Using spatial light modulators to selectively attenuate light from an outside environment 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 for displaying virtual content to a user, comprising:
 an image generating source to provide one or more frames of image data;   a stack of two or more spatial light modulators (SLMs) positioned such that the stack delivers light associated with the one or more frames of image data to the user, wherein the SLM spatially attenuates light from an outside environment; and   a processor to control the stack of SLMs in a manner such that an angle at which light beams pass through one or more cells of the SLM is modulated   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a set of display optics, wherein the set of display optics is positioned between the user's eye and the outside environment. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the SLMs of the stack of SLMs are cholesteric LCDs. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the SLMs is a cholesteric LCD. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the stack of SLMs is positioned such that the user views an outside world through the stack of SLMs, wherein the SLMs is at least semi-transparent. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the spatial light modulator arrays comprise at least one of a number or liquid crystal arrays, a number of digital mirror device elements of digital light processing systems, a number of micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) arrays, or a number of MEMS shutters. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an occluder comprising at least one optical component, and wherein the processor controls the at least one optical component of the occluder to produce a darkfield representation of a dark virtual object. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the spatial attenuation is based at least in part on one or more characteristics of the one or more frames of image data to be presented to the user. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more characteristics comprises a color scale of the one or more frames of image data. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more frames of image data comprises a dark virtual object.