# US 12,601,867 B2 · Image light guide with zoned diffractive optic > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,601,867 B2 - Document ID: US12601867B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/038,963 - Filed: 2021-11-24 - Published: 2023-12-28 - Granted: 2026-04-14 - Earliest claimed: 2020-11-25 - Assignees: Vuzix Corporation - Applicants: Vuzix Corporation - Inventors: Robert J. Schultz; Marek W. Kowarz - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12601867B2 ## CPC - G02B 6/0016: {Grooves, prisms, gratings, scattering particles or rough surfaces} - G02B 6/0036: {2-D arrangement of prisms, protrusions, indentations or roughened surfaces} - G02B 27/0081: {with means for altering, e.g. enlarging, the entrance or exit pupil} - G02B 27/0172: {characterised by optical features} - G02B 27/44: Grating systems; Zone plate systems (G02B27/46 takes precedence) - G02B 2027/0125: {Field-of-view increase by wavefront division} - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS ## Abstract An image light guide for conveying a virtual image, including a waveguide, an in-coupling diffractive optic operable to direct image-bearing light beams into the waveguide, and an out-coupling diffractive optic operable to direct the image-bearing light beams from the waveguide toward an eyebox. The out-coupling diffractive optic having two or more zones each including a set of diffractive features, wherein a first zone includes a first set of diffractive features and a second zone includes a second set of diffractive features and is located adjacent to the first zone. The out-coupling diffractive optic includes a first interface region formed by the first zone and the second zone, and the first interface region includes a first set of sub-regions and a second set of sub-regions. The first set of sub-regions includes the first set of diffractive features, and the second set of sub-regions includes the second set of diffractive features. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image light guide for conveying a virtual image, comprising: a waveguide; an in-coupling diffractive optic operable to direct image-bearing light beams into said waveguide; and an out-coupling diffractive optic operable to replicate said image-bearing light beams in two dimensions and direct at least a portion of said image-bearing light beams from said waveguide toward an eyebox; wherein said out-coupling diffractive optic comprises a first zone located adjacent to a second zone, wherein said first zone comprises a first set of diffractive features and said second zone comprises a second set of diffractive features different from said first set of diffractive features; and wherein said first zone and said second zone form an interface region, wherein said interface region comprises one or more first sub-regions and one or more second sub-regions, said first sub-regions comprising said first set of diffractive features and said second sub-regions comprising said second set of diffractive features. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The image light guide according to claim 1, wherein said first and second sub-regions are arranged in a pseudorandom configuration within said interface region. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The image light guide according to claim 1, wherein said first and second sub-regions describe substantially triangular areas, and said first and second sub-regions alternate along one dimension of said interface region. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The image light guide according to claim 1, wherein said first sub-regions are blended with said second sub-regions. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The image light guide according to claim 1, wherein a total area of said first sub-regions in said interface region increases from a longitudinal centerline of said interface region toward said first zone, and wherein a total area of said second sub-regions in said interface region increases from said longitudinal centerline of said interface region toward said second zone. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The image light guide according to claim 1, wherein said interface region is a first interface region, and wherein said out-coupling diffractive optic comprises: a third zone located adjacent to said first zone and said second zone, wherein said third zone comprises a third set of diffractive features; and wherein said first zone and said third zone form a second interface region, wherein said second interface region comprises one or more first sub-regions and one or more third sub-regions, said third sub-regions comprising said third set of diffractive features. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The image light guide according to claim 6, wherein said first and third sub-regions are arranged in a pseudorandom configuration within the said second interface region. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The image light guide according to claim 6, wherein said first and third sub-regions describe substantially triangular areas, and said first and third sub-regions alternate along one dimension of said second interface region. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The image light guide according to claim 6, wherein a total area of said first sub-regions in said second interface region increases from a longitudinal centerline of said second interface region to said first zone. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The image light guide according to claim 9, wherein a total area of said third sub-regions in said second interface region increases from said longitudinal centerline of said second interface region to said third zone. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The image light guide according to claim 6, wherein said out-coupling diffractive optic comprises a third interface region located between said second zone and said third zone, wherein said third interface region comprises one or more second sub-regions and one or more third sub-regions. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The image light guide according to claim 11, wherein said second and third sub-regions are arranged in a pseudorandom configuration within the said third interface region. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The image light guide according to claim 11, wherein said second and third sub-regions describe substantially triangular areas, and said second and third sub-regions alternate along one dimension of said third interface region. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The image light guide according to claim 1, wherein said first and second sub-regions comprise one or more unit cells of periodic diffractive features. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The image light guide according to claim 1, wherein said first and second sub-regions are less than 0.15 mm wide. ### Claim 16 An image light guide for conveying a virtual image, comprising: a waveguide; an in-coupling diffractive optic operable to direct image-bearing light beams into said waveguide; and an out-coupling diffractive optic operable to replicate said image-bearing light beams in two dimensions and direct at least a portion of said image-bearing light beams from said waveguide toward an eyebox; wherein said out-coupling diffractive optic comprises a first zone located adjacent to a second zone, wherein said first zone comprises a first set of diffractive features and said second zone comprises a second set of diffractive features; wherein said first zone and said second zone form a first interface region, wherein said first interface region comprises one or more first sub-regions and one or more second sub-regions, said first sub-regions comprising said first set of diffractive features and said second sub-regions comprising said second set of diffractive features different from said first set of diffractive features; and a third zone located adjacent to said first zone and said second zone, wherein said third zone comprises a third set of diffractive features; wherein said first zone and said third zone form a second interface region, wherein said second interface region comprises one or more first sub-regions and one or more third sub-regions, said third sub-regions comprising said third set of diffractive features. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The image light guide according to claim 16, wherein said first and third sub-regions are arranged in a pseudorandom configuration within the said second interface region. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The image light guide according to claim 16, wherein said first and third sub-regions describe substantially triangular areas, and said first and third sub-regions alternate along one dimension of said second interface region. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The image light guide according to claim 16, wherein a total area of said first sub-regions in said second interface region increases from a longitudinal centerline of said second interface region to said first zone, wherein a total area of said third sub-regions in said second interface region increases from said longitudinal centerline of said second interface region to said third zone. ### Claim 20 An image light guide for conveying a virtual image, comprising: a waveguide; an in-coupling diffractive optic operable to direct image-bearing light beams into said waveguide; and an out-coupling diffractive optic operable to replicate said image-bearing light beams in two dimensions and direct at least a portion of said image-bearing light beams from said waveguide toward an eyebox; wherein said out-coupling diffractive optic comprises a first zone located adjacent to a second zone, wherein said first zone comprises a first set of diffractive features and said second zone comprises a second set of diffractive features, wherein said first zone and said second zone form an interface region, wherein said interface region comprises one or more first sub-regions and one or more second sub-regions, said first sub-regions comprising said first set of diffractive features and said second sub-regions comprising said second set of diffractive features, and wherein said first and second sub-regions are arranged in a pseudorandom configuration within said interface region.