Waveguide Architectures and Related Methods of Manufacturing

Abstract

Systems and methods for generating head-up displays (HUDs) using waveguides incorporating Bragg gratings in accordance with various embodiments of the invention are provided. The term HUD is typically utilized to describe a class of displays that incorporates a transparent display that presents data without requiring users to look away from their usual viewpoints. HUDs can be incorporated in any of a variety of applications including (but not limited to) vehicular and near-eye applications, such as googles, eyewear, etc. HUDs that utilize planar waveguides that incorporate Bragg gratings in accordance with various embodiments of the invention can achieve significantly larger fields of view and have lower volumetric requirements than HUDs implemented using conventional optical components.

1 . A waveguide display comprising:
 an input image node providing image modulated light in a first field of view (FOV) portion light and a second FOV portion light;   a waveguide supporting:
 an input grating for coupling the first FOV portion light from the IIN into a first set of total internal reflection (TIR) paths and coupling the second FOV portion light from the IIN into a second set of TIR paths; and 
 an output grating multiplexing first and second gratings for coupling the first FOV portion light in the first set of TIR paths and the second FOV portion light in the second set of TIR paths out of the waveguide into an exit pupil while providing a beam expansion. 
   
     
     
         2 . The waveguide display of  claim 1 , wherein the input image node is coupled to the waveguide by an opto-mechanical interface that allows the waveguide to be mechanically disconnected from the input image node. 
     
     
         3 . The waveguide display of  claim 1 , wherein the waveguide is configured to direct light received from the input image node towards a vehicular windshield. 
     
     
         4 . The waveguide display of  claim 3 , wherein the waveguide is configured to distort the light exiting the waveguide such that the distorted light compensates for the curvature of the vehicular windshield. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The waveguide display of  claim 1 , wherein the input grating and the output grating are configured to be in inverse reciprocal relationship for each FOV portion light. 
     
     
         7 . The waveguide display of  claim 1 , wherein the input image node comprises a transparent prism for coupling light into the waveguide. 
     
     
         8 . The waveguide display of  claim 7 , wherein the transparent prism comprises a first surface for coupling light from the input image node into the prism, a second surface for coupling light out of the prism towards the waveguide, a third surface for providing an internal reflection, and a fourth surface opposing the third surface. 
     
     
         9 . The waveguide display of  claim 8 , wherein the third surface is configured to totally internally reflect the light, wherein the third and fourth surfaces provide a window for viewing an external scene. 
     
     
         10 . The waveguide display of  claim 1 , further comprising a second waveguide, wherein the two waveguides are configured to form a binocular waveguide display. 
     
     
         11 . The waveguide display of  claim 1 , wherein the input and output gratings are formed of a mixture of monomer and liquid crystal. 
     
     
         12 . The waveguide display of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the input grating or the output grating is formed as a surface relief grating. 
     
     
         13 . The waveguide display of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the input grating or the output grating is overlapped by a half wave coating. 
     
     
         14 . The waveguide display of  claim 1 , further comprising a quarter wave coating applied to at least one of the input grating or the output grating for compensating for polarization rotation within the waveguide. 
     
     
         15 . The waveguide display of  claim 1 , wherein the input grating and the output grating are formed in a single layer. 
     
     
         16 . The waveguide display of  claim 1 , further comprising a first fold grating configured to direct the first FOV portion light into the first set of TIR paths to the output grating and a second fold grating configured to direct the second FOV portion light in the second set of TIR paths to the output grating, wherein the first fold grating and the second fold grating are each configured to provide a pupil expansion orthogonal to the beam expansion provided by the output grating. 
     
     
         17 . The waveguide display of  claim 16 , wherein at least one of the input grating, the first fold grating, the second fold grating, or the output grating comprises a rolled K-vector grating. 
     
     
         18 . The waveguide display of  claim 1 , wherein the input image node comprises a light source. 
     
     
         19 . The waveguide display of  claim 18 , wherein the input image node further comprises a microdisplay panel. 
     
     
         20 . The waveguide display of  claim 1 , further comprising an eye tracker. 
     
     
         21 . The waveguide display of  claim 1 , wherein the input grating multiplexes a first grating for coupling the first FOV portion light from the input image node into the first set of TIR paths and a second grating for coupling the second FOV portion light from the input image node into the second set of TIR paths.