Extended field of view in near-eye display using optically stitched imaging

An electronic device, comprising:

• an image processor;
• an optical engine operatively connected to the image processor for receiving imaging data;
• a first imager operatively connected to the optical engine to form images based on the imaging data and to generate one or more input optical beams incorporating the images in a first partial field of view (FOV);
• a second imager operatively connected to the optical engine to form images based on the imaging data and to generate one or more input optical beams incorporating the images in a second partial FOV;
• and
• an exit pupil expander configured to receive the one or more input optical beams from the first and second imager as an entrance pupil, and comprising a waveguide on which multiple diffractive optical elements (DOEs) are disposed, in which the exit pupil expander is configured to output one or more output optical beams that combine the first and second partial FOVs, using one or more of the DOEs, as a near-eye display with an exit pupil that is expanded relative to the entrance pupil.

A method of operating a near-eye display system, comprising:

• receiving light forming an entrance pupil with a full field of view (FOV) at an in-coupling diffractive optical element (DOE) disposed in an exit pupil expander;
• steering a left portion of the FOV in a left intermediate DOE disposed in the exit pupil expander in which an exit pupil of the received light is expanded along a first coordinate axis and diffracted to an out-coupling DOE;
• steering a right portion of the FOV in a right intermediate DOE disposed in the exit pupil expander in which an exit pupil of the received light is expanded along the first coordinate axis and diffracted to the out-coupling DOE;
• expanding the exit pupil of the received light in the entrance pupil along a second coordinate axis in the out-coupling DOE disposed in the exit pupil expander;
• and
• outputting light with an expanded exit pupil relative to the received light at the in-coupling DOE along the first and second coordinate axes using the out-coupling DOE.