Spatially variable liquid crystal diffraction gratings
AssigneeMagic Leap, Inc.
InventorChulwoo Oh
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present disclosure relates to display systems and, more particularly, to augmented reality display systems. A diffraction grating includes a plurality of different diffracting zones having a periodically repeating lateral dimension corresponding to a grating period adapted for light diffraction. The diffraction grating additionally includes a plurality of different liquid crystal layers corresponding to the different diffracting zones. The different liquid crystal layers have liquid crystal molecules that are aligned differently, such that the different diffracting zones have different optical properties associated with light diffraction.
Claims19
A diffraction grating comprising:
- a plurality of contiguous liquid crystal zones extending in a lateral direction that is parallel to a major surface of a substrate, wherein the liquid crystal zones are configured to include a periodically repeating lateral dimension, and wherein the liquid crystal zones are further configured with a thickness and indices of refraction such that the liquid crystal zones diffract light,
- wherein each of the liquid crystal zones is laterally divided into a first region and a second region comprising liquid crystals,
- wherein the liquid crystals in the first regions are arranged at a substantially same first alignment orientation,
- wherein the liquid crystals in different ones of the second regions are arranged at respective different second alignment orientations from one another including different tilt angles measured in a plane perpendicular to the major surface of the substrate, such that the tilt angles of the liquid crystals in the second regions increase or decrease across different ones of the second regions in the lateral direction to provide a gradient in diffraction efficiency along the lateral direction, and
- wherein the liquid crystals in each particular second region are arranged at a substantially same second alignment orientation within the particular second region.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.