Near-to-eye display with diffraction grating that bends and focuses light

摘要

A near-to-eye optical system includes an optically transmissive substrate having a see-through display region and a repeating pattern of diffraction elements. The repeating pattern of diffraction elements is disposed across the see-through display region of the optically transmissive substrate and organized into a reflective diffraction grating that bends and focuses computer generated image (“CGI”) light impingent upon the reflective diffraction grating. The see-through display region is at least partially transmissive to external ambient light impingent upon an exterior side of the optically transmissive substrate and at least partially reflective to the CGI light impingent upon an interior side of the optically transmissive substrate opposite the exterior side.

主权项

1. A head mounted display (“HMD”) for displaying computer generated image (“CGI”) light to a user, the HMD comprising:
a frame assembly to support the HMD for wearing on a head of the user; an eyepiece secured to the frame assembly and positioned to form a see-through display, the eyepiece including:
an optically transmissive substrate; anda repeating pattern of diffraction elements disposed across a viewing region of the optically transmissive substrate, wherein the repeating pattern of diffraction elements is a reflective diffraction grating that both bends the CGI light and focuses the CGI light with magnification, wherein the repeating pattern of diffraction elements is a two-dimensional (“2D”) pattern of three-dimensional (“3D”) diffraction elements, and wherein the 2D pattern repeats horizontally and vertically across the viewing region; and a light engine mounted to the frame assembly and oriented to illuminate the reflective diffraction grating with the CGI light.