# US 2024/0201503 A1 · Waveguides with integrated optical elements and methods of making the same

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- Number: US 2024/0201503 A1
- Document ID: US20240201503A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 18/589,212
- Filed: 2024-02-27
- Published: 2024-06-20
- Earliest claimed: 2018-04-02
- Assignees: Magic Leap, Inc.
- Applicants: Magic Leap, Inc.
- Inventors: Christophe PEROZ; Victor Kai LIU; Samarth BHARGAVA
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20240201503A1

## CPC

- G02B 6/00: Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B 27/0172: {characterised by optical features}
- G02B 6/002: {by shaping at least a portion of the light guide, e.g. with collimating, focussing or diverging surfaces}
- G02B 6/28: having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals
- G02B 27/18: for optical projection, e.g. combination of mirror and condenser and objective {(photographic, cine and overhead projectors G03B21/00; photographic projection printing G03B27/32; photolithographic projectors G03F7/20; projection television H04N5/74; colour projection television H04N9/31)}
- G06T 19/006: {Mixed reality (object pose determination, tracking or camera calibration for mixed reality G06T7/00)}
- G02B 6/0076: {Stacked arrangements of multiple light guides of the same or different cross-sectional area}
- G02B 2027/0174: {holographic}
- G02B 2027/0178: {Eyeglass type (eyeglass details G02C)}
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL

## Abstract

An example waveguide can include a polymer layer having substantially optically transparent material with first and second major surfaces configured such that light containing image information can propagate through the polymer layer being guided therein by reflecting from the first and second major surfaces via total internal reflection. The first surface can include first smaller and second larger surface portions monolithically integrated with the polymer layer and with each other. The first smaller surface portion can include at least a part of an in-coupling optical element configured to couple light incident on the in-coupling optical element into the polymer layer for propagation therethrough by reflection from the second major surface and the second larger surface portion of the first major surface. The waveguide can include a tilted surface portion forming at least part of an in-coupling optical element, the tilted surface portion having curvature to provide optical power.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A waveguide comprising:
an optically transparent layer comprising optically transparent material and a plurality of surfaces that are arranged to guide light in the waveguide by total internal reflection, wherein the light includes image information; and
a tilted surface portion forming at least a part of an in-coupling optical element that is configured to deflect the light into the waveguide such that the light is guided in the optically transparent layer, wherein the tilted surface portion comprises curvature to provide optical power.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The waveguide of claim 1, wherein the optical power is a positive optical power.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The waveguide of claim 1, wherein the tilted surface portion has a concave curvature from the perspective of most locations within the optically transparent layer.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The waveguide of claim 1, wherein the in-coupling optical element is a mirror, a facet, a prism, or a combination thereof.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The waveguide of claim 1, wherein the in-coupling optical element further comprises a metal layer on the tilted surface portion.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The waveguide of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of surfaces has a surface roughness of about 0.1 nm to about 2.0 nm.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The waveguide of claim 1, wherein the optically transparent material comprises a polymer.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The waveguide of claim 1, wherein the optically transparent layer, the plurality of surfaces, and the tilted surface portion form a molded optic.

### Claim 9

A waveguide comprising:
an optically transparent layer comprising optically transparent material and first and second surfaces that are arranged to guide light in the waveguide by total internal reflection, wherein the light includes image information; and
a surface portion on the first surface forming at least a part of a lens, wherein the surface portion is curved.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The waveguide of claim 9, wherein the lens is a convex lens.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The waveguide of claim 9, wherein the lens is a positive powered lens.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The waveguide of claim 9, wherein the lens is aligned with an in-coupling optical element configured to turn light that is received by the in-coupling optical element after passing through the lens into the layer of optically transparent material to be guided therein.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The waveguide of claim 12, wherein the in-coupling optical element is disposed on the second surface of the optically transparent layer.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The waveguide of claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of surfaces has a surface roughness of about 0.1 nm to about 2.0 nm.

### Claim 15 (depends on 9)

The waveguide of claim 9, wherein the optically transparent material comprises a polymer.

### Claim 16 (depends on 9)

The waveguide of claim 9, wherein the optically transparent layer, the first and second surfaces, and the lens form a molded optic.