Abstract:
An image projector includes a spatially-interleaved polarization converter having an input and output lenslet array, and may transmit light thereon as converted linearly-polarized light. The image projector also includes a lens unit and a projector assembly having a pixel array and being capable of reflecting the converted light. The output lenslet array, the lens unit, and the projector assembly form an imaging system that images the input lenslet array to a top surface of the pixel array. A method for converting light to an output light beam having a single common polarization state includes transmitting the light as a plurality of beamlets each having an s-polarized component and a p-polarized component, splitting each beamlet into a transmitted p-polarized beamlet and a reflected s-polarized beamlet, converting each p-polarized beamlet to a first s-polarized output beamlet, and spatially interleaving the s-polarized beamlets with the first s-polarized output beamlets.
Abstract:
A near-eye display device, with coaxial eye imaging, for mounting in field of view of an eye of a user, includes a display unit for displaying a display image, a viewing unit for (i) presenting the display image to the eye based upon polarized visible light received from the display unit and (ii) transmitting ambient light from an ambient scene toward the eye, and an eye imaging unit including (a) an illumination module for generating infrared light, (b) a first polarizing beamsplitter interface, disposed between the display unit and the viewing unit, for (i) merging a polarized infrared component of the infrared light with the polarized visible light and (ii) separating from the polarized visible light a portion of the polarized infrared component reflected by the eye, and (c) a camera for forming an image of the eye based upon the polarized infrared component reflected by the eye.
Abstract:
A near-eye display device includes (a) a display unit for displaying a display image, (b) a viewing unit for presenting the display image to the eye and transmitting ambient light from an ambient scene toward the eye, and (c) an eye imaging unit including (i) an illumination module for generating at least three infrared light beams propagating along at least three different, non-coplanar directions, respectively, (ii) a first beamsplitter interface, disposed between the display unit and the viewing unit, for merging at least a portion of each of the infrared light beams with visible display light to direct each portion toward the eye via the viewing unit, and (iii) a camera for imaging, via the viewing unit and the first beamsplitter interface, pupil of the eye and reflections of the infrared light beams incident on the eye, to form one or more images indicative of gaze direction of the eye.
Abstract:
A lensed beam-splitter prism array includes a beam-splitter substrate with a plurality of planar and parallel thin-film coatings each spanning a top substrate surface and a bottom substrate surface, and making an oblique angle therebetween, and a lens form layer formed on the top surface and having a plurality of lens forms, each lens form being above one of the plurality of coatings. A method for fabricating a lensed beam-splitter prism includes bonding a plurality of substrates to form a substrate stack having a coating between each adjacent substrate pair. The method also includes forming a stack slice by applying a plurality of parallel cuts at an oblique angle with respect to each coating. Each coating spans a first stack-slice surface and a second stack-slice surface opposing the first stack-slice surface. The method also includes forming a lens form layer on the first stack-slice surface spanning one or more coatings.
Abstract:
A despeckle optical system for an image projector includes a diffuser, an in-plane vibrator, a microlens array, and a vibrator driver. The in-plane vibrator is coupled to vibrate the diffuser along a vibration plane. The vibrator driver is coupled to drive the in-plane vibrator and configured to drive the in-plane vibrator at different vibration amplitudes for averaging the intensity of speckle in display light that propagates through the diffuser via the microlens array.
Abstract:
A near-eye display device includes (a) a display unit having a liquid-crystal-on-silicon (LCOS) display and a first polarizing beam splitter interface for (i) reflecting illumination light from an illumination module towards the liquid-crystal-on-silicon display and (ii) transmitting display light from the LCOS display based on the illumination light, and (b) a viewing unit having an imaging objective that forms an image of the LCOS display for the pupil based on the display light, and a second polarizing beam splitter interface for (i) reflecting reflected display light from the imaging objective towards the pupil and (ii) transmitting ambient light from an ambient scene towards a pupil, the second polarizing beam splitter interface and the first polarizing beam splitter interface being orthogonal to a common plane.
Abstract:
An image projector includes a spatially-interleaved polarization converter having an input and output lenslet array, and may transmit light thereon as converted linearly-polarized light. The image projector also includes a lens unit and a projector assembly having a pixel array and being capable of reflecting the converted light. The output lenslet array, the lens unit, and the projector assembly form an imaging system that images the input lenslet array to a top surface of the pixel array. A method for converting light to an output light beam having a single common polarization state includes transmitting the light as a plurality of beamlets each having an s-polarized component and a p-polarized component, splitting each beamlet into a transmitted p-polarized beamlet and a reflected s-polarized beamlet, converting each p-polarized beamlet to a first s-polarized output beamlet, and spatially interleaving the s-polarized beamlets with the first s-polarized output beamlets.
Abstract:
A despeckle optical system for an image projector includes a diffuser, an in-plane vibrator, a microlens array, and a vibrator driver. The in-plane vibrator is coupled to vibrate the diffuser along a vibration plane. The vibrator driver is coupled to drive the in-plane vibrator and configured to drive the in-plane vibrator at different vibration amplitudes for averaging the intensity of speckle in display light that propagates through the diffuser via the microlens array.
Abstract:
A near-eye display device includes (a) a display unit having a liquid-crystal-on-silicon (LCOS) display and a first polarizing beam splitter interface for (i) reflecting illumination light from an illumination module towards the liquid-crystal-on-silicon display and (ii) transmitting display light from the LCOS display based on the illumination light, and (b) a viewing unit having an imaging objective that forms an image of the LCOS display for the pupil based on the display light, and a second polarizing beam splitter interface for (i) reflecting reflected display light from the imaging objective towards the pupil and (ii) transmitting ambient light from an ambient scene towards a pupil, the second polarizing beam splitter interface and the first polarizing beam splitter interface being orthogonal to a common plane.
Abstract:
An image sensor for imaging fingerprints has multiple photodiode groups each with field of view through a microlens determined by optical characteristics of the microlens and locations of the microlens and openings of upper and lower mask layers. Many photodiode groups have fields of view outwardly splayed from a center-direct field of view. A diameter of openings of the upper mask layer distant from the group having a center-direct field of view is larger than openings of a photodiode group having a center-direct field of view. A method of matching illumination of a group of photodiodes with center-direct field of view to illumination of photodiode groups having outwardly splayed fields of view includes sizing openings in the upper mask layer of photodiode groups with outwardly splayed fields of view larger than openings in the upper mask layer associated with photodiode groups having center-direct field of view.