Using wedge-shaped waveguides for augmented or virtual reality

Abstract

Configurations are disclosed for presenting virtual reality and augmented reality experiences to users. The system may comprise an image-generating source to provide one or more frames of image data in a time-sequential manner, a light modulator configured to transmit light associated with the one or more frames of image data, a substrate to direct image information to a user's eye, wherein the substrate houses a plurality of reflectors, a first reflector of the plurality of reflectors to reflect transmitted light associated with a first frame of image data at a first angle to the user's eye, and a second reflector to reflect transmitted light associated with a second frame of the image data at a second angle to the user's eye.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system to provide at least one of a virtual or an augmented reality experience to a user, the system comprising:
 a frame;   a display system carried by the frame and positionable in front of at least one eye of the user when the frame is worn by the user; and   a local controller communicatively coupled to the display system to provide image information to the display system, the local controller comprising at least one processor, and at least one nontransitory processor readable media communicatively coupled to the at least one processor, the at least one nontransitory processor readable media which stores at last one of processor-executable instructions or data, which when executed by the at least one processor causes the at least one processor to at least one of process, cache, and store data and provide the image information to the display to produce at least one of a virtual or an augmented reality visual experience to the user.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the display comprises at least one wedge-shaped waveguide, the wedge-shaped waveguide having at least two flat surfaces opposed from one another across a thickness of the first wedge-shaped waveguide and having a length along which light entering the wedge-shaped waveguide at defined angles via an entrance portion of the wedge-shaped waveguide propagates via total internal reflection, the thickness of the wedge-shaped waveguide which varies linearly along the length of the wedge-shaped waveguide. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the wedge-shaped waveguide provides a bi-modal total internal reflection. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least two projectors optically coupled to the wedge-shaped waveguide at respective different locations along the entrance portion of the wedge-shaped waveguide.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first linear array of a plurality of projectors optically coupled to the wedge-shaped waveguide at respective different locations along the entrance portion of the wedge-shaped waveguide.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the projectors of the first linear array of a plurality of projectors are scanning fiber displays. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a stack of a plurality of spatial light modulators optically coupled to the wedge-shaped waveguide along the entrance portion of the wedge-shaped waveguide.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a multicore optical fiber optically coupled to the wedge-shaped waveguide at one or more locations along the entrance portion of the wedge-shaped waveguide.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the projectors of the first linear array of projectors are optically coupled to the wedge-shaped waveguide to inject light into the wedge-shaped waveguide at a first angle, further comprising:
 a second linear array of a plurality of projectors optically coupled to the wedge-shaped waveguide at respective different locations along the entrance portion of the wedge-shaped waveguide, wherein the projectors of the second linear array of projectors are optically coupled to the wedge-shaped waveguide to inject light into the wedge-shaped waveguide at a second angle, the second angle different from the first angle. 
 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  wherein in the entrance portion is longitude end of the wedged-shaped waveguide. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1  wherein in the entrance portion is a lateral edge of the wedged-shaped waveguide. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1  wherein in the entrance portion is a one of the flat surfaces of the wedged-shaped waveguide. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one optical component optically coupled to a projector, and which changes an angle of light received from the projector to optically couple the light to the wedge-shaped waveguide at angles that achieve total internal reflection of the light within the wedge-shaped waveguide.