Waveguide-Based Image Capture
AssigneeRapt IP Limited
InventorOwen Drumm
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An imaging optical system includes an imaging device and an optical waveguide. The waveguide includes structures configured to couple light from an external environment into the waveguide. The structures direct the light to propagate in the waveguide via total internal reflection and towards the imaging device.
Claims21
1-6. (canceled)
An imaging optical system comprising:
- an imaging device;
- an optical waveguide optically coupled to the imaging device and extending over at least part of a base surface;
- and
- one or more optical structures configured to couple a portion of incident light from an external environment into the optical waveguide, the structures directing the portion of the incident light to propagate through the optical waveguide via total internal reflection towards the imaging device.
The imaging optical system of claim 7, wherein the optical waveguide includes a first surface facing the external environment and a second surface opposite the first surface and facing the base surface, wherein the one or more optical structures are on at least one of:
- the first surface or the second surface.
The imaging optical system of claim 7, wherein a structure is on a surface of the optical waveguide and has a height between 200 nanometers and 100 micrometers as measured from the surface.
The imaging optical system of claim 7, wherein the imaging device captures an image of the external environment, the image having a viewpoint from the optical waveguide.
The imaging optical system of claim 7, wherein the structures focus the incident light from the external environment towards the imaging device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.