AUGMENTED REALITY EYEPIECE WITH WAVEGUIDE HAVING A MIRRORED SURFACE
This disclosure concerns an interactive head-mounted eyepiece with an integrated processor for handling content for display and an integrated image source for introducing the content to an optical assembly through which the user views a surrounding environment and the displayed content. The displayed content is introduced into an optical waveguide of the eyepiece at an angle of internal incidence that does not result in total internal reflection. However, a mirrored surface on the first surface of the optical waveguide reflects the displayed content towards the second surface of the optical waveguide.
1 . A system, comprising:
an interactive head-mounted eyepiece worn by a user, wherein the eyepiece includes an optical assembly through which the user views a surrounding environment and displayed content, wherein the optical assembly comprises a corrective element that corrects the user's view of the surrounding environment and an optical waveguide with a first and a second surface enabling total internal reflections, an integrated processor for handling content for display to the user, and an integrated image source for introducing the content to the optical assembly, wherein displayed content is introduced into the optical waveguide at an angle of internal incidence that does not result in total internal reflection; and
a mirrored surface on the first surface of the optical waveguide to reflect the displayed content towards the second surface of the optical waveguide.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the mirrored surface enables a total reflection of the light entering the optical waveguide.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the mirrored surface enables a reflection of at least a portion of the light entering the optical waveguide.