Displaying augmented or virtual reality through freeform optics

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 comprising:
 a first freeform reflective and lens optical component to increase a size of a field-of-view for a defined set of optical parameters, the first freeform reflective and lens optical component comprising: a first curved surface, a second curved surface, and a third curved surface, the first curved surface at least partially optically transmissive and refractive and which imparts a focal change to the light received by the first freeform reflective and lens optical component via the first curved surface, the second curved surface which at least partially reflects light received by the second curved surface from the first curved surface toward the third curved surface and which passes light received by the second curved surface from the third curved surface, the third curved surface which at least partially reflects light out of the first freeform reflective and lens optical component via the second curved surface.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the first curved surface of the first freeform reflective and lens optical component is a respective freeform curved surface. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the first curved surface of the first freeform reflective and lens optical component adds a stigmatism to the light. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the third curved surface of the first freeform reflective and lens optical component adds an opposite stigmatism to cancel the stigmatism added by the first curved surface of the first freeform reflective and lens optical component. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the second curved surface of the first freeform reflective and lens optical component is a respective freeform curved surface. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the second curved surface of the first freeform reflective and lens optical component reflect defined angles of light to be reflected by total internal reflection toward the third curved surface. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the third curved surface bounces light out through the second surface toward a user's eyes. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a curvature of the first freeform reflective corresponds to a parabola. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a compensating lens placed proximate to the first freeform reflective. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  implemented as a method.