Circular diffractive optical elements 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 light projecting system to project light beams associated with one or more frames of image data;   a diffractive optical element (DOE) to receive the projected light beams and deliver the light beams at a desired focus, wherein the DOE is a circular DOE.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the DOE is stretchable along a single axis to adjust an angle of a linear DOE term. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the DOE comprises a membrane, and at least one transducer operable to selectively vibrate the membrane with an oscillatory motion in a Z-axis to provide Z-axis control and change of focus over time. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the DOE is embedded in a stretchable medium, such that a pitch of the DOE can be adjusted by physically stretching the medium. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the DOE is stretched biaxially, and wherein the stretching of the DOE affects a focal length of the DOE. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of circular DOEs, wherein the DOEs are stacked along a Z axis. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a circular DOE is layered in front of a waveguide for focus modulation. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the DOE is static. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the DOE is dynamic. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  implemented as a method.