Stacked configuration of freeform optics 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 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 surface, a second surface, and a third surface, the first surface at least partially optically transmissive to light received by the first freeform reflective and lens optical component via the first surface, the second surface which is curved and at least partially reflects light received by the second surface from the first surface toward the third surface and which passes light received by the second surface from the curved surface, the third surface which is curved and at least partially reflects light out of the first freeform reflective and lens optical component via the second surface; and   a second freeform reflective and lens optical component, the second freeform reflective and lens optical component comprising: a first surface, a second surface, and a third surface, the first surface of the second freeform reflective and lens optical component at least partially optically transmissive to light received by the second freeform reflective and lens optical component via the first surface, the second surface of the second freeform reflective and lens optical component which is curved and at least partially reflects light received by the second surface from the first surface of the second freeform reflective and lens optical component toward the third surface of the second freeform reflective and lens optical component and which passes light received by the second surface from the third surface of the second freeform reflective and lens optical component, the third surface of the second freeform reflective and lens optical component which is curved and at least partially reflects light out of the second freeform reflective and lens optical component via the second surface,   wherein the first and the second freeform reflective and lens optical components are in an oppositely oriented stacked configuration along a Z-axis.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the second surface of the second freeform reflective and lens optical component is adjacent the third surface of the first freeform reflective and lens optical component. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the second surface of the second freeform reflective and lens optical component is concave and the third surface of the first freeform reflective and lens optical component is convex, that the third surface of the first freeform reflective and lens optical component closely receives the second surface of the second freeform reflective and lens optical component. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the first surface of the first freeform reflective and lens optical component is flat and the first surface of the second freeform reflective and lens optical component is flat, and further comprising:
 at least a first projector optically coupled to the first freeform reflective and lens optical component via the first surface of the first freeform reflective and lens optical component; and 
 at least a second projector optically coupled to the second freeform reflective and lens optical component via the first surface of the second freeform reflective and lens optical component. 
 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one wavelength selective material carried by at least one of the first or the second freeform reflective and lens optical components.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least a first wavelength selective material carried by the first freeform reflective and lens optical components;   at least a second wavelength selective material carried by the second freeform reflective and lens optical components,   the first wavelength selective material selective of a first set of wavelengths and the second wavelength selective material selective of a second set of wavelengths, the second set of wavelengths different from the first set of wavelengths.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least a first polarizer carried by the first freeform reflective and lens optical components;   at least a second polarizer carried by the second freeform reflective and lens optical components,   the first polarizer having a different polarization orientation than the second polarizer.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the freeform optical elements are configured such that only one color is delivered by a particular freeform optical element. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an accommodation tracking module to track an accommodation of a user's eyes. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and the second freeform reflective and lens optical components are used to display one or more virtual images to a user.