through the first waveguide from the second polarization orientation angle back to the first polarization orientation angle, and wherein the light enters the second waveguide at the first polarization orientation angle.

4. An imaging structure as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first field of view of the first waveguide is combined with the second field of view of the second waveguide for a wider field of view.

5. A method, comprising:
cycling light through first and second polarization orientation angles;
reflecting the light that enters a first waveguide at the first polarization orientation angle, the first waveguide configured for see-through viewing of an environment at a first field of view;
passing the light that enters the first waveguide at the second polarization orientation angle through to a second waveguide configured for see-through viewing of the environment at a second field of view; and
changing the light that passes through the first waveguide from the second polarization orientation angle back to the first polarization orientation angle before the light then enters the second waveguide at the first polarization angle.

6. A method as recited in claim 5 , further comprising:
propagating the light in the first waveguide that enters at the first polarization orientation angle; and
propagating the light in the second waveguide that is passed through the first waveguide at the second polarization orientation angle.

7. A method as recited in claim 5 , further comprising combining the first field of view of the first waveguide with the second field of view of the second waveguide for a wider field of view.

8. An imaging structure, comprising:
a polarization switch configured to cycle light through first and second polarization orientation angles;
a polarizing beam splitter configured to reflect the light that enters a first waveguide at the first polarization orientation angle, the first waveguide configured for see-through viewing at a first field of view, the polarizing beam splitter further configured to pass the light that enters the first waveguide at the second polarization orientation angle through to a second waveguide configured for see-through viewing at a second field of view; and
a half waveplate configured to change the light that passes through the first waveguide from the second polarization orientation angle back to the first polarization orientation angle before the light then enters the second waveguide at the first polarization angle.

9. The imaging structure as recited in claim 8 , wherein:
the first waveguide is configured to propagate the light that enters at the first polarization orientation angle; and
the second waveguide is configured to propagate the light that is passed through the first waveguide at the second polarization orientation angle.

10. The imaging structure as recited in claim 8 , wherein:
the light that enters the first and second waveguides at the first polarization orientation angle is propagated in the respective first and second waveguides; and
the light that enters the first waveguide at the second polarization orientation angle is passed through the first waveguide and is reflected into the second waveguide.

11. The imaging structure as recited in claim 8 , wherein the first field of view of the first waveguide combines with the second field of view of the second waveguide for a wider field of view.

12. The imaging structure as recited in claim 8 , further comprising:
an additional polarizing beam splitter configured to reflect the light that enters the second waveguide at the first polarization orientation angle, the additional polarizing beam splitter further configured to pass through the light that enters the second waveguide at the second polarization orientation angle.

Assignees

• Robbins Steven John
• Microsoft Technology Licensing Llc

Inventors

• Robbins Steven John

Classifications

• G06T19/006

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

• G02B27/0172 Primary

  characterised by optical features · CPC title

• G02B27/283

  used for beam splitting or combining · CPC title

• G02B6/4206 Primary

  Optical features (G02B6/4207, G02B6/421 take precedence) · CPC title

• G02B5/30

  Polarising elements (light-modulating devices with active elements G02F1/00) · CPC title