Pupil relay system
AssigneeSnap Inc.
InventorsBrennon Pennell, James Leighton, Nan Ma
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A laser scanning projection system comprises a laser source configured to emit light towards a pair of polarizing beam splitters. The polarizing beam splitters direct light to reflect an odd number of times from a plurality of mirrors through one or more quarter waveplates, using a laser scanner comprising a scanning mirror to direct the light across an angular field of view, forming an exit pupil.
Claims20
A laser scanning projection system comprising:
- a laser source configured to emit light;
- a first polarizing beam splitter configured to receive the light from the laser source;
- a first quarter waveplate configured to receive the light from the first polarizing beam splitter;
- a laser scanner comprising a scanning mirror that is pivotably mounted, the laser scanner being configured to receive the light from the first quarter waveplate and direct the light across an angular field of view, thereby to form an exit pupil;
- and
- a second polarizing beam splitter assembly comprising a second polarizing beam splitter, the second polarizing beam splitter assembly being configured to receive the light from the laser scanner via the first polarizing beam splitter and the first quarter waveplate, reflect the light an odd number of times, and direct the light toward the first polarizing beam splitter.
A Virtual Reality or Augmented Reality headset comprising:
- a laser scanning projection system comprising:
- a laser source configured to emit light;
- a first polarizing beam splitter configured to receive the light from the laser source;
- a first quarter waveplate configured to receive the light from the first polarizing beam splitter;
- a laser scanner comprising a scanning mirror that is pivotably mounted, the laser scanner being configured to receive the light from the first quarter waveplate and direct the light across an angular field of view, thereby to form an exit pupil;
- and
- a second polarizing beam splitter assembly comprising a second polarizing beam splitter, the second polarizing beam splitter assembly being configured to receive the light from the laser scanner via the first polarizing beam splitter and the first quarter waveplate, reflect the light an odd number of times, and direct the light toward the first polarizing beam splitter;
- and
- a display comprising:
- a waveguide comprising an input, the input being configured to receive the light from the second polarizing beam splitter assembly via the first polarizing beam splitter such that the exit pupil formed at the laser scanner is relayed into the waveguide.
A method of illuminating a waveguide of an augmented reality or virtual reality headset, using a laser scanning projection system;
- the method comprising:
- emitting light from a laser source;
- receiving, at a first polarizing beam splitter, the light from the laser source;
- receiving, at a first quarter waveplate, the light from the first polarizing beam splitter;
- receiving, at a laser scanner comprising a scanning mirror that is pivotably mounted, the light from the first quarter waveplate;
- directing the light across an angular field of view using the laser scanner, thereby to form an exit pupil;
- receiving, at a second polarizing beam splitter assembly comprising a second polarizing beam splitter, the light from the laser scanner via the first quarter waveplate and the first polarizing beam splitter;
- reflecting the light an odd number of times by the second polarizing beam splitter assembly;
- and
- directing the light from the second polarizing beam splitter assembly toward the first polarizing beam splitter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.