Ir illumination module for mems-based eye tracking

An eye tracking illumination system comprising:

• a red, green, blue (RGB) laser device that is associated with at least a first collimating optic and that generates RGB laser light;
• an infrared (IR) illumination device that is associated with a second collimating optic and that generates IR light, the IR illumination device being positioned at a fixed position relative to the RGB laser device on the eye tracking illumination system;
• a display module assembly (DMA) that includes a microelectromechanical scanning (MEMS) mirror system, wherein the DMA optically combines the IR light generated by the IR illumination device with the RGB laser light generated by the RGB laser device to generate combined light, and wherein the combined light is directed towards an eye of a user via a waveguide;
• and
• one or more photodetector(s) that are configured to capture reflected light that is reflected off of the user's eye as a result of the combined light being directed towards the user's eye via the waveguide, wherein the one or more photodetector(s) include at least an IR detector configured to detect reflected IR light included in the reflected light, the reflected IR light is used by the eye tracking illumination system to perform eye tracking,
• wherein a light beam size of the RGB laser light generated by the RGB laser device is different than a light beam size of the IR light generated by the IR illumination device.

An eye tracking illumination system comprising:

• a red, green, blue (RGB) laser device that is associated with at least a first collimating optic and that generates RGB laser light;
• an infrared (IR) illumination device that is associated with a second collimating optic and that generates IR light, the IR illumination device being positioned at a fixed position relative to the RGB laser device on the eye tracking illumination system, wherein a focal length of the IR light is different than a focal length of the RGB laser light;
• a turning optic that receives the IR light from the IR illumination device and that reflects the IR light as reflected IR light that is reflected out of plane relative to the IR illumination device toward the second collimating optic and which is emitted from the second collimating optic as collimated IR light;
• a display module assembly (DMA) that includes a microelectromechanical scanning (MEMS) mirror system, wherein the DMA optically combines the collimated IR light generated by the IR illumination device with the RGB laser light generated by the RGB laser device to generate combined light, and wherein the combined light is directed towards an eye of a user via a waveguide;
• and
• one or more photodetector(s) that are configured to capture reflected light that is reflected off of the user's eye as a result of the combined light being directed towards the user's eye via the waveguide, wherein the one or more photodetector(s) include at least an IR detector configured to detect reflected IR light included in the reflected light, the reflected IR light is used by the eye tracking illumination system to perform eye tracking.