Systems and methods for mixed reality

US11651566B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Magic Leap, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Brian T. Schowengerdt · Seattle, US
• Mathew D. Watson · Bellevue, US
• David Tinch · Fort Lauderdale, US
• Ivan Li Chuen Yeoh · Tampa, US
• John Graham Macnamara · Sunrise, US
• Lionel Ernest Edwin · Hollywood, US
• Michael Anthony Klug · Austin, US
• William Hudson Welch · Fort Lauderdale, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 30, 2021
• Grant date: May 16, 2023
• Expiry date: Jul 30, 2041

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G02B2027/0178
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A virtual image generation system comprises a planar optical waveguide having opposing first and second faces, an in-coupling (IC) element configured for optically coupling a collimated light beam from an image projection assembly into the planar optical waveguide as an in-coupled light beam, a first orthogonal pupil expansion (OPE) element associated with the first face of the planar optical waveguide for splitting the in-coupled light beam into a first set of orthogonal light beamlets, a second orthogonal pupil expansion (OPE) element associated with the second face of the planar optical waveguide for splitting the in-coupled light beam into a second set of orthogonal light beamlets, and an exit pupil expansion (EPE) element associated with the planar optical waveguide for splitting the first and second sets of orthogonal light beamlets into an array of out-coupled light beamlets that exit the planar optical waveguide.