Waveguides with embedded components to improve intensity distributions
US9915825B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 10, 2015 |
| Grant date | Mar 13, 2018 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 11, 2035 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B2027/0125
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An apparatus for use in replicating an image associated with an input-pupil to an output-pupil includes a planar optical waveguide including a bulk-substrate, and also including an input-coupler, an intermediate-component and an output-coupler. The input-coupler couples light corresponding to the image into the bulk-substrate and towards the intermediate-component. The intermediate-component performs horizontal or vertical pupil expansion and directs the light corresponding to the image towards the output-coupler. The output-coupler performs the other one of horizontal or vertical pupil expansion and couples light corresponding to the image, which travels from the input-coupler to the output-coupler, out of the waveguide. The apparatus further includes a volume layer, embedded between first and second major planar surfaces of the bulk-substrate, configured to cause light that is output by the output-coupler to have a more uniform intensity distribution compared to if the volume layer were absent.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.