Transparent optical module using pixel patches and associated lenslets

A see-through near eye optical module capable of producing a perception of virtual images in multiple virtual image focal planes, distances, depths, or combinations thereof, comprising:

• a see-through near eye display and a micro-lenslet array, wherein the see-through near-eye display comprises one or more of a plurality of light-emitting pixels or pixel patterns and the micro-lenslet array comprises one or more lenslets;
• wherein one of the one or more of the plurality of light-emitting pixels or pixel patterns is configured as a pixel patch;
• wherein a patch unit comprises the pixel patch in optical communication with a lenslet of the one or more lenslets;
• wherein a first lenslet in a first patch unit has a different optical power or effective focal length than a second lenslet in a second patch unit, and wherein the difference in optical powers or effective focal lengths between the first lenslet and the second lenslet is capable of creating a perception by a wearer of the see-through near eye optical module that a first image created by the first patch unit and a second image created by the second patch unit are at different or separate virtual image focal planes, distances, depths, or combinations thereof;
• and
• wherein a first group of the one or more lenslets in a middle area of a gaze direction of the wearer have an aperture size larger than a second group of the one or more lenslets in a peripheral area of the gaze direction of the wearer.

A see-through near eye optical module capable of producing a perception of virtual images in multiple virtual image focal planes, distances, depths, or combinations thereof, comprising:

• a see-through near eye display and a micro-lenslet array, wherein the see-through near-eye display comprises one or more of a plurality of light-emitting pixels or pixel patterns and the micro-lenslet array comprises one or more lenslets;
• wherein one of the one or more of the plurality of light-emitting pixels or pixel patterns is configured as a pixel patch;
• wherein a patch unit comprises the pixel patch in optical communication with a lenslet of the one or more lenslets;
• wherein a first lenslet in a first patch unit has a different optical power or effective focal length than a second lenslet in a second patch unit, and wherein the difference in optical powers or effective focal lengths between the first lenslet and the second lenslet is capable of creating a perception by a wearer of the see-through near eye optical module that a first image created by the first patch unit and a second image created by the second patch unit are at different or separate virtual image focal planes, distances, depths, or combinations thereof;
• and
• wherein a first group of the one or more lenslets supporting direct gaze imaging have a larger aperture than a second group of the one or more lenslets supporting peripheral gaze angles.