Reflective array waveguide

#Virtual reality can be viewed as a computer-generated simulated environment in which a user has an apparent physical presence. A virtual reality experience can be generated in 3D and viewed with a head-mounted display (HMD), such as glasses or other wearable display device that has near-eye display panels as lenses to display a virtual reality environment, which replaces the actual environment. Augmented reality, however, provides that a user can still see through the display lenses of the glasses or other wearable display device to view the surrounding environment, yet also see images of virtual objects that are generated for display and appear as a part of the environment. Augmented reality can include any type of input such as audio and haptic inputs, as well as virtual images, graphics, and video that enhances or augments the environment that a user experiences. As an emerging technology, there are many challenges and design constraints with augmented reality, from generation of the virtual objects and images so that they appear realistic in a real environment, to developing the optics small and precise enough for implementation with a wearable display device.

#A challenge to the implementation of wearable display devices, such as a head-mounted display (HMD), for augmented reality is the manufacture of reflective array waveguides that are utilized as both see-through and reflecting waveguides in the two, independent right and left display lens systems of a wearable display device. Reflective array waveguides include embedded, partially-reflecting mirror panels that are fabricated with a mirror coating applied to one side of each mirror panel, and then the partially-reflecting mirror panels are adhered together to form a waveguide. However, the intense heat that is utilized during the fabrication process to apply the mirror coating, along with the subsequent cooling, can cause warping or a deflection of the mirror panels, which results in a distorted view of a virtual image and/or the surrounding environment when a user looks through the waveguides in the display lens systems of the wearable display device.

#This Summary introduces simplified concepts of reflective array waveguide, and the concepts are further described below in the Detailed Description and/or shown in the Figures. This Summary should not be considered to describe essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor used to determine or limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.

#Embodiments of reflective array waveguide are described with reference to the following Figures. The same numbers may be used throughout to reference like features and components that are shown in the Figures:

#FIG. 1 illustrates an example system in which embodiments of reflective array waveguide can be implemented.

#FIG. 2 illustrates an example of clear and reflecting waveguide panels of a reflective array waveguide formed in a stack and bonded together in accordance with one or more embodiments.

#Embodiments of reflective array waveguide are described. Reflective array waveguides are utilized as see-through and reflecting waveguides in display lens systems of a wearable display device (e.g., glasses or a head-mounted display). As noted above, the partially-reflecting mirror panels of a reflective array waveguide may warp during manufacture, and a deflection of the mirror panels results in a distorted view of the a virtual image and/or the surrounding environment when a user looks through the waveguides of the display lens systems. Embodiments of reflective array waveguide provide techniques to manufacture reflective array waveguides without warping or deflection for use as the left and right display lens systems of a wearable display device, such as for implementations of augmented reality.

#A reflective array waveguide includes clear waveguide panels for see-through viewing of an environment and includes reflecting waveguide panels to reflect a virtual image that is generated to appear as part of the environment. Each of the reflecting waveguide panels have a partially reflective mirror coating deposited on opposing sides, which balances the tensile forces that would otherwise warp a reflecting waveguide panel. The reflecting waveguide panels are then alternated in the reflective array waveguide with the clear waveguide panels. The alternating clear and reflecting waveguide panels are angled for augmented reality imaging of the reflected virtual image as part of the environment that is viewed through the reflective array waveguide.

#While features and concepts of reflective array waveguide can be implemented in any number of different devices, systems, environments, and/or configurations, embodiments of reflective array waveguide are described in the context of the following example devices, systems, and methods.