Producing an aggregate wavefront 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:
 a plurality of lightguides to receive coherent light associated with one or more frames of image data and to produce an aggregate wavefront;   a phase modulator coupled to one or more lightguides of the plurality of light guides to induce a phase delay in the light projected by the one or more lightguides; and   a processor to control the phase modulator in a manner such that the aggregate wavefront produced by the plurality of lightguides is varied.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a wavefront produced by a lightguide of the plurality of light guides is a spherical wavefront. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the spherical wavefronts produced by at least two lightguides constructively interfere with each other. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the spherical wavefronts produced by the at least two lightguides destructively interfere with each other. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the aggregate wavefront is an approximately planar wavefront. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the planar wavefront corresponds to an optical infinity depth plane. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the aggregate wavefront is spherical. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the spherical wavefront corresponds to a depth plane closer than optical infinity. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein an inverse Fourier transform of a desired beam is injected into the multicore fibers, such that a desired aggregate wavefront is produced. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  implemented as a method.