Method and system for dual projector waveguide displays with wide field of view using a combined pupil expander-extractor (CPE)

An eyepiece waveguide for an augmented reality display system, the eyepiece waveguide comprising:

• a substrate having a first surface and a second surface;
• a first diffractive input coupling element formed on or in the first surface or the second surface of the substrate, the first diffractive input coupling element being configured to receive a first input beam of light and to couple the first input beam of light into the substrate as a first guided beam;
• a second diffractive input coupling element formed on or in the first surface or the second surface of the substrate, the second diffractive input coupling element being configured to receive a second input beam of light and to couple the second input beam of light into the substrate as a second guided beam;
• a diffractive combined pupil expander-extractor (CPE) element formed on or in the first surface or the second surface of the substrate, the diffractive CPE element being positioned to:
• receive the first guided beam from the first diffractive input coupling element;
• receive the second guided beam from the second diffractive input coupling element;
• outcouple at least a portion of the first guided beam over a first range of angles to form a first field of view of a combined field of view;
• and
• outcouple at least a portion of the second guided beam over a second range of angles to form a second field of view of the combined field of view.

A waveguide display disposed in glasses, the waveguide display comprising:

• a first projector;
• a second projector;
• a first incoupling grating (ICG) optically coupled to the first projector;
• a second ICG optically coupled to the second projector, wherein an axis passes through the first ICG and the second ICG;
• a first diffractive region optically coupled to the first ICG and including:
• a first portion comprising a first set of gratings oriented at a positive angle with respect to the axis;
• and
• a second portion comprising a second set of gratings oriented at a negative angle with respect to the axis;
• and
• a second diffractive region optically coupled to the second ICG and including:
• a first portion comprising a third set of gratings oriented at 180° minus the positive angle with respect to the axis;
• and
• a second portion comprising a fourth set of gratings oriented at −180° minus the negative angle with respect to the axis.