Image waveguide with mirror arrays
AssigneeGoogle Inc.
InventorsChia-Jean Wang, Babak Amirparviz
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An image waveguide includes an in-coupling region for receiving input light into the image waveguide and an out-coupling region for emitting output light from the image waveguide. The in-coupling region includes a one dimensional array of in-coupling mirror structures orientated to reflect the input light within the waveguide towards the out-coupling region as guided light. The out-coupling region includes a two dimensional array of out-coupling mirror structures orientated to reflect the guided light out of the waveguide as the output light.
Claims20
An optical apparatus for a heads up display, the optical apparatus comprising:
- a waveguide including first and second surfaces being substantially parallel and opposite to each other, the waveguide including an in-coupling region for receiving input light into the waveguide through the second surface and an out-coupling region for emitting output light from the waveguide out the second surface;
- a one dimensional (“1D”) array of in-coupling mirror structures disposed in or on the waveguide along the first surface at the in-coupling region of the waveguide and orientated to reflect the input light, after entering through the second surface, along the waveguide towards the out-coupling region as guided light;
- and
- a two dimensional (“2D”) array of out-coupling mirror structures disposed in or on the waveguide along the first surface at the out-coupling region of the waveguide and orientated to reflect the guided light out of the waveguide as the output light.
A head mounted display for rendering an augmented reality to a user, the head mounted display comprising:
- a pair of waveguides each including:
- first and second surfaces being substantially parallel and opposite to each other;
- an in-coupling region for receiving input light through the second surface and an out-coupling region for emitting output light out the second surface;
- a one dimensional (“1D) array of in-coupling mirror structures disposed along the first surface at the in-coupling region and orientated to reflect the input light, after entering through the second surface, towards the out-coupling region as guided light;
- and
- a two dimensional (“2D”) array of out-coupling mirror structures disposed along the first surface at the out-coupling region and orientated to reflect the guided light out of the waveguide through the second surface to an eye of the user as the output light;
- a pair of image sources each positioned to launch a computer generated image into the in-coupling region of a corresponding one of the waveguides;
- and
- a frame assembly to support the pair of waveguides and the pair of image sources for wearing on a head of the user.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.